Aiden Harper

Revisiting the past

TW: mention of mental illness, suicide, and trauma.

Matt

I expected Aiden to bring Eden to me at some point when Elias and Nate filled me in about Eden's situation. I suspected she endured a lot while growing up. Parents should love their children, not hurt them. You don't condone a child's terrible behavior. You discipline them.

Aiden and Eden sat at the table while I brewed three cups of coffee before bringing them to the table. I grabbed the coffee creamer and sugar. Aiden drank his coffee black while Eden added creamer and a little sugar to hers. I added only creamer.

"You said you were expecting us?" Eden asked before sipping her coffee.

"Yes. My sons, Elias and Nate, informed me of your current situation. Plus, you've been speaking to Casper."

Eden opened her mouth. I held up my hand to stop her. She closed her mouth.

"Casper didn't talk about your meetings. Oliver mentioned he had seen you in the chapel with Casper. Casper counsels people in relationships, mostly about infidelity."

"It has been a rough time for me. My parents haven't provided any support. And I found out my dad isn't my real dad. Everything's been overwhelming for me."

"That doesn't surprise me."

"It doesn't?" Eden creased her brows.

I shook my head. "No, it doesn't. My wife dealt with an unsupportive family besides her sister and brother. It took years for her dad to rebuild her trust. It took me one night at a party to smile again. My wife was the one who got me to smile."

"Really?"

I nodded and smiled as my blue eyes twinkled. "Nora is the most amazing woman I have ever met. I had the honor of loving her."

"Grammy is pretty special," Aiden said.

"That's because your Grammy is special." I sipped my coffee before talking about a complex topic. "I dated a girl in high school who had schizophrenia. She committed suicide."

Aiden and Eden furrowed their brows but didn't say anything.

"Sadie never told me about her condition. I didn't find out until I found her dead. I lost it and blamed myself for missing the signs. I shut down and refused to talk about Sadie."

"Oh, my god." Eden covered her mouth.

"That's why you said you understood what I was going through with Claire," Aiden said, rubbing his face in realization and dropping his hands to the table.

I nodded. "I saw a therapist after my dad forced me to see one. He said the grief and blame would consume me if I didn't seek help. It's what he did when he took custody of the family."

"What?" Aiden asked.

"My dad saw a therapist to help with his grief. He was able to help my ma with her grief when she experienced the same situation I did. Her high school boyfriend had schizophrenia and ended his life. She found him, along with your uncle Lex and uncle Maverick."

"I didn't know." Aiden shook his head.

"Not many people did. But I can assure you the family has experienced trauma of some sort. We got lucky and had excellent therapists in the family."

Aiden and Eden looked at me with furrowed brows. Both experienced their trauma from their exes. Aiden shut down, blaming himself for Claire's death. I watched the light dim in him. He quit laughing and smiling. He refused to spend time with anyone, instead opting to work. While I didn't mind Aiden working in the shop, it was no way for a kid to live. I didn't want him to turn into me pre-Nora. And he was heading that way.