I Choose You : A New Chapter

Signs

"Tickets, tickets, tickets...Aiden, did you take the tickets?" Cassie rushed out into the living room where Aiden was innocently watching T.V. with the dog and sipping on his juice box. Cassie stood in front of him with her arms crossed. He didn't look at her, just kept his eyes on the television and kept sipping at his juice.

She hated how much he was like her. 

"Aiden, I'm serious," she sternly said. "Where are the tickets?" Aiden finally looked up at her, but then gave an angry look. Sighing, she told him, "Honey, you can't go. You're not old enough. I know you want to see daddy work, but you just can't." After moment, he reached under where he was sitting and pulled out crumpled two tickets.

She snatched them up, then pointed a stern finger at him. "You have to stop doing this," she scolded. "I'll have your father talk to you when we get home." Just as she put the tickets in her purse, there was a knock on the door and Jake started barking wildly. She rushed over and opened the door to several friendly faces.

"Oh, wow! Hi, guys!" It was Tom, Martin, James, and Adam! "Are you all going to the play? I thought it was just Tom." They made their way inside as Adam told her, "I mentioned to Martin and James that I was babysitting Aiden and they invited themselves to join."

"Oi, I haven't seen him in almost three years," James defended. Martin quipped back, "Yeah because you moved to Spain, you twit!" Cassie playfully rolled her eyes at their banter, then said, "Well, we best get going. Ready, Tom?" He stuck his arm out to her and said, "Ready as I'll ever be!"

She looped her arm through his, then called a goodbye to Aiden before leaving. As they were driving to the theater, Tom piped up and said, "So, I didn't tell Ben this because I thought he might freak out, but...one of my connections, he says a critic is going to be here tonight. He's a tough one, I've dealt with him before. He wrote a scathing review about my portrayal of King Henry."

Cassie gasped, "What? Why? You were phenomenal!" He chuckled as he said, "Thank you, darling. Everyone else seemed to think so except him. Not going to lie it put me in a bad place. Theaters wouldn't hire me for months."

"God, I hope Ben doesn't find out about it," she said. "He won't freeze and he'll put on the same performance he usually does, but I know that's all that's going to be on his mind. He'll worry himself to death until the article comes out."

They arrived at the theater a few minutes later and found their seats next to Wanda and Tim. As the lights dimmed and the stage started to glow, Cassie found herself staring at a man in front of her because this particular man couldn't seem to stop writing...

**

James, Martin and Adam all looked at each other over the decks of cards in their hands. They were trying to call a bluff, but not on each other. "Do you have...a nine?" Aiden smiled up at his uncles and said, "Go fwish." All the men grunted and James angrily took a card from the deck. 

"Alright, Mister Smarty Pants," Martin said as he held his thick deck of cards, "do you have a six?" Aiden didn't say anything, only gave him a grinch-like smile that he obviously got from his dad. Martin muttered, "Son of a...biscuit!" 

It was Adam's turn now and leaned on his elbows and looked Aiden right in the eyes. "Do you have an eight?" He confidently asked. Aiden shook his head with his smile and said, "Go fwish, unco Adam." Adam grunted and took a card. 

Aiden looked at all of his uncles, then set his eyes on Martin. "Unco Martwin?" He asked. Martin sighed as he asked, "Yes, Aiden?" Aiden held up his last card and said, "I need a twee." Martin gave Aiden his three card, then stood up. "I'm tired of losing to a five year old," he said as he went to grab another beer.