Novels by Naza

Drew’s heart was full as he watched Aunt Lauren fuss over Madeline and their daughter. She, Uncle Keith and Aiden had come over immediately they got home from the hospital.He noted the look of wonder that came upon his wife’s face as she stared at the face of the precious baby in her arms.Melissa Vivianne McBride.Melissa because Madeline had always loved the name. Vivianne after his mother.He may or may not have choked up when she named their daughter after his mother.A tap on his shoulder turned his gaze away from the two people he had been staring at all day. “I have something to tell you.” Aiden said, his eyes so serious.He remembered when Madeline told him that Aiden would let him know what had been going on when it was time. It seemed now was time.With a nod, he stood up, mouthed the words, “be right back” to Madeline and headed to his study, Aiden keeping in step with him.He opened the door and allowed Aiden to step in first before bringing in the rear. “What’s it, Aid

“Wait, what?” Aiden’s eyes bounced between Drew and Maddie.Drew nodded. “You are going to be an uncle.”Aiden swallowed hard. The hard guy looked as if he was about to tear up. “I wanted to ask how but I remember how many times I had to excuse myself out of the room so that you guys could…”“Aiden!” Drew exclaimed while she just laughed. “We get it.”Aiden’s face softened in a smile. He stood up and pulled her up into a hug. Then he gave Drew a one-shouldered hug. “Congratulations, guys. I am so happy for you both. To think that I was so opposed to all these from the beginning.” His eyes got flooded with emotions. “I am so glad it all worked out. Does Mom and Dad know?” “Aunt Lauren was the first to figure it out.” Drew answered. “Even before we did.”Aiden laughed, then suddenly got caught up in his thoughts. When he pulled himself out of his thoughts, he flashed them a bright — perhaps a tad overbright — smile. “Whether a boy or a girl, I am the child’s godfather. You guys going t

“I am fine!” Maddie esclaimed for the umpteeneth time that day and it was only just one in the afternoon.“I will believe that when you stop sleeping like a log of wood.” Drew shot back.Her mouth rounded in an ‘O’ of surprise, then she burst into laughter. “That was not so very nice, Drew. You don’t go around telling a woman that she sleeps like a log of wood.”“Not when the woman is my wife and is stubbornly claiming that she is fine even though clearly she isn’t.”She had been sleeping alot recently. And she might or might not have just woken up from what was supposed to be a very short nap that elongated into a good sleep. But that was not the point. She was fine. “I am fine. Everyone has the right to feel overwhelmed once in a while.”“What is overwhelming you, love.?”“School. Classes. Reading. I am preparing for exams and I have been reading alot.”“Baby, you’ve been falling asleep while reading. The number of times I’ve had to carry you from where you had zonked out to the b

It was like he lost his parents all over again.Drew stared at the headstone marking the remains of his parents, and his heart constricted within him. His grip on the bouquet of flowers tightened. Never had he felt so much anger.As he read the epitaph, the words “they shouldn’t be here” kept echoing in his mind. And that did nothing to help his anger. Or grief.He wasn’t sure he felt grief. Not when it felt like his heart was a hollow basket, and the lacrimal glands in his eyes had gotten so dry, he was no longer capable of producing tears.Was this what grief felt like?A soft hand covered his hand holding the flowers. Feminine fingers pried his fingers from their chokehold, collecting the flowers in the process. Without a word, he watched his wife lay the flowers on his parent’s grave. When she turned, wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his chest, he held her tightly. Like she was his anchor. And she was. In this time when he felt out of touch with everything,

Aiden looked like death warmed over. Maddie opened the door wider and stepped back. “You look terrible.”Aiden chuckled. “Thank you.” He sobered. “It is good to see you.”She smiled back. She really must have given Drew the scare.”This is where I belong.”“Glad you realized it before I had to lasso you and drag you back to my friend.”She laughed. “I would like to see you try. Drew is asleep and you look like you could use a good nap yourself. Why don’t you make use of one of the guest rooms?”Aiden nodded and started towards the stairs.“This was what you suspected, wasn’t it?” She asked, stopping him on his tracks. “That day I accused you.”“I won’t say accuse. It was more of a challenge. And yes, it is what I suspected. After his parents’ will was read and he disappeared to his mountain cabin, my dad mentioned it in passing one day that Rich had been the one to suggest that the caveat be tied to Drew’s inheritance. According to Dad, the caveat was supposed to be on all of his inhe

Since Maxwell lawyered up, the questioning as it were was over — or at least till his lawyer arrived. But Drew could not find the strength to move from the spot he had been standing since the questioning started. Maxwell’s confession was still echoing in his head. His parents’ accident had not been an accident but a murder. His parents should not have died.His throat closed and it was all he could do to breathe.The door to the observation room opened and Aiden walked in. his friend’s eyes were pained. He moved towards Drew. “it is going to be a long night. You should head home.”All he could do was nod.Aiden was quiet for some moments. “I am sorry you had to hear that.”He shook his head. “I am not. It hurts like dickens but it is better than never knowing.”Aiden’s hand came up to squeeze his shoulder in an act of comfort. “Take care. I’ll come by the house once I am done here.”He nodded. “I will have Max drop you.”He sure was not in the mental state to drive himself. “Thank