Novel Excerpt- Stained Glass

“Table for two, Sir?”
“Yes, please,” Aaron answered with nerves dancing in his voice as the host led Aaron and Elise through the ambient lighting to a small candle lit booth.
“Wow this place is nice,” Elise said once Aaron had helped her slide into the booth.
“Patrick suggested it.”
“Looks a little better than the food at the soup kitchen,” Elise said with a laugh as her eyes dived into the menu. Aaron’s eyes ignored the plates, but mainly looking at the prices. But Patrick was right about the decent costs.
“Luke was glad to hear you are doing well, and my Da wanted to say that you and your family are in his prayers.”
“Uh, thanks,” Aaron said unsure if he actually wanted Hal’s prayers. “Guess who called me today?”
“Who?”
“Father Callum, he wants me to go into work tomorrow.”
“Are you going,” Elise asked focusing her concerned eyes on Aaron.
“I don’t know. Ma’s doing better, and the Dr. Laurence is impressed with her improvements. But he’s still pessimistic. Since they didn’t think she would wake up in the first place that we are above the odds.”
“Glad to see you smile,” Elise said setting aside the menu.
“It’s nice to have a reason too,” Aaron said taking Elise’s hand in his.
Not long after they ordered their food came, and Aaron couldn’t remember the last time he has sat still enough to enjoy his food and his company. But as they ate a strange feeling started rolling around in Aaron’s stomach. The food was good, but the air within the eating house took on an eerie chill.
Aaron looked out the front windows to see shadows rushing about the streets and in a snap the window panes shattered and screams rang out. Aaron’s gut was in knots as he slipped down beneath the booth.
“Elise get down here,” Aaron shouted and Elise joined him her eyes filled with shock. Aaron pulled her close to his chest as painfully familiar sounds filled the streets and the restaurant. Gun shots pierced through the air, shouts full of hatred, and fists hitting flesh soon joined by the agonizing noise of police sirens.
Aaron closed his eyes as the sounds danced teasingly around his head. Reminding him of Brody, Faye, and the others he had once shared in the mayhem with. His heart ached at the people he hurt, and his eyes watered at the fact that the woman in his arms had been one of his victims. How could she forgive him so easily after four years, when he had yet to forgive his Da’s executioner?
“It’s safe to come out now,” a police officer said calmly from the end of the booth. Elise crawled out and Aaron followed, but part of him wanted to hide from his past for the rest of his life.