POWERS OF NATURE Book 1 - Into the Storm

Chapter 16

Aiden wiped the bar counter, his mind far from the spot he was trying to clean. He hadn't spoken to his brother since their encounter yesterday with Stephanie and while he sometimes missed his brother, Aiden preferred it this way. Atleast now he had a valid reason to hate his brother.

"Aiden?" He looked up at his name, seeing the one and only waitress of the restaurant standing at the door of the office. "There's a call for you." He motioned her over and she handed him the cordless phone, before pointing at the counter. "I think that spot's clean." She teased before turning back to the office.

Aiden rolled his eyes as he put the phone to his ear. The voice on the other side made him pause in wiping the same spot as before.

"Aiden?"

Involuntarily his eyes closed as her voice washed over him, his hand clenching around the cloth. "Stephanie, what do you want?" His mind flashed to the barn, and he gritted his teeth.

"I need your help. Please?" Her voice was rough, as if she'd been crying.

"Is my brother not with you? Or did the wonderful Matthew's shiny armour reveal its dents and uselessness?"

"Aiden, please, don't." He battled to hear her words as she whispered, and a loud sniff came. "Sorry." A smile played on his lips at her apology. A sniff in the ear wasn't the worst thing he'd had.

As he opened his mouth to reply, he noticed Matt rounding the stairs. "I'll be there in five." He put the phone down before she could reply and waited for Matt to reach the bar. "Tough morning?" He asked, watching Matt. He looked terrible, his hair was sticking up in various directions like he had run his hands through it countless of times in frustration. His eyes were glassy with unshed tears and his jaw was clenched tight.

Matt didn't reply and made his way to the office. Now that you're here, I'm off." Aiden called and received a shrug in return. Matt entered the office, with Tammy, the waitress, leaving it a few seconds after. The door shut with a slam and Tammy turned to Aiden with wide eyes. "Think you can handle this place and him?" Aiden nodded towards the office as he made his way out the restaurant. Tammy nodded and took his spot behind the bar.

He didn't know what had happened between Matt and Stephanie to have her desperate enough to call him but whatever Stephanie needed, he would be there for her, in whatever way she needed him to be.

~~~

Stephanie sat on her bed with her back against the headboard and her knees pulled under her chin. She had stopped crying, but small sobs would break through and remind her that she wasn't done just yet. The sound of a car made her turn her head, and she noticed her mom was home, with another car just before it. She flew to the bathroom and splashed water on her face before applying some of her mom's make up to hide the red blotches on her cheeks. Now she just looked tired. Taking a deep breath, she walked to the top of the stairs as the front door opened and waited.

"Stephanie?" Her mother called.

"Here." Stephanie replied, clearing her throat when her voice came out all raspy. Her mom appeared at the bottom of the stairs, followed by Aiden. The unexpected relief she felt at seeing Aiden alive made her knees weak and she gripped the balustrade. Her mom gave her a curious look before looking at Aiden, who have her a charming smile.

"I was just telling your mom you needed help with something for your studies?" Aiden prompted, and Stephanie nodded.

"Yeah, Matt mentioned Aiden has done some work with the whole law thing for his mom." Stephanie played along, lifting the corners of her mouth in what she hoped was a believable smile. Catching Aiden's eye, she saw he didn't buy it.