"I'm not sure how long Justin plans on keeping me away today, so until I get home, I'd like you to please follow this list I have written out, and please follow my instructions to a T—his feeding times, what I'd like him to eat at each time, and how much of each one." I pointed, sliding my finger down and up the paper. "And whatever you do, don't you dare screw up Wyatt's feeding time. Got it?" I instructed, sliding the jar of foods I wanted Wyatt to have next to my instructions.

"Yes, ma'am," Gunner replied, saluting me.

"I'm serious," I said, raising eyebrows. "Unless you want to deal with a crabby boy, do what you want. Just know when I get home and if I see Wyatt's cranky. He'll be all yours for the rest of the day, including overnight."

"Yes, Mama Bear. Don't worry, Wyatt and I will be just fine," Gunner assured. I'm sure they'll be fine. It's just that Wyatt's finally in a good mood, and I'd hate to have him back to the irritable, sullen state of mind that was causing me to become emotional myself—testing my sanity.

"What if this Casanova boy toy of yours screws up my feeding time?" Walter asked, a serious look on his face.

I giggled. I don't know why Walter suddenly started calling Gunner Casanova, but it cracks me up. "I'm sure that won't happen. I know how demanding you get when you're hungry, Walter. You're similar to Wyatt when he's hungry."

"I resemble that remark," Walter grinned, knowing my statement's true.

I looked from Walter to Gunner, assuring, "You'll all be fine."

"So will you," Walter mumbled, confusing me with his remark.

"I will be what, Walter?" I asked, looking back at him. What does he mean, I'll be fine?

"I didn't say anything." He looked at Gunner and arched his bushy brow. "Did I say something?"

Gunner's head shook. "I didn't hear anything."

"You're both liars. I heard him plain as day. Walter said, so will you," I challenged, planting my hands on my hips and looking back and forth from Gunner to Walter. Since both of them had entered the room, they'd acted strangely. "What are you two up to now? Are you planning on getting drunk again while I'm gone?"

"I wish," Walter breathed. "I enjoyed getting drunk the other night with Mr. Casanova over there," he grinned. "It brought me back to my younger years." He paused, looked up at the ceiling, and in awe, he said with a smile. "Those were the days..."

"Walter..."

"Aria..." he mocked back. "Don't you stand there looking at us like we're a bunch of fools. We're not dumb, and we're not irresponsible men. So why would you think we'd get drunk while taking care of a youngin?"

"I know you're not stupid, and I know you're not irresponsible, so I didn't think you two would do such a thing. But it doesn't stop the fact that I can still see that you both have something hiding up your sleeves."

Walter raised his arms, asking, "What sleeves? I have a t-shirt on," he grinned, thinking he was being funny.

"I have nothing up my sleeve. The only thing I have planned for today is teaching the kid some fighting moves." Gunner grinned, raising his fists and throwing punches in the air. "That way, when you piss off Wyatt, he'll be able to show you what he thinks of it," he chuckled.

My brows furrowed.

"I'm kidding. I'm kidding," Gunner pleaded with his hands up, palms facing me. "You have nothing to worry about. Trust us."

I sighed. I know Walter and Gunner are up to something. I just wish I knew what it was.

Justin walked in and sat down at the table. He was quieter than usual, and he looked nervous. "Are you okay?" I asked, handing Wyatt over to Gunner.

He looked at his fidgeting hands as they rested on top of the table. "Yeah, I'm fine. I didn't get much sleep last night, and I feel tired."

Justin's acting weird, too. What's with the men in the room today?

"Are you sure?"

Justin finally looked at me. "Yeah. Are you ready to leave?"

"I am if you are," I responded, looking at Justin and studying his facial expression. The contorted look on his face, and the actions in his body language, have me hoping it has nothing to do with his relationship with Nikki. I know there's a position at her work that she's been wanting for years, and ever since that spot opened, she's been working a lot more, hoping to show her place of employment how badly she wants the job, with hopes that it'll help her get the promotion.

Justin stood, snapping his fingers and then popping his fist into the palm of his hand, avoiding looking at me. "Let's go."

I looked at Gunner, shrugging a shoulder. "I guess I'll see you later." I stepped closer to Gunner, kissed Wyatt's chubby cheek, then kissed Gunner on the lips. "Remember, don't screw up Wyatt's feeding schedule."

"I know. I know..."

"Hey, where the hell is my kiss?" Walter asked, teasing me with puckered lips.

I smiled, shaking my head and giggling as I followed Justin out. "Bye, Walter, stay out of trouble."

"Trouble's my middle name!" Walter yelled.

I watched how Justin walked as I followed him to his car. It was slow-paced, and he'd look from the ground to the sky, and when he got to his door, it took time for him to open it. Finally, he looked at me, then looked down and opened the door without saying anything.

What the hell is his deal?

Did he and my best friend break up? God, I hope not. They're perfect for each other. I wanted to ask if that was the case, but was afraid to hear the answer, so as I buckled my seat belt, I asked, "So, where are you taking me?"

"Did you eat?"

"I had a yogurt."

"I'm fucking starving," he emphasized before backing out of my driveway.

"I'll buy breakfast if you'd like to eat somewhere."

He looked at me for a moment, then turned and faced the road. "I'm the one who wanted us to hang out. I'll buy."

One thing I learned from Walter is to never argue with your elders. Justin may be my brother and only four years older than me, but he's still older and the one who mainly raised me, so I guess he wins this one. "Okay."

He said nothing more, so I remained quiet, watching to see where he was taking me. And out of all the restaurants he drove past, it surprised me that he picked a small diner on the opposite side of town. A restaurant I hadn't been to since we were kids and one our parents used to bring us to when they were still together.

"Why did you decide to bring me here? I always thought that because of the circumstances, you'd never step foot inside this restaurant again."

He shrugged. "I don't know. I wanted something different from the usual and felt we'd go down memory lane since we haven't been here in a long time. I'm also curious to see if their food is still as good as I remember." He extended his hand toward the entrance of the building. "Shall we?"

We walked in, found a table that still needed to be cleared, and sat. As we waited for the table to be cleaned, I looked around—looking at the walls and the paintings. Then, as I stared at one of the paintings, one that was my favorite when I was a child, I smiled. "Nothing has changed. Everything looks the same inside, except it has more cracks on the walls and ceiling."

Justin looked around, agreeing.

Finally, a waitress came to our table, and as she started to clear it off, she apologized, "Sorry about the dirty table and the wait. We've been swamped all morning."

"It's all right. We're in no rush," Justin responded.

"What can I get you two to drink?"

"I'll have a coffee," Justin said, surprising me since he never drinks coffee.

"And you?" she asked, lifting the stack of dishes off the table. "Would you like coffee also?"

"Do you have apple juice?"

She smiled warmly. "We do. I'll be back with those, and your menus are next to the wall," she informed, jutting her chin toward the menus hidden behind the napkins, syrup, and jam.

Justin reached for the menus, handing me one, but when I went to take it from his hand, he held onto it. "Don't you dare do as you always do," he ordered. "We haven't got all day to sit here, so look and pick," he warned, finally letting me take the menu.

"Fine..."

I looked at the menu, and because I didn't have to fight for a couple of weeks, and since Neron wasn't here to tell me what I couldn't eat, I decided to splurge. Smelling the sweet maple syrup beside me and seeing the couple beside us eating the Belgium waffles had me immediately deciding what I wanted.

After the waitress took our order and left, Justin got quiet as he looked out the window. "Are you sure nothing is wrong?"

He looked back at me and shook his head. "Nothing is wrong; I just have a lot on my mind."

"What about?"

"Everything," he said quietly, without enlightening me further.

I started thinking the worst, and then my heart felt like it was breaking in two. "You didn't break up with Nikki, did you?"

"No," he assured, "we didn't break up."

I exhaled in relief. "Thank God."

"Actually, we've never been better," he said, his frowned mouth finally curving upward.

Whew.

That's a relief. Because had Nikki and Justin broken up, I'd find it very awkward if Nikki was ever to come over to my place when he was there, or vice versa.

With a smile still brightening my brother's unshaven face, he reached to the side of his jacket and then removed something from his pocket. As his hand came up and over the table, covering whatever he held in his hand, my heart gained speed.

Is he finally proposing to Nikki?

My eyes shot from his hand up to his eyes. "If you're proposing to my best friend, you better fucking show me what you bought her!" I stated, excitedly raising my voice.

He chuckled, then opened the little black box and held it closer for me to see. "Do you think Nikki will approve?"

I quickly grabbed the box from his hand, and as I brought it closer to me, I squealed when I saw all the beautiful sparkling diamonds. "Justin, it's absolutely gorgeous! Of course, she'll approve!"

"Oh my gosh! How exciting!" the waitress screeched as she stood at the table's edge, her eyes on the ring as she held our plates in her hands. "Girl, with a beautiful diamond ring like that, you better say yes!"

My eyes widened. "I'm not marrying him!"

She looked at the ring, then at me, eyeing me with confusion written all over her face. "Why would you say no?"

I giggled and pointed at Justin. "Because that's my brother. He was just showing me the ring he bought his girlfriend, wondering if she'd approve. Not only that," I started saying, then held up my left hand, flashing her my ring. "I'm already married."

"Oh my. How embarrassing," the waitress said, red-faced as she set our plates down. "I shouldn't have assumed the way I did. I'm so sorry."

"Don't be embarrassed. It's okay," I assured. It's not like she knew. Besides, had I walked up to a woman looking at a big sparkling rock like the one Justin was showing me. I would have done the same as her since it's only natural for us women to get excited when we see someone getting proposed to, and even more excited when we see the ring.

"When do you plan on proposing to her?" I asked, filling every pocket of my waffle full of syrup.

Justin's eyebrows raised as he watched me soak my waffle full of sugar. "You better not let Neron see you eating that."

"What he doesn't know won't kill him, right?" I giggled, setting the bottle of syrup down beside me. "I've been eating everything he wants me to eat since Wyatt was born. So this meal is owed to me."

"Good luck with that sugar coma you're about to place yourself in," Justin grinned.

"Anyway," I groaned, wanting to change the subject. "You didn't answer me. So when are you planning on proposing?"

"Tonight."

"Is this why you wanted a brother, sister day and the surprise you talked about?" I asked, taking a bite of my waffle.

"Partially," he said, chewing his food.

I swallowed. "Partially? What's the other reason?"

He stopped chewing, and his eyes flickered up to mine. As we eyeballed one another, my head tilted to the side, trying to figure out why he wasn't saying anything. Finally, he aimed his fork at me, then lowered it, pointing at my food. "Eat your food before it gets soggy."

Ugh. That's not what I wanted to hear my brother say. "Justin. It would be nice to know why you're acting the way you are and what we're doing today."

He furrowed his brows. "Does it matter?"

"Yes."

"Why? Why would it matter? You're hanging out with me. That should be enough not to ask what I've planned for us."

I looked down at my diabetic waffle and stabbed my fork into it. I think I finally figured out Justin's problem and what he's up to. "I'm not going," I said quietly.

"You're not going where?"

I pushed my plate towards him, then folded my arms against my chest as I glared into his eyes. "Cut the crap, Justin."

He leaned forward, pushed my plate back toward me, and pointed. "Finish your food, please. And don't look at me like that," he muttered.

I looked away from him and down at my food, shaking my head.

"Aria, listen to me. I've been talking to Doctor Fisher. Mom's been asking for you. She believes they're the ones who are keeping us from seeing her. Come on, Aria. Be the person you've grown to become."

My brother tricked me.

He fucking tricked me.

I stabbed my fork into the small piece of waffle I had just cut and shoved it into my mouth. "I really thought you wanted to hang out with me today. Had I known this was your plan? I would have told you to fuck off."

"You can still tell me to fuck off. Do what you got to do. I don't care. All I'm asking is for you to open your heart. Our mother needs us."

"Does Gunner know about your plan?"

He nodded. "He does."

"Now I know why Gunner and Walter were acting the way they were. And the meaning behind Walter's comment."

"What comment was that?"

"That I'll be fine."

Justin smiled and leaned back in his chair. "Walter's right. Now, let's finish our breakfast, so we can finally go see mom."

***

It was utter silence after leaving the restaurant. I didn't know what to think or what to say to Justin without having him pull over to the side of the road so I could beat the crap out of him. So instead of opening my mouth to argue with him—an argument I know I wouldn't win, I looked out the window.

Twenty-five minutes later, my heart changed course when I realized where we were and how close we were to where our mother was. Instead of my heart beating slowly as it was before, it's now thumping rapidly and to the point where I feel like I'm having a panic attack.

Justin finally broke the silence. "Are you still pissed at me?"

"No. I'm not pissed at you," I said quietly, looking at him. "You still should have told me what we were doing instead of sneaking around acting like you wanted to hang out."

"Had I told you. You would have fought and argued with me. The version of your reaction at the restaurant was nothing. Had I done it at your place? I wouldn't be here, pulling up to this place here," he pointed.

Here I thought the feeling of being nervous and sick before a fight was a huge deal. Now I know that was nothing. Because what I'm feeling now is so much bigger than that. My heart is racing, my nerves are running rampant, and everything I just ate is trying to force its way out of my stomach. The anxiety I had growing up and learned to control has now figured a way to retake control over me.

I was fucking nervous.

Actually, I felt like I was more like a cat on a hot tin roof.

"Relax, Aria," Justin urged, wrapping his arm around my shoulder as we walked inside the building.

Justin looked at the woman seated behind the counter, but didn't say anything. Instead, he just kept walking us to what seemed like the elevators.

"Ah, Justin? Does Doctor Fisher know you're coming?" A woman said behind us. I looked at Justin, then spun around to see who it was.

How the hell does she know his name?

I pointed at Justin. "You know, my brother?"

Justin's arm raised, covering my mouth with his hand, stopping me from talking. "He knows we're on the way. If you could please, let him know Aria and I are Herr and that we're on the way up," he said, pulling me into the elevator after the doors opened.

I turned to him, and as my hands gripped my hips, I scowled. "How does that nurse know your name? Have you been coming here this entire time?"

Justin slowly shook his head. "No. She just remembered me from the night you kicked my ass. Instead of going home, I came here and talked with mom's doctor."

"You weren't planning on telling me that, either. Were you?"

He shook his head no. The only reason he told me now was that he got busted again.

Fucker.

I walked up to Justin, and with no warning. I did what I enjoyed doing to Neron once—I heel, palm, striked him.

"Damn it, Aria. You didn't have to do that," he groaned, rubbing his nose. He lowered his hand and looked at the blood. "Now I'm fucking bleeding. That's just great, Aria... explain that one to the doctor," he whined as the doors opened.

I stepped out and walked toward the nurses sitting behind the counter. They didn't look my way, so I leaned over it and cleared my throat. "Excuse me. Do you have a Kleenex I can have? My brother's nose is bleeding."

She looked up and widened her eyes when she saw Justin standing behind me. She reached to her side, grabbed a box of tissues, then pulled out a few, handing them to me. "Here you go. I'll leave the box here in case he needs more."

"Thank you."

"We're here to see our mother," Justin replied, holding a tissue to his nose.

"Her name?"

"June Nelson."

The nurse smiled. "Ah, yes. We've been expecting you." She extended her hand to the chairs. "Please find a seat. I'll let the doctor know that you're here."

"He knows we're here," Justin said.

"Please sit," the nurse insisted.

Within seconds, the doctor walked over and sat across from us, offering me his hand. "Aria?" He asked when I placed my hand in his.

"Yes."

"It's nice to meet you finally." He smiled warmly, shook my hand, then looked at Justin. "I see you ran into a door again."

I silently giggled.

Justin didn't find the humor in it and changed the subject. "How is she today?"

"She's doing really good. Especially after telling your mother you and Aria were coming to see her. Her mood drastically changed. She's been in a mood that I've never seen her be in before."

"What kind of mood?" I nervously asked.

"She's in an excellent mood. She even cleaned herself up and had one of the nurses do her hair today. So your mother is definitely progressing, and she's going in the direction we've been hoping for." The doctor stood, waving for us to follow. "Follow me."

Justin's hand rested between my shoulder blades as we followed the doctor. At this point, I wasn't sure how to feel anymore. I was nervous, sweaty, and scared at the same time—scared of how she looked—afraid if she's still the same, faking the getting better act so we'd come to see her, and scared that by us coming here, it'll set her back.

"How would she know who we are? Will she even recognize us?" I whispered to Justin.

"Doctor Fisher?"

He stopped walking and turned around. "Yes, Aria. She will know who you are. She should, anyway."

"Um, how will my mother know it is us? Will she recognize us, or will she think we're imposters?"

The doctor smiled with his eyes glued to Justin. "You can thank your brother. He gave me some pictures to show her. Which, by the way, was a huge help to her improvement. So, thank you."

My eyes wandered from the doctors to Justin's. "What pictures?"

"Pictures of all of us. Recent pictures," Justin admitted nervously, then swallowed hard after seeing my eyes turn into slits, with flames shooting out.

I wasn't about to make a scene. Not here. And if I were to, I'd probably find myself where my mother is.

"Oh," I said quietly.

The doctor continued walking us down the hallway, then stopped in front of a room, slipped his key card into the slot, and opened the door, holding it open for us. "Go ahead and wait inside. I'll go get her."

Justin and I quietly walked over and sat on one of the couches. After waiting a few minutes, I looked at him, then down at my folded hands, twirling my thumbs around. Finally, the door opened, and my stomach dropped. I felt my stomach turning and looked at Justin, whispering, "I think I'm about to puke."

He rolled his eyes. "You'll be fine," he muttered.

I almost turned to look behind me but didn't, afraid to see what she looked like. Then, I lowered my head and closed my eyes when I felt a breeze hit my skin as the doctor and my mother walked past me.

"Aria, Justin, your mother is excited to see you; please raise your heads so she can get a good look at you."

I slowly opened my eyes, and then with my head still lowered, I wanted to take a peek at my mother. So I snuck a quick look by partially rolling my eyes up, and when I told myself to look back down, I couldn't. All I wanted to do was to look at her and study her. She was older, still pale, but she was just as beautiful as I last remember.

"Aria. Justin," the doctor spoke, sounding concerned since we were still looking down.

I took a deep breath, then slowly lifted my chin. A small smile crept up my face when my eyes met with hers. She, too, smiled, with a couple of tears strolling down her cheek. Then she extended her arms toward me. "Aria," my mother happily said. "My beautiful girl, please come over and hug me."

Hope you enjoyed the chapter!❤❤

⭐⭐Next chapter is an emotional one!⭐⭐