Change of Heart

by Judith Keim

  Before she could comment, Ava tugged on Devin’s arm. “Let’s go swimming.”

  “Sure. We need to get unpacked first.”

  “And then I’m going grocery shopping,” said Em. “I’ve already made a list.”

  “Sounds good. I’m ready to grill up a steak,” said Devin, patting his stomach.

  She chuckled. She’d forgotten what it was like with a man around. They’d stopped at a fast-food place on the way down the Gulf coast from Tampa, but they needed something better for dinner.

  As Em placed her things in the bedroom she’d stayed in before, she looked out at the swaying palm trees and the water beyond and felt the tenseness leave her muscles. There was something about the sun, the sand, and the smell of the water that made her feel relaxed. Or maybe it was the magic of the cottage sitting comfortably at the edge of the wide expanse of white sand that filled her with a sense of peace.

  She helped Ava get settled in her room and into her bathing suit and laughed at the sight of Ava prancing around the room in her new, pink, sparkly bathing suit. Brown eyes snapping with excitement, Ava looked like a long-legged puppy galloping for the pure joy of it.

  “C’mon, you, let’s put some of that energy to use in the pool,” said Em. “While I go grocery shopping, you and Papi can swim.”

  ###

  Later, Em walked along the beach with Devin and Ava, loving the feel of the sand crystals beneath her feet. Every few steps she stopped to look at a shell Ava held up to her. Em was pleased by Ava’s interest in shells. They were such lovely gifts from the sea.

  “Tomorrow, before I leave for Miami to check in with my practice, we need to apply for the marriage license. Like I said, there’s a three-day waiting period after the issuance of a license unless we take the state pre-marital course.”

  “That will be perfect. The rest of my family won’t be here for another two days. Will your partners in the medical practice understand why you’re moving so quickly?”

  “They’re surprised, but pleased for me. The fact that Su Lynn can take over my practice is very helpful. That’s one reason I need to go to Miami. I don’t want any misunderstandings between Su Lynn and me. I need her to remain in Miami to take over for me.” Devin looked away at the water and then back to her. “She hoped I would change my mind about you.” He cupped Em’s face and lifted it into the sun before planting his lips on hers. “But I didn’t and never will.”

  “Hey! What are you doing?”

  Startled, Em jerked away from Devin and gazed down at Ava. “Papi is kissing Mami.”

  “Me too?” Ava held up her arms.

  Em lifted her into her arms and gave her a kiss. “There, Miss Ava. Are you okay now?”

  Ava nodded, and held out her arms to Devin. “Now Papi.”

  Em and Devin chuckled. Ava was a sweet girl who was needing more and more attention.

  ###

  On the walk back to the house, Em took her time while the lacy edges of the water washed over her feet and pulled away in a steady rhythm. She heard the gulls crying out as they swooped and dived in the air above her. She laughed at the sandpipers and other shore birds as they marched along the wet sand near the water, leaving imprints of their tiny feet behind.

  Devin took hold of one hand; Ava, the other. The three of them faced the rolling waves, lost in the beauty before them. There was something almost mystical about this scene. A lot of the magic lay in the presence of the two people beside her.

  “I’m hungry,” Ava said, breaking the spell.

  “Well, then, let’s go get dinner,” said Em. “Papi is going to grill meat, but we’ll give you a little snack to tide you over.”

  Back at the cottage, working in the kitchen with Devin seemed normal, as if they’d done it for years, not just a few times. Devin poured her a glass of red wine while she gave Ava some cheese and cool, green grapes.

  “Let’s go outside for a little bit before I grill the steak,” Devin said to her. “There’s something I want to show you.”

  Ava followed them out to the porch and sat down on the steps to eat her snack.

  Devin sat in a rocking chair next to her. “My mother didn’t have many material things in her life, but one thing she loved was a necklace that was given to her by a friend at work.” He pulled a small, white cardboard box from his pants pocket. “I thought you might like to wear it for our wedding. It would the ‘something old’ brides like to wear.”

  Em’s fingers shook as she accepted the box he handed her. She didn’t care what the necklace looked like, she knew it was something she’d always treasure.

  She lifted the lid of the box and gazed inside. On white tissue paper, a delicate gold chain held a tiny pendant of the sun. Her vision blurred with emotion.

  “I love it, Devin. I only wish I could have met your mother. I will wear this with pride. I especially love the idea that she will be part of our wedding.”

  “Thanks.” Devin’s eyes were bright with tears. “She would’ve loved you.”

  “Tell me about her,” she prompted.

  Devin sighed. “My mother worked two different jobs to keep us afloat. During the day, she worked as a secretary at an office. At night and on the weekends, she worked for a cleaning service. We never had much, but we got by. When I was fourteen, I had a job after school. All under the table, of course.”

  “She must have been so proud of you when she knew you wanted to become a doctor.”

  His expression was sad. “I got good grades, like she expected. And then when I saw what cancer did to her body, I knew for sure medicine is what I needed to do. I ended up in pediatrics after treating young patients in different countries and realizing how good, basic healthcare can make all the difference for a child.”

  Em took hold of his hand. “I know how much your patients must like and trust you.” She indicated Ava with a nod of her head. “She’s just one example of it, I’m sure.”

  “Yeah, I like them too,” Devin said simply.

  She loved that he was so modest. She leaned over and kissed him.

  “Are you kissing again?” Ava said, breaking them apart with laughter.

  “Yes. See the necklace Devin gave me?” Em held it up for Ava to see. “It’s very special.”

  “For me? It’s pretty.”

  “It’s for me, but someday, I might let you wear it. Now, give me a kiss.”

  Smiling, Ava kissed her.

  Em hugged her tight. “You know the magical thing about kisses?”

  Ava’s eyes rounded. “It’s magic?”

  “Uh, huh. Magic because there are always enough to go around.”

  Ava nestled closer.

  Em nibbled at Ava’s neck, covering it with lots of kisses, stopping only when Ava shrieked with laughter.

  ###

  The next morning, the three of them headed for the Clerk of the Court’s office to get the marriage license. It was to be a simple matter—driver’s licenses and a fee of $93.50. However, when they arrived, they discovered two other couples ahead of them.

  “What’s happening?” Devin murmured to Em. “I didn’t know so many people were getting married these days.”

  “July is a nice month for a wedding,” said Em, thinking of her own. She held onto Ava’s hand as a child ahead of them, shrieked, “No! You can’t make me!”

  A young mother had a little boy by the arm and was jerking him around. “I told you that you couldn’t have any candy right now. Hand it over.”

  “Noooo!” screamed the little boy. “You can’t make me!”

  Em glanced at Ava, standing next-to-her, wide-eyed. Ava looked puzzled, then grinned when she heard the mother say, “Aw right, but no more after this.”

  Em observed Ava’s reaction, but decided not to make a lesson of this. Up to this point, Ava had been surprisingly easy to get along with.

  After they left the clerk’s office with the certificate in hand, Devin turned to Em. “Let’s get a rental car for you. I’ll drop this on
e off in Miami and drive my own car back. I want to get to the office, sign some papers, and get back to you as soon as possible.”

  At the car rental office, they found a SUV for Em, and then Devin took off for Miami.

  Em and Ava headed back to the cottage. The thought of a quiet day was tantalizing to Em. She planned to get in shorts and a T-shirt and keep Ava company. She might even convince Ava to take a nap. The last few days and weeks had been busy and emotional ones for each of them.

  The day rolled out nicely. Ava was happy to swim and play in the pool, allowing Em to relax while watching her. They had a leisurely lunch together, and then Em suggested they both lie down.

  “I don’t want to,” whined Ava, indicating how much she needed one.

  “How about reading on your bed?” Em suggested. From the look of the way Ava’s eyes were drooping, Em knew a book would put her to sleep in no time.

  Em gathered books and settled Ava on top of the bed with her doll and the books. She leaned down and kissed Ava’s cheeks. “Remember, no running around. You stay here and read. I’ll be in my room.”

  “Okay,” said Ava.

  Em left her and went to her room. She let out a sigh of exhaustion as she climbed onto her bed, punched the pillow to get it comfortable, and lay her head on it. She hadn’t realized how busy she’d been physically to get her business up and running, and though Gran’s flower shop was running smoothly with Bart and Tinker, it was another thing she had to oversee. Her entire body longed for relief.

  She listened for sounds from Ava’s room. Hearing none, Em closed her eyes.

  ###

  Sometime later, Em felt the movement of air around her and opened her eyes to see Ava tiptoe out of the room, carrying something white in her hands. She checked the top of the bureau and sat up quickly when she realized Ava had the box holding the necklace Devin had given her.

  “Ava! Wait!” she called, getting up.

  Giggling, Ava ran to the front door and opened it.

  “Ava! I need that box!” cried Em.

  On nimble feet, Ava ran down the porch steps and onto the sand.

  Em chased her. “Ava, stop!”

  “No!” Ava called back to her, laughing as if this was the best game of tag ever.

  Em lengthened her stride. Ava was heading for the water.

  “Stop, Ava!”

  Ava ran into the water and turned to her with a big grin, failing to see the large, rogue wave heading her way.

  One moment Ava was standing waving at her, the next, she was sprawled face down on the sand.

  Heart pounding with alarm, Em hurried toward her.

  Lifting her head, Ava looked at her and started to cry.

  Em picked her up and patted her back. She had scrapes on both her knees and blood on one cheek. It took Em a minute or two to realize the top of the box in Ava’s hand was gone, and the gold necklace was missing.

  Still holding onto Ava, Em scrambled about, searching for the necklace. The waves continued to rush in and move away again, shifting the sand at her feet, making the task impossible. Tears blurred Em’s vision. How could she tell Devin his precious gift was lost?

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Em sat in the kitchen holding Ava in her lap, staring at the wet, empty box sitting on the table, a reminder of all that had gone wrong. Em’s mind whirled with accusation. It wasn’t Ava’s fault. I should have placed the box in a secure drawer, should never have fallen asleep.

  Ava turned to her and patted her cheek. “I’m sorry, Mami.”

  “I am too,” Em replied, doing her best to rein in her sharp disappointment. It was an accident. An accident that should never have happened. An accident that would hurt Devin.

  “Let’s have you get changed into a bathing suit so you can take a walk along the beach with me.”

  “I don’t like the water.” Ava’s lips formed a pout.

  Em couldn’t blame her. Adhesive bandages covered several scrapes on her legs and on one arm. Her cheek had a good-sized scrape on it too. “I’m sorry you fell, Ava, but it’s important for you to get comfortable on the beach again.”

  Ava jumped off her lap, let the towel drop, and turned to face her, her hands on her hips. “You can’t make me!”

  Remembering how fascinated Ava had been with the belligerent boy at the Clerk’s office that morning, Em laughed. “Not going to work, Ava.” She picked up the towel and left the kitchen, smiling when she noticed Ava trailing behind her.

  Em knew there would be real challenges with Ava as the newness of the situation wore away. Until then, she was counting on Ava’s good nature and desire to please to make each day as pleasant as possible.

  ###

  Out on the sandy beach, Em lifted her face to the sky, allowing the warmth of it on her cheeks to melt some of the angst she was feeling about losing the necklace. She told herself that things could be worse. Ava could have been seriously hurt, even drowned by the unpredictable, large wave that had thrown her down on the sand.

  She took hold of Ava’s hand and squeezed it. “Shall we look for shells?”

  Ava’s wide smile lit her face, bringing new light to her dark eyes. “Can I hold the bag?”

  “Here you go.” Em handed her the net bag experienced shellers used to hold their treasures. “Stay with me.”

  Em led Ava to the water’s edge. On the hard-packed sand next to it, small piles of shells lay in intriguing collections. “Look there. I’m going to search in the water for the necklace.”

  Em stepped into the water warmed by the sun, its lacy fringe bubbling at her toes. She determined the flow of the water and gauged where it was best for her to look. Seeing no sign of the glitter of gold against the sandy backdrop. it, she gently moved the bottom sand with her toes, sending a cloud of white into the water.

  Em continued to look until she heard Ava say, “¡Mami, look!”

  Ava held up a shell. “See? It’s for Papi.”

  “Nice,” Em managed to say, wishing it was the necklace. She climbed out of the water wondering what words she could say to Devin to make everything right.

  Her cell phone rang. She pulled it from the pocket in her shorts and paused when she saw it was Devin. She clicked on the call. “Hi, Devin! What’s up?”

  “I just received a disturbing call from my lawyer. It seems that an aunt of Ava’s is claiming I stole her from her family. I am to meet her here in Miami tomorrow morning at my lawyer’s office.”

  “But you’ve already adopted her,” gasped Em. Her heart pounded so hard she couldn’t catch her breath.

  “Yes, but the aunt is claiming that because I went outside of normal channels to adopt her, it doesn’t count. I’m pretty sure this is all about money, but I have to be sure Ava will be secure with us.”

  “Do you want us to come to Miami?” Em asked, feeling sick.

  “Definitely not. Ava’s mother specifically asked me to take her, told me she couldn’t trust anyone else in the family. In all the times I was with Ava’s mother helping to care for her, I never met this sister or any other member of the family. Legal notices were posted at the time, but no one came forward.”

  “Oh, but ...” Em stopped, afraid she might burst into tears. She knew from reading about foster care that the courts always preferred children to be with their biological families. Trying not to let Ava see how upset she was, Em paced back and forth on the beach. She’d already opened her heart and her home to the little girl who bound her to Devin. She couldn’t let her go, couldn’t let someone else tuck her into bed at night, couldn’t allow her to be taken away.

  Ava came up to her and took hold of her hand, giving her a worried look. “¿Mami?”

  “Hold on,” Em said to Devin. She knelt on the sand and drew Ava to her, hugging her to her chest. “I love you, Ava.”

  “Si,” Ava responded, beaming at her. Satisfied, Ava trotted along the beach, dancing on her toes as she lifted her arms to the seagulls circling above her.

  Standing a
nd observing her, fresh tears filled Em’s eyes. Ava was a wonderful child.

  “Are you all right?” Devin asked when Em got back to the call.

  “I will be,” said Em with new determination. “I’m not going to let anyone try to take our little girl away.”

  “I don’t think there’s any real danger of that happening,” said Devin. “Not with all the legal documents I have, including a signed and notarized statement from Ava’s mother. But it’s something we have to face so we can settle the matter once and for all.”

  “If it involves money and it comes to it, I’ll help pay whatever it takes,” said Em.

  Devin chuckled. “That’s my girl. But it won’t be necessary. As my lawyer told me, we can’t allow that to happen. People like Paloma Torres would just keep coming back for more.”

  “It’s an awful thing to use a child to get money,” said Em.

  “Yes, it is. I’m happy to know she’s safe with you,” Devin said.

  Em’s stomach curled. He didn’t know how careless she’d been with Ava, allowing her to get hurt in the water. It was another thing she dreaded to tell him.

  “I’ve got to go. I’ll see you tomorrow,” said Devin.

  “Good luck with the meeting. Please call me as soon as you can. I’ll be waiting to hear from you. Take care, Devin. Love you.”

  “Love you too,” he said quietly, and clicked off the call.

  Em held the phone in her hand, staring at the water, wondering how things could get so messed up in such a hurry.

  She gazed at Ava bending over to look at a shell. The tan bandages on her dark skin seemed like badges of courage. Em was glad neither Devin nor his lawyer could see Ava now.

  ###

  That evening, Em and Ava sat on the front porch eating the “picnic supper” Em had hastily put together. The onshore breeze held a bit of coolness that had been missing earlier, and the soft air on her skin felt good to Em. Since Devin’s call, she’d been unable to stop the squeezing of her stomach any time she thought of losing Ava.

  The sliced chicken sandwiches cut in small squares looked festive on paper plates along with pickles, chips, and assorted fresh fruit.