Last To Know *COMPLETED*

Last To Know Chapter 23

Chapter 23-

                Yes, a new start, a new home, with the right person. It surprised Jill that it had taken almost 40 years to find him. Marriage came first, generally in a person's mid-late twenties, and seeing as both of them had made mistake about their true love, it wasn't as bad knowing this fact.

                The truth was, she'd rather make mistakes, big mistakes, and end up in the right than stick with someone that would never make her happy. If she died with her love by her side, she'd be happier than dying beside someone she didn't care about.

                As Jill took her first bite of Aaron's lasagna, she smiled at him politely. "This. Is. Amazing." She said truthfully. "I've always loved lasagna." 

                "Yes. I thought so." He said, his smile fading slightly. "You... really look amazing. I'm sure you think terribly of me though."

                "Well, you killed my brother. It's rough for me to just forgive and forget something like that. And thank you." Jill said. What kind of sense did this conversation make? A compliment exchanged between the two of them didn't excuse the meaning behind his words. It was almost like he was trying to save himself for embarrassment about the whole ordeal.

                It wasn't going to work. She guessed he didn't want to talk about that Valentine's Day fifteen years ago, but she did. When Aaron didn't speak, she continued. "I know it's not something you're comfortable with, but I want to talk about it."

                "I don't. But... for you... I'll do anything." He said quietly. His eyes held hers, the moment from years ago when the love still burned between them was back. He loved her... she loved him... did it really matter that her brother was dead, that she'd left her husband and was on the verge of a divorce, or that her heart had been broken numerous times?

                Yes. It did. That didn't mean she was going to give up on Aaron. He had served his time, and not without perseverance. That was enough of a statement to start another rant. "I know that you didn't mean to kill him," Aaron cringed as she spoke, "But I do know that I'd rather James have died that night than him. That part's my fault."

                "You know that's not true," Aaron shoved a piece of roll in his mouth, swallowed it, and then finished. "But...I love you because of that reason." Jill stared at him blankly, trying to assess the idea that she'd heard him correctly. "You try to pin the blame on yourself, when I'm obviously the one who's to blame. I went to your work, thinking about the proposal, about marrying you and having kids and..." Aaron stopped talking.

                Jill stared at him for a full twenty seconds, her plate growing colder along with her eyes. This wasn't something she'd thought about before. Marrying James had seemed like the right idea, and so was the choice to not have children.

                With Aaron, though, it was different. She remembered the day she said her life was changing, and her views were too. This was still true, and she hoped that her next decision would reflect that.

                Jill finally reached across the table, took his hand, and smiled at him. "I want... to forget everything. I want you to want that, and I want us to move on. My divorce papers are coming in the mail soon, and that beautiful day is the day we can start our new life together. But until then, we have to start where we left off...

                "Before all of the craziness, before I chose to ruin you in that way, and before I made the decision to take that job here in Boulder." Jill finished her speech with a flourish, her cheeks now turning red, expressing her love in the best way she knew how.

                Another lengthy silence followed, and during this time they both tried to clear their minds, forgetting the past and moving on to the future, planning their new life together. They were connected in this same moment, and Jill knew in her heart that they were meant to be.

                "I love you, so much." He said.

                "I love you, too." Jill said, and she knew as sure as there was a floor under her feet that she wouldn't ever want him to be gone again.

                She suddenly hoped James could do the same as she had... move on. Once she cleared everything from her thoughts like this, she could focus on the date at hand... their true first date.

                "So... tell me what you've done since... before." Aaron said shyly.

                "Well, there's something about my designing that really caught a new company's eye. They ask me for a move, and... With the extra pay, I did. And, boy, do I love it! It's awesome being able to call my own shots, design pretty much whatever I want, instead of being instructed through the entire process.

                "And... I made some new friends, one of which knows about us." Aaron understood that she meant someone knew about the whole story of their love. He nodded for her to continue. "Her name's Marcy, and I'm sure she'd love to meet you. Just the other day she ran into her future boyfriend..." Jill finished her talking with a wink. "His name's Brandon, or something. Anyway, we were in the antique store, and the just... clicked, you know?"

                "Yep." Aaron smiled, knowing how it had felt the day he met her. "I know."

                Jill detected the meaning behind Aaron's words, so she stopped telling her story, hoping he would talk. When he didn't, she prompted him. "So... did you um... make any friends since you've been out of...?" Jill gulped. "Prison?"

                "Actually no. But I ran into my old boss from the mechanic shop. He's got things worked out now between him and his wife. So that's good." Aaron said, trying to fill the silence without unneeded chatter.  Bill had recently had trouble in his marriage, and knowing this, Aaron was especially kind to him. For now, he knew what it felt like to be hurt.

                "Awww. Well that's great." Jill said quietly. "You about finished?"

                Aaron looked at both of their empty plates. "Yes. Would you like desert?" He looked at her thoughtfully. He didn't remember whether he'd picked up the apple pie he'd intended to buy at the grocery store. If not, he had an idea.

                "I'd love some." Aaron stood from his seat and checked the refrigerator, and just as he thought, the pie wasn't there.

"Okay. Let's go then." Aaron placed their dishes in the sink for later and wiped his hands, smiling with a crooked smile as Jill's face became confused. "I'm taking you out for desert." He clarified, grabbing his keys.

The IHOP in town had a twenty-four-hour breakfast/desert menu, and though Jill insisted he not spend the money on her after already cooking, he drove over anyway. It was silent in the car, except for Jill's incoherent mumbling about taking advantage of him. "That's so like you. I remember that much." Aaron said, looking at Jill for a second to assess her reaction.

"Yea. So? I haven't changed much, and apparently neither have you."

Aaron simply laughed, and they pulled into the parking lot with smiles on their faces.

Once inside, Aaron ordered two pineapple cheesecake slices and two cups of coffee, and they chatted while they waited on their food. "This was... nice of you. I didn't think you'd go out of your way for me... since we haven't been together for this long."

"That's just me... I hold on to opportunities... plus, it's not like I met any other women worth dating in prison." Aaron joked.