"Aiden?"

My knuckles rapped on the door. I halted, listening in. I didn't see Aiden leave the house. He must have chosen to be alone in his room.

"Come in," he said. 

I pushed the door open and stepped over the threshold. "Hey. The coast is clear. Would you like to take a walk?"

Aiden nodded, removing his laptop from his lap, and followed me downstairs. 

With everyone in their rooms, silence reigned in the house. Hadn't it been for Steve, we would be spending the evening chatting or watching a movie together. There would be laughter and a festive atmosphere we all needed after months of hard work.

It wasn't often that I saw my dad, and the situation wouldn't change anytime soon unless one of us quit his job. I hated the idea of not taking advantage of my dad's stay here.

Aiden got dressed, and we headed to the forest. The snow crunched under our boots. The only other sounds came from the birds twittering and chirping in the trees.

"Do you like it here?" I asked Aiden to break the silence.

The boy nodded. "It's amazing. It reminds me of a place we went to when I was a kid."

"Where was it?"

Aiden shrugged. "I don't remember much. I was little. Those were the only times I traveled if we don't take moving cities into account."

"And later?"

"Later, nothing was the same," Aiden said. "Contrary to what Ellie's uncle thinks, my life isn't so stereotypical. No ski resorts and beach vacations for the businessman's kid."

I slowed down, and so did Aiden. It would get dark soon. Venturing into the woods wasn't a smart idea. Nodding in the direction of the house, I spun on my heel and made a few steps forward.

"We're not going home," I said to the boy. "I was going to have a drink outside the house. Will you join me?"

"Sure," mumbled Aiden.

He wasn't the most talkative guy I'd met, but he'd never been as quiet as he was now. 

As soon as we were next to the house, I led the way to the back porch you could access from one of the dens downstairs. Nobody would disturb us here. 

"Wait for me," I said. 

What I needed was in the garage. I went there and returned to Aiden with a bottle of cognac and two shot glasses.

"Maybe it's not smart to let you drink, but I—"

Aiden laughed. "Not my first time, don't worry."

"Thought so." I winked at him. "This cognac is good. My dad brought it from France some years ago. Let's sit."

We lowered ourselves onto the chairs at the small round table I'd put there for when I wanted to enjoy some fresh air having a cup of coffee, and reading.

"What was living in France like?"

I looked at Aiden. Curiosity shone through his dark eyes, and I was grateful for his willingness to talk to me.

"It's different," I said. "But a good kind of different. It's a beautiful country that has it all — the picturesque scenery, the good food, and traditions."

"Why did you come here? Sorry if the question seems nosey. I was just wondering."

"I needed a change," I said. "And the opportunity knocked on my door. I had my doubts, but my dad and Claude convinced me to open my bistro."

"They were right in the end." Aiden smiled. 

I raised my glass. "Cheers to that!"

Aiden and I downed the first shot. Silence engulfed us. This time, I was the one to break it.

"I know you probably don't want to talk about it, but I wanted to tell you not to be upset by Steve's words. Don't let them get to you."

Aiden sighed. "Too late. As much as I hate it, he does have a point."

"I don't think so," I said.

Aiden leaned back in his chair and stared off into the distance. "He doesn't like me, but I'm not a huge fan of myself, either. Ellie can do better than me. I've always known it. I guess I just selfishly hoped that who I am right now would be enough, but I can't blame her if she wants more.

"Ellie's uncle thinks I don't deserve her, and he's right. Everything about my future is undecided. There's nothing certain. I don't even know what I want to study."

I refilled our glasses and handed Aiden his. "What do you like? There must be something you're passionate about."

Aiden gulped down the cognac and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "I love architecture, but my father insists on me studying Finance. I'd rather not argue with him."

Unease settled deep in my bones at the look on Aiden's face. He seemed dejected, as if he had nothing to look forward to or fight for. 

I'd been there, too. Fortunately, Aiden's situation was different from mine.

"You should make your own choices," I said. "Your father needs to understand that. We spend way too much time of our lives working to have a job we hate."

Aiden smiled. "I know. I'm just...It's hard for me to plan and make decisions about my future now. I hope Ellie stays with me and we can go to college together when the time comes, but I'll be done with school this year, and she still has a year ahead of her."

"Time flies. Have you talked to Ellie about it?"

"We did talk." Aiden twirled the glass in his hands. "But I couldn't tell her much when I know nothing yet. She wants to apply for grants, and being the brilliant student she is; I have no doubt she'll get one."

"You can apply for grants too," I said. 

"Doing it doesn't mean I will get one, Thierry."

I didn't want to insist, cross the lines, and push. I would be a hypocrite if I told Aiden I had plans for the future when I was his age.

It was thanks to Jean that I found something that gave me purpose when I desperately needed one. Without him and my dad, things could have been much worse.

"Maybe you won't get it," I spoke after a moment of silence. "And it's okay not to have everything figured out. Sometimes the events guide you, indicating the path you have to follow. 

"The only thing you have to do is believe in yourself and stay true to yourself, which also means not letting others make you think you're unworthy. Focus on those who love you and care about you."

"Thank you," Aiden said. 

His expression didn't give him away. I failed to read him despite my age and experience. All I could do was hope that I managed to help him, if only a little. 

Despite the harshness of Steve's words and his animosity toward Aiden, the biggest challenge Aiden would face had nothing to do with Ellie's uncle. 

Like me, he had to learn to love and accept himself, and it wouldn't happen overnight.