A Million Reasons

Chapter Five: Confessions

Aaliyah watched in amazement, from the window of Nathaniel's Aston Martin Vanquish, as rows of painted gingerbread houses blended into one beautiful collage. The past week and a half had been the happiest time of her life—spending every night in Nathaniel's arms and waking up to his handsome face every morning—it was a dream. And now, he was sweeping her away for a romantic weekend in Martha's Vineyard. If his goal was to win her heart, he had accomplished that, and so much more. He made her believe in love again, something she never thought possible.

"Penny for your thoughts, beautiful." Nathaniel smiled as Aaliyah's attention turned from the view to his blue eyes. Taking her hand in his, he brought it to his lips and held it there before he kissed.

"This...this is amazing, Nate. I really needed this." She sighed, as she watched an even broader smile illuminate his face.

"You just wait until we get to the house. I'll show you amazing." He gave her a sultry look, filled with promise.

"You better," She teased as she turned her attention back to the scenery. "So, this is your family estate?"

"Yeah. When my mother was alive, we used to vacation here every summer. It was one of the happier times in my childhood."

Aaliyah's heart ached at the thought of how lonely he must have felt as a child. A part of her wished they had met back then. She would have been his champion and protected him from the sorrows of life.

From what he told her about his father, they never had a close relationship, and when his mother died, it became even more distant. When his father remarried, six months after his mother's death, Nathaniel and Caroline were sent off to boarding school. The only time they saw him was Christmas and summer vacation.

When Thaedyn showed up at his high school graduation, following the failure of yet another marriage, and hoping to establish some kind of relationship, Nate was indifferent. He had learned to live without a father and saw no point in fixing what had broken long ago.

"Are you ok with this?" Aaliyah asked. Her face marred with concern.

"Baby. I plan on making new memories here—with you." He kissed the back of her palm again and Aaliyah fought back the words she'd been longing to say since that night he showed up at her door and made love to her.

*****

As they turned down the gravel driveway which led to the house, Aaliyah was surprised to see a modest cape cod with weathered shingles, perched on a hill overlooking the ocean.

"It's beautiful, Nathaniel." She gasped, as he opened the car door and helped her out.

"Not as beautiful as you." He held her in his arms and kissed the top of her head.

"Come on, let's get inside." He smiled as he popped the trunk and retrieved their luggage.

Wrapping her arms around herself, she followed Nathaniel into the house. She couldn't help but imagine him playing here as a little boy, his curly dark hair flailing in the breeze as he chased his sister around the yard.

"Our room is down this hall. I'll put the bags up. Make yourself at home." Nathaniel smiled as he placed the keys in a dish bowl and headed down a long hall.

"Ok," Aaliyah smiled as she followed the translucent light that radiated through the living room windows.

"Whoa." She gasped as she entered the main living room with its vaulted ceilings and walls of windows that framed the most breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean.

"Rich people really know how to live." She whispered as the inner-city girl inside her, felt out of place.

"You like?" Nathaniel joined her, wrapping his arms around her.