Living Alone Together - Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen.

Over dinner, the truce was in effect. They'd get their dinner date and all the formalities that went with it. The date really was like a blind date, considering they didn't know much outside their office lives, their blind date woes and her Pa worries.

William talked with much enthusiasm about his newborn niece and nephew. And Aislinn, in turn talked about James and his little man antics.

The mood was wonderful by dessert. She ordered a strawberry sundae and he, a chocolate coffee cake. As he signed the bill he offered to take her to the movies. To which, she declined, "Naw, I'm not really in a movie mood."

Feeling a bit disappointed, he replied, "I guess you want to go home then?"

She didn't answer.

After helping her with hers, he put on his coat and led her outdoors.
They walked silently arm in arm. He liked the way she leaned into his arm for warmth.

The sky was indigo and bright constellations lit it up. It made for such a beautiful canopy for them, that he was happy to oblige when Aislinn requested a walk around the small town tourist area.

"Of course," he replied, relishing the moment.

Aislinn always felt like she was in a different time when she came here. Tonight's sky was perfect.
And here she was, she glanced up at William's face, with the man of her dreams.

William, looked down at Aislinn's face. There was a sparkle was in her eye and he wondered if he had anything to do with it.
Unhooking himself from her, he wrapped his arm around her waist and she did the same. They continued walking along the rows of little shops.

"Ace..."
"Mmmm...?" She smiled up at the sound of his voice, savoring this peaceful coexistence.
"Will you spend the day with me tomorrow?"
She had to think about it for a bit.
"Isn't it just a yes or no, answer?" He asked, a bit antsy over the fact she was taking a while to answer.
She gave him a light squeeze on his hip where her hand lay.
"Give me a second, I need to think what... Oh. I can't because Pa has his eye appointment and I'm delegated as babysitter for the day."
"Oh..."
"How about you spend the day with me?" She smiled up at him.

He gave her a kiss on the forehead, "I will."

This is how it should be. This is how she should feel. This is what she's waited so long for.

Aislinn stopped and held his hands. Staring into William's handsome face, her eyes lit up.
"What?" He asked as self-consciousness crept up his neck.
"Sssshhh," she whispered and leaned up to kiss him sweetly on the lips.
As she leaned away, he smiled sweetly leaning down to press his forehead against hers.
"What was that for?"
Still smiling, she answered, "You have your experiments. I have mine."
"Well, if you need more of me, I'll be glad to give in."
They leaned into each other and locked lips for until they had to come up for air.

"Hmm. Definitely better in real life."
"Than what?" He asked reaching out for her hand. He led them back to the car.
"I've been having dreams."
"Hmmm..." He taunted.
She slapped him on the arm.
"Not like that!"
"Wha?" He asked innocently.
"Anyway. I've been having a recurring dream..." She began and peeped up at William's face.
He was listening, but was staring out in the distance.
"What are you looking at?"

She barely had the chance to turn her head and see what he was looking at when William shoved her into the car.
"Get in, Ace!"
"What-"

Someone pounced on him.
"William!" She screamed and frantically scrimmaged through her bag for her cell phone to call the 911.
When she looked out of the window, her eyes adjusted to the dark figure.
"Travis?" She whispered and jumped out of the car.
"Travis! Stop!"
"No," he answered as he traded punches with William.
"William. Stop! Travis!"
"Get back in the car, Ace!"

William defended himself from a few more punches. Pushing Travis off him, he tried to walk away. However, Travis was not finished yet.

Aislinn hadn't moved from her spot. What had gotten into him?
"Travis, please! Stop!"
"What's so special about him, Aislinn?" He spat out in disdain.
"I came back here just as you asked. You reject me time and again after moving back. Why? For this guy?!"
"Travis!"
Travis had a firm grasp on William's throat, crushing his airflow.
"Travis! It's been over for a long time! Since the day I caught you in bed with my-"
"Aislinn... You know I didn't mean to."
"Travis.. I don't feel anything for- STOP! LET HIM GO!"
She screamed and ran towards him and knock him down.
He stood still like an old oak tree rooted ten feet below the ground.
William was losing the fight and gasped for air.
She got back up to her feet and pounded at Travis.

He pushed William to the ground and lunged at her.

"Marry me, Aislinn. Please?" Travis begged breathlessly, as he held her captive from behind.
"Why should I?" She exclaimed as she struggled.

Sirens sounded and Travis grew tense. "I'll be back for you, Aislinn."

She turned in his arms, looked up at him and tried to hold on to him.
"Travis, why are you doing this?"

He looked at her, half in panic at the sirens and half with need.
But he didn't answer.
"Travis... Go back home. I don't have feelings for you anymore."
She gently held on to his hand.
"Please? Travis..."
His hand gently squeezed hers.
"Aislinn... Believe me. I didn't know."
Sympathetically, she said, "I know, T." She raised a hand to his face, his eyes full of remorse. Her heart broke a bit for him and the few years they'd had together broken by one night.

William groaned, Aislinn looked over at him and broke contact with Travis.

Travis, trying to get her attention, grasped her elbow.
"I'll be back for you, Aislinn."
Aislinn's focus went back to Travis who ran away.
"Travis, please..." He turned his head back at the sound of her soft voiced plea, "don't come back."
"I'm sorry, Aislinn..."

"Ace..." William whispered, still a heap on the floor.
She ran to see to him.

Guilt followed quickly as the ambulance appeared to check on William.

Travis always had a soft spot in her heart and giving him time to speak, her guard always seemed to give way to him.

She couldn't forgive herself for wasting time talking him into leaving as opposed to tending to William.

Guilt. With a capital G.

Were things never easy?