Read Online Letting go of Grace by Ellie Meade - Free Book Online Page A

the fights I’ve caused between you, John, and Grant. The news about your father, the talk you had with your mom last night.” I stop. It’s still a lot to take in.
    “Hannah, you saved my mom. You saved all of us. If it wasn’t for you we would have never known the truth and she would have never known the truth. We are fucked up, I know this, but I want to work on it for you.” He brings my hand to his mouth and kisses each of my fingertips then opens it up and kisses my palm.
    “Aiden, I have to go.” I don’t want to leave him, but I need to.
    “Don’t leave me, I need you.” I finally look up at him again.
    “I know, and I keep doing everything I can to make you feel better. Thinking about what you need. What about me? When do I get to think about me and what I need? I feel like I keep bouncing back and forth between you and Grant. When do I get a moment to figure it all out?” It sounds more selfish when I say it out loud. I am a horrible person, but I’m at my breaking point.
    “You still haven’t decided?” He looks at me in disgust and pulls his hand out of mine.
    “Reality check, Hannah, he cheated on you. He will never change.” He gets up and walks out. I start to tell him it’s him I chose, but the words get stuck in my throat. I get up and rush to pack my suitcase. His words don’t hurt me as much as they should. I have become numb in my heart again. They have broken my heart, both of them. I can’t let them do it to me again. I drag my suitcase into the kitchen and find him finishing up his breakfast.
    “You’re really leaving?” He asks irritated.
    “Yes. I told you I have to go home.”
    “Do you always run when you don’t like something?”
    “Who said I was running? Why do you keep saying that?”
    “Well, I watched you run from Grant.”
    “Stop comparing, Aiden. I never ran from Grant.”
    “Yes you did. The night of the gala, you ran from him then, then again after you saw him with Ava. You don’t confront problems head-on. You’re a runner, Hannah.” I roll my eyes and grab my phone to call the car rental place. The first one is closed because today is Sunday. I hang up and call the second. I slam my phone down when I get their answering machine. How the fuck am I going to get home? I look up flights and see there isn’t one till tonight. Aiden watches me struggle.
    “How are you getting home?” he asks sounding amused.
    “Well, all the car rental places are closed because it’s Sunday. The airport doesn’t have a flight till tonight, so I have no idea. I have to wait, I guess.” I don’t look at him. I keep staring at my phone.
    “Well, if you’re in a hurry, you can take one of my cars.” I get up and walk outside. I see the pack of cloves and walk over to them and light one up. I enjoy the head rush and smoke the whole thing. I decide on another and light it up. I watch the water as Aiden comes out and sits next to me.
    “Why don’t you ask questions?”
    “What?” I shift in my seat and give him my full attention.
    “You never ask questions about anything.” Where the fuck is he going with this?
    “You want me to ask you questions?” He just nods at me. I lean back in my seat. I have millions. Where do I start?
    “Feeding the swans, what does that mean?”
    “My father used to ask us if I wanted to go feed the swans in the backyard’s pond. He would take me into the shed and…” He stops and I get it.
    “You knew that he was doing the same to Grant?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Why didn’t you go to your mom?”
    “He told us he would kill us if we ever did. I was a child, I didn’t know any better.”
    “I’m sorry you guys went through that. It breaks my heart.” I place my hand on his.
    “Yeah…” he rasps. We sit in silence for a long time.
    “Aiden, why did you sleep with Becca?” I whisper.
    “I don’t know. I thought it was the right thing to do for the company. My job comes first. I can’t fuck up because if I do, its not only