by Heather Beck
Knowing that she couldn’t put off the decision any longer, Ava took a deep breath and opened her bedroom door. In the hallway she saw Tessa leaning against the wall, waiting for Ava to come out of her room.
“Hey, sis,” Tessa said. “How are you feeling?”
“I’ve been better,” Ava said, giving her sister a small smile, so she’d know that she appreciated her concern. Since Ava was still hardly talking to her mom, Tessa was the only person she’d told about what had happened at Calor. Tessa had been an angel, listening to Ava and trying to give her advice. Ultimately, though, she said only Ava could make the decision about the lawsuit, and whatever that decision was, Tessa would support her one hundred percent.
“So, have you heard from Javier?” Tessa asked, her tone soft and caring.
Ava shook her head, thinking about how they hadn’t talked since that day at Calor. “To tell you the truth, I thought he might’ve called me by now. I know we left things badly, but still...” she let her voice trail off.
“Like I said, I’m sure he’s just trying to give you some space.”
“Maybe,” Ava said with a sigh. “It’s probably for the best, anyway.”
“Have you decided what you’re going to do?”
“Yeah, I’m...”
“Ava, we need to go,” Isabelle called from the bottom of the stairs.
“Coming!” Ava said before turning back to her sister. “We’ll talk later, okay?”
“Definitely.”
Ava gave Tessa a quick hug and then hurried down the stairs. She found her mom waiting in the foyer, and together they left the villa and got into the car, neither of them saying a word as they drove out of the driveway and along the street. Since it was an unusually hot day, the air conditioner was on and the windows were rolled up, somehow making their large car feel small and claustrophobic. It was the first time Ava and her mom had been together since Ava had learned about her parents’ divorce, and it was more than a little awkward.
“Are you nervous about meeting with the lawyer?” Isabelle finally broke the silence.
“Um, not really,” Ava said as she twirled a strand of her hair around her finger.
“Are you sure? Because we can talk about it if you want.”
“No, I’m fine.”
Isabelle sighed. “How long is this going to go on for?”
“What?”
“You know what. You’re shutting me out, Ava, and I hate it.”
“I’m sorry if I’m not acting the way you want me to. I’m having a hard time lying to my sister – not to mention dealing with everything else that has happened.”
“I know you’ve been through a lot. That’s why it’s more important than ever that we have each other’s back.”
“Then why are you pulling us apart? I know I can’t stop you and dad from getting a divorce, and I know you didn’t want me to find out the way I did, but all of this has happened, and what you’re asking me to do isn’t right.” Ava paused. “I’m sorry, Mom, but I’m not going to lie to Tessa anymore.”
There was a moment of silence and then Isabelle spoke. “I understand,” she said, almost as if she was ashamed.
“You do?”
Isabelle nodded. “It’s not fair to Tessa, and it’s definitely not fair to you. I’ve been thinking about this a lot, and after talking to your dad last night, I’ve decided to tell Tessa the truth.”
“Seriously?” Ava asked, surprised. Her mom had been so adamant that she keep the divorce a secret that Ava couldn’t imagine what had changed her mind.
Isabelle nodded. “I see what this is doing to you, and giving you another reason to be stressed is the last thing I want. I never meant to put you in the middle, but that’s what I’ve done. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Ava said, feeling all the animosity she’d had toward her mom for the past few days slipping away. “If you want, I can be with you when you tell Tessa. I know it’s not going to be easy.”
“That’s sweet of you, but I think I should do it myself. I just hope I can find the right words.”
“I’m sure you will,” Ava said, praying that she was right. She knew her sister would not take this news well, but she also knew that she deserved the truth.
“Thanks, and I guess I have a little time to figure it out,” Isabelle said, making a left-hand turn as she headed downtown. “Right now, we need to concentrate on the meeting with the lawyer. You must have a lot of questions you want to ask him. I know I have a few.”
“Actually, I’ve given this a lot of thought, and I...” Ava stopped mid-sentence as her eyes fell upon something outside. It was Javier, coming down the steps of the police station and heading to his car that was parked on the street. Fear washed over her as she thought the worst – Miguel had convinced Carlos to press charges and Javier was at the station because he’d just been questioned about the fight at La Rosa y Espina.
“Honey, is everything alright?”
“Um, yeah. Can you pull over, like, right now?” Ava didn’t wait for a reply as she started to unbuckle her seatbelt.
“Ava, what’s going on?” Isabelle asked, startled, as she pulled over to the side of the road.
“Nothing, it’s fine,” Ava said, getting out of the car. “I saw Javier, and I need to talk to him.”
“Now? What about our meeting?”
“I won’t be long. I promise.” Ava shut the car door and then looked both ways before hurrying across the street. She saw Javier about to get into his car, but when he saw her, he stopped, the expression on his face one that she couldn’t read. He looked uneasy and even a little pale, despite the day’s heat.
“Did you just come out of the police station?” Ava asked, stopping in front of him.
“Well, hi to you, too,” Javier said, his voice a little strained.
“Sorry, hi. So, did you?”
“Yeah, and we need to talk.” He paused, running his hand through his hair, like he always did when he was nervous. “It’s, um, about Miguel.”
“Did he and Carlos go to the police about you? About what happened at La Rosa y Espina?”
“No, it’s nothing like that.”
“Then what’s going on? When I saw you outside the station, I assumed the worst.”
“I don’t think you did.”
She wrinkled her forehead. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Miguel’s dead.”
“Wait, what?” Ava was sure she hadn’t heard him right.
“Sorry, that wasn’t the best way to tell you.” He leaned against his car and shook his head, as if he was still shocked by the news.
“Oh my gawd. You’re serious. Do you know how it happened?”
“He was stabbed to death at a club just a few blocks from here. Supposedly, he was really drunk and hitting on another guy’s girl. The guy obviously didn’t like it, but Miguel wouldn’t back off. A fight broke out, and that’s when the guy pulled out a knife.”
“When did this happen?”
“Late last night.”
“And did they catch the guy who killed him?”
Javier nodded. “There were lots of witnesses. There was no way he was going to get away with it.”
“Man, this is so crazy,” Ava said leaning against the car beside Javier, hardly able to believe it.
“Tell me about it. It’s no secret that I hated the guy, but I’d never wish for something like this to happen to anyone.”
“I know what you mean. I hated him as much as you did, but now, I feel sorry for him.”
“In a way, though, he brought this on himself. I know that sounds bad, but he was always looking for trouble. It was like he couldn’t get enough of it, and finally, it caught up to him.” He paused. “Now, more than ever, I see why my fighting bothered you so much. It just takes one fight with the wrong guy to end it all.”
Ava reached out to touch Javier’s arm. “You’re nothing like Miguel, not even close.”
“I know I’m not,
but still, I can’t let my temper get the better of me ever again.”
“Then you won’t. You’ve already proven that you can control it.”
“Thanks. You always did believe in me.” He cast her a small smile, then looked down at his arm, where her hand still lay.
Ava wasn’t sure why, but she drew her hand back. “How did you find this out?” she asked. “About Miguel, I mean.”
“I went to the station to talk to Santiago. He’s my old parole officer and a good friend. He knows the history between me and Miguel, and, well, for some other reasons, he thought it was best for me to know about Miguel’s murder.”
“For some other reasons?”
“Yeah, the truth is, I went to Santiago for advice. I told him what Miguel did to you, what I did to Carlos, and how Miguel was threatening to take me down if you tried to press charges again. I wanted to turn myself in for hitting Carlos, so he and Miguel wouldn’t have any leverage over you. I know the kind of person you are, Ava, the kind of heart you have, and I didn’t want to take the chance of you making the wrong decision and not filing the civil lawsuit because of me.”
“Javier, you didn’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I did. Not that it mattered much in the end.”
“It matters to me.”
“Ava, I...” Javier paused, like he was trying to find the right words. “I hate how things went down with us at Calor. I know you’re probably still really pissed, but I think we need to talk. You mean too much to me for us to leave things the way they are now.”
“You’re right, we should talk. Just not right now. My mom’s waiting for me so we can go to the lawyers, and I’ll have to tell her what’s happened to Miguel. Can you meet me at the beach near my villa in two hours? Do you remember the spot?”
“Where we walked your second day in Mar de Lágrimas? Yeah, I remember, and I’ll be there.”
“I’ll see you there then.” Ava gave Javier one last look and then headed back to her car. As she went, she couldn’t stop thinking about something she’d said to Miguel when they were at Calor. She’d warned him that he’d have to pay for his sins one day. She just never thought that day would be so soon and the punishment this cruel.
Less than two hours later, Ava made her way toward the beach, walking the same street and path she’d taken when she first went there with Javier. The day had grown hotter, the sun beating down on her, and even though it was a perfect day for hanging out at the beach, she knew there was no way she could relax. After telling her mom about Miguel’s murder, they’d gone to see the lawyer, letting him know that they would no longer be needing his services. Then they’d gone back to the villa to tell Tessa, who was shocked and shaken-up that a murder had happened in their town. Now, Ava was on her way to meet Javier and have a conversation that she wasn’t sure she was ready for.
Even though she was early, Ava spotted Javier standing at the water’s edge, waiting for her. As she got closer, she couldn’t help but think how gorgeous he looked, the wind gently ruffling his hair, the sun highlighting his perfect features. She couldn’t get wrapped up in something as superficial as his looks right now, so she pushed aside the feelings that he stirred in her, and instead, took a deep breath and walked toward him.
Javier must have sensed her presence because before she’d reached his side, he turned around, his eyes meeting hers. He gave her a little smile and then walked toward her, stopping as they came face-to-face.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hi,” she said back. “Thanks for meeting me here.”
“No problem. I’m just surprised you’re ready to talk to me. I thought you would’ve needed more time and a little space – not that I’m complaining.”
“I’ve had enough time to think. If I thought any longer, I’d probably go crazy.”
“We can’t have that now.”
“No, we can’t. Do you, um, want to take a walk or something?”
“Sounds great.”
They strolled along the beach, taking some relief from the sea’s cool breeze, watching as a family of tourists headed into the water. There were four young children, running excitedly toward the waves, two sets of parents, and an elderly couple, obviously the grandparents, who were holding hands. The scene made Ava smile, but inside, she also felt a little sad.
“So, you were right,” Ava said. “Before I knew that Miguel was dead, I’d decided not to file the lawsuit against him.”
Javier sighed. “That’s exactly what I was afraid of and why I went to turn myself in. There’s no way I could let you do that for me.”
“It was my choice, and if I had to, I’d make the same one all over again.”
“Well, you shouldn’t. You need to stop thinking about other people and start putting yourself first.”
“I don’t know why you’re making me out to be some sort of angel, because I’m not.”
“Yeah, you kind of are, especially compared to me.”
This time it was Ava’s turn to sigh. “You’re a good person, Javier, and even if you do bad things sometimes, you do them because you’re trying to protect the people you care about.”
“Still doesn’t make it right.”
“No, and I’m not pretending it does, but I know how hard your life has been, and I wasn’t willing to take the chance of you ending up in jail again. You’ve worked too hard and come too far – anyone can see that.”
“Thanks,” Javier said, looking down, bashful, “but to be honest, it wasn’t all me. Santiago, the parole officer I mentioned earlier, did a lot to change my life. He told me about Mar de Lágrimas – after taking a job here himself – and he said it was the perfect place to start over, with lots of opportunities for me and my mom. He’s also the one who got me the job at Villas Sol Dorado by vouching for me to someone he knew in management. I owe him a lot. I owe his wife a lot, too. She really helped us get settled in.”
“They sound amazing.”
“Yeah, they’re the closest thing me and my mom have to family.”
“Well, it’s clear they believed in you.”
“Maybe more than I deserved, but I’m going to prove them – and you – right.” He stopped walking to face her, looking more vulnerable than she’d ever seen him before. “I know I shouldn’t have lied to you, Ava, and I have no right to ask you this, but do you think you can forgive me and give me another chance? I’m not going to let you down again.”
Ava looked into Javier’s eyes, wanting nothing more than to reach out and kiss him, to never let him go, but for the second time that day, she reminded herself to focus. “I believe you,” she said, “and I forgive you.”
“You do?” Javier said softly.
Ava nodded. “Don’t get me wrong, at first I was shocked to find out you’d been in jail – hurt and angry, too, that you’d keep something like that from me. But then I realized you had your reasons for keeping it a secret, you weren’t trying to hurt me, so how could I judge you, be mad at you for that?”
“You really mean that, don’t you?”
“More than you’ll ever know.”
Javier looked at her, clearly touched. “Thanks for understanding and for giving me another chance,” he said, bringing his face closer to hers. “You really are the most amazing person I know.” He gave her a little smile and then kissed her, but when she didn’t kiss him back, he pulled away, frowning. “Is everything okay?” he asked.
Ava looked away, hating what she was about to do but knowing that she had to do it. “I said I forgive you, not that I’m giving you another chance.” She spoke quickly, afraid that if she didn’t get the words out now, she’d never be able to say them.
Javier’s forehead creased. “What?”
“I said we can’t be together.”
“Yeah, I heard you, but I wish I hadn’t.” He reached for her hands, looking her in the eye. “Ava, what’s going on? You know how I feel about you, and don’t pretend that you don’t feel the same because I know you do.”
“It’s not that easy,” she said, breaking from his grasp.
“What’s not easy? Us? No relationship ever is, but I’m going to do everything I can to show you what you mean to me.”
“Please, Javier, don’t make this harder than it has to be.”
“Make what harder?” he said, growing frustrated. “Is this because I was in jail?”
“No,” she answered truthfully.
“Then give me a reason why we can’t be together.”
“We’re just too different.”
“That didn’t bother you before.”
“No, but we really don’t know each other, do we?”
“You know my whole life story now. As for you, I know what I need to, but I’m willing to listen to whatever you have to say, for however long you want to talk.” He fell silent, giving her a chance to speak, but when she didn’t, he sighed. “Listen, Ava, you’re just giving me excuses, and I’m not buying them. What’s really going on?”
Ava opened her mouth, wanting to tell him the truth. She wanted to tell him she’d been lying to him, too, about who she was and why she was here. She knew they could only be together if she was completely honest with him because a relationship laden with lies would only end in disaster. But then she thought about the promise she’d made to her mom and why it was so important to keep their secret. She trusted Javier, but she also couldn’t ignore the fact that the more people who knew, the risker it was. She couldn’t think about herself right now, her wants and desires. Instead, she had to think about her family, and if telling Javier meant the slightest possibility of putting them in danger, she couldn’t do it.
Ava looked at Javier, who stared expectantly back at her. She then started to speak as gently, as truthfully as she could. “I really care about you, Javier, a lot more than I ever thought possible, especially in the short time I’ve known you. But we have to be realistic. I don’t know how long I’m going to be in Mexico, and if we keep on seeing each other like we’ve been doing...well, I’m afraid it will break my heart when I leave to go back to California. And I will leave – I’ll have to.”
“I’ve thought about that, too, and it really sucks,” Javier said, placing his hands on her shoulders, “but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, right?”