Reaching for Happiness

Chapter 56

*Aston's POV*

'So as long as you take care of her, your welcome in this family son' Chloe's dad Paul smiled at me.. He'd just given me the whole "you better take care of my daughter, or there'll be trouble" talk.. I'd say I'd handled it fairly well, I listened carefully and took in every last detail.

'Your daughter is an absolutely wonderful person, and I'd never dream of hurting her.. All I want to do is look after her and make her happy' I reassured him. We were soon interrupted by a light knocking on the door.. It opened revealing a very teary eyed Chloe.

'Ast? Can I talk to you? It's kinda important..' she sniffed.

'Sure.. Pleasure meeting you, sir' I smiled at her dad, shaking his hand.

'You too Aston! And please, call me Paul' he said.

'Okay, Paul' I smiled. I headed off out the door, following Chloe, and closing the door behind me.

'What's wrong?' I asked, looking her in the eyes.. This time it wasn't so awkward, but her teary eyes broke my heart.

'Can we go outside and talk about this? I'd like some space from my parents' she sniffed.

'Okay' I frowned. I think I knew what was coming..

Me and Chloe headed right down to the bottom of her parents' garden, behind some hedges and sat on a white bench overlooking a river..

'Ast, I..' she began.

'No, wait.. I think I know what your going to say' I interrupted.

'You do?' she asked.

'Yeah.. About our relationship, right? We're drifting apart, and it shouldn't be like this! The things we've been through should have brought us closer together, not pushed us apart.. I'm so sorry baby. I should have been a better boyfriend' I sighed, looking down.

'Ast?' she said, placing her forefinger under my chin and pulling my head up towards her, our eyes locking.. 'I love you' she whispered. In that moment, all our troubles seemed to drift away, as our lips made contact and the fireworks returned to our relationship. Just as I was getting lost in the kiss, she pulled away.

'As much as I agree with that, that isn't what I was going to say' she sighed, a single tear rolling down her cheek..

'What were you going to say, baby girl? Tell me' I pleaded, wiping the tear away from her soft cheek.

'The baby.. I know why I lost it' she sniffed.

'Why did you lose it?' I asked, taking her hands in mine. My eyes started to well up, as this was a touchy subject for both of us.

'You know when I broke my leg? And I was in the wheelchair?' she asked.

'Oh god, it was when you fell off the ladder, wasn't it?! It's all my fault.. If I hadn't have put the paintbrushes on the cabinet, we'd have a baby!' I cried, placing my face in my hands.

'No, Aston, it isn't your fault! And that's not why I lost it..' she sighed.

'How then? Just tell me!' I sobbed, my voice breaking at the end of the sentence.

'When I fell down the stairs in my wheelchair..' she choked, only just getting the words out her mouth.

'Why didn't you tell me?' I whimpered.

'BECAUSE IT WAS MY FUCKING FAULT!' she screamed, standing up. 'I didn't want you to leave me' she cried. I stood up with her, pulling her in to hug me.

'Baby, this was NOT your fault.. This was nobody's fault.. And I wouldn't leave you. I fucking love you. I just wished you'd have told me.. I could have helped you through it!' I told her calmly.

'I was too scared to tell you Aston.. I didn't know what you'd say' she cried softly.

'Baby, don't EVER be scared to talk to me or tell me something, okay? I love you with all my heart.. Remember that' I said, kissing the top of her head.

'I love you too' she smiled, looking up at me. Our lips rejoined once more.. We were finally getting back on track.