Dinner was the typical noisy, rowdy affair with dishes being passed, wineglasses being filled, and curious questions being thrown at Cora about dessert. Sawyer seemed to fit in quite well, laughing at things the adults said and paying attention to the children when they wanted her to. Ava was glad she had decided to invite her.
After dinner some of the adults returned to the backyard with the kids, stoked the fire and watched the younger ones roast marshmallows. Since winter would arrive in less than a month, the days were growing shorter, and by four o’clock dusk had already started to settle. It would soon be too cold for the family to stay outside. Ava was ready to call them in when she heard a knock on the front door.
“Who could that be?” Cora asked, attempting to shush the family’s fourteen-year-old Labrador. “I’ve just about got all the leftovers put away.”
Ava headed to the door, followed closely by Buster, who growled softly. “I’ll find out.” She opened the door to see Noah standing on the threshold. She almost wouldn’t have recognized him. Gone were the leather biker gear things replaced by a pair of dress jeans, an oxford shirt and a suede jacket. He wore polished loafers on his feet. And in his hands he carried a bottle of wine and bouquet of flowers.
“What are you doing here?” Ava asked, trying to control the constriction she felt in her lungs. Noah looked so good. She recovered quickly, grabbed Buster’s collar. “I mean, aren’t you supposed to be working?”
He passed a suspicious look at the big dog. “Will he bite me?”
“Not unless he’s really hungry,” Ava said, releasing Buster with a pat on his head. “Now then, why...”
“Finished the job,” he said. “I know I never got an official invitation to this family affair, but I thought these little tokens might earn me passage inside.” He held the flowers and wine out to her and she took them.
“The flowers are lovely,” she said. “Mama will love them.” And the wine was a fine vintage that couldn’t have been purchased at the local drugstore.
Having not been officially invited in, he stood just outside and tugged his jacket closer around his chest. “So?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. It’s cold. Come in.” She backed up a couple of steps and opened the door wide.
“Sawyer still here?”
“Yes. She seems to have enjoyed herself.”
“I can imagine. If ever a place looked like a cozy, welcoming home, this house is it. Kind of exudes charm and warmth. I’m sure Sawyer can appreciate that.”
Wiping her hands on a dish towel, Cora came out of the kitchen. “Who’s this, Ava? A friend of yours?”
“This is Sawyer’s father, Mama.” Ava hoped her mother would avoid making a biker comment.
Cora’s eyes widened. “The biker guy?”
So much for hoping. “Actually he seems transformed today,” Ava said.
Noah stuck out his hand. “Noah Walsh, ma’am.”
Ava handed the flowers to her mother. “He brought you these, Mama. I’d say the wine is for all of us.”
Cora took the flowers and sniffed some petals. “Can’t tell you the last time a young man brought me flowers. Call me Cora, and what’ll it be, Noah? Spaghetti, lasagna or both?”
“Whatever you can spare, Cora. I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”
“Give me ten minutes to heat up a plate, and then have Ava show you to the kitchen. The dining table has already been cleared, but we always have room in the kitchen.”
My goodness, Ava thought. Attitudes change quickly in this place. She stood next to Noah. The cold air from the open door made her shiver. She couldn’t come up with anything to say or do.
“Mind if I close the door?” he asked.
His question shook her mind from an obvious stupor. “Oh, what’s wrong with me?” She shut the door. “Come sit by the fire. You must be freezing.”
He settled on a sofa in front of the crackling flames. Ava sat next to him. “How did you find this place?”
“Asked the first person I saw in town who looked like a local. Got a quick and overly detailed answer.” He smiled. “Though I had a bit of trouble picking out a bank of rhododendrons at the end of November.”
“True, but you should see them in April. Shall I get Sawyer?”
“Not right away,” he said. “First, why don’t I get a progress report? No more smoking incidents I assume.”
“No. Sawyer lost her television privileges for a week, but I don’t think the punishment was too harsh.” Ava smiled. “She said she never watches TV.”
“Next time take away her cell phone. It doesn’t mean much to her when I’m trying to call, but otherwise it’s her lifeline to well...everything.”
He angled his body so he was facing Ava squarely. She slid away from him a couple of inches. “How’s she doing in her classes?” Noah asked.
“Okay, I guess. I usually don’t hear unless a student is failing in a subject.”
“No news is good news.”
“Absolutely.”
Ava tapped her knee with her index finger while her brain struggled to come up with an interesting topic. She was spared having to invent small talk when Carter came in the room.
“Oh, hey,” he said. “How you doing?”
“Okay.”
“Sorry about the day we met. Things were a little tense. You understand I was just doing my job?”
“As long as you understand I was just being a dad. I’m not always good at it, but that day I was trying my hardest.”
Carter chuckled. “Now that I’m a dad, I understand how difficult that can be.”
Whispering at the doorway made Ava look toward the kitchen. Standing in the entry were Miranda and Kayla, apparently taking in the newcomer and making comments. Finding the interest in Noah just slightly embarrassing, she checked her watch. “It’s been ten minutes,” she said. “Mama will have your supper ready.”
They all moved into the kitchen. Noah sat. Cora put down a plate loaded with pasta and her own delectable sauce. Miranda brought a basket of bread. Kayla scooped leftover salad from a bowl onto a smaller plate. Then they all just stood there as if the arrival of Noah Walsh were the most exciting thing ever to happen in Holly River. Well, maybe it was.
“For heaven’s sake, quit staring,” Cora said. “Let the man eat. Don’t you all have something to do?”
“Sure,” Miranda said. “We can join the kids by the fire.”
“Don’t tell Sawyer I’m here just yet,” Noah said. “I don’t want to spoil her fun.”
Miranda shot him a look of total confusion. She’d probably never thought of her presence as a spoiler to Emily’s fun. “Whatever you say.”
Ava was left to keep Noah company while he ate. Cora stood at the sink pretending to tidy up. She didn’t like to miss anything.
Fifteen minutes later Noah had nearly cleaned his plate and swore he couldn’t eat another bite. He might have devoured everything in sight if he hadn’t stopped every few minutes to compliment Cora on her cooking.
“You finished just in time,” she said. “The kids are coming in.”
Noah set down his utensils and stiffened in the chair when Sawyer stepped inside, followed by the Cahill clan. Sawyer stopped and stared at him a moment, looked at Ava and said, “What’s he doing here? You didn’t invite him, did you?”
The faces of the adults registered shock. Not surprising, since Ava was quite certain neither Emily nor Nathan spoke about their parents in such a disrespectful way.
She started to answer, to suggest that Sawyer watch her tone, but Noah raised his hand. “No, Sawyer, she didn’t invite me, but she did tell me you were coming here. Since I got back to town a day early, and since I know you have school tomorrow, I thought I’d come out here to spend some time with you.”
“Whoopee. I’m just tingly all over from your fatherly co
ncern, Daddy.”
Ava stood. “Sawyer, that’s enough.”
“It’s all right, Ava,” Noah said. “My coming here is a surprise.”
Sawyer’s bottom lip trembled. She frantically searched the room for anywhere to attach her gaze, anywhere other than her father. Ava was truly concerned for the girl.
“Why are you all staring at me?” Sawyer demanded of the adults. “I’m only half of this freak show.”
Miranda took both Emily and Nathan by their hands. “Come on, kids. Let’s go finish that game of Yahtzee you started earlier.” She urged Robert to come with them and quickly ushered them out of the kitchen.
Cora brought a glass of water to Sawyer. “Here, honey, drink this. You’ll feel better.”
“Sorry, Cora, but water doesn’t help. I’ve actually drunk stuff much stronger and still felt like crap...”
“Sawyer!” Ava had had enough. “You don’t have any call to speak to my mom like that.”
“Don’t you all get it?” she said. “He wants you to think he did this great thing by coming here today. A day early! Like he really sacrificed to be with me. Well, I know better. In fourteen years I guarantee you he hasn’t sacrificed a thing for me.”
Her voice kept rising as her anger threatened to explode. “The only thing my father cares about is himself. His stupid job where he can play a hero by climbing towers. His stupid motorcycle that he drives like a maniac and somehow doesn’t even get a ticket. His speedboat that he hasn’t even taken me on because—” her voice switched to high-pitched sarcasm “—it’s not safe, Sawyer. You can’t go. You stay home with one of the witches.
“Everything he does is all about him. His stuff. His need for speed. His rep as the bravest climber on the crew.” She took a few steps closer to the table and leaned over toward Noah. “What about me, Dad? When is it my turn to show up on your radar?”
Ava couldn’t bear to keep looking at Noah. Pain was etched in his features as if Sawyer had physically hit him. He let out a breath he’d been holding. “Sawyer, that’s enough. We’ll discuss this another time, another place.”
“Why? Because you don’t want these people to see what you’re really like? Too late. They know now. I wouldn’t care if the whole world knew what you were like.”
A sob tore from her throat. She covered her mouth and ran from the room. Ava heard her stomping up the stairs to the second floor.
Noah pushed his chair back and moved to follow his daughter.
Carter took his arm. “That’s probably not such a good idea.”
Noah jerked his arm free. “I’m her father. I know how to handle her. She’ll calm down in a minute.”
Carter scowled at him. “Clearly you don’t...”
“Stop this both of you, before you say something you’ll regret,” Ava said. “Noah, Carter’s right. Tensions are high.” She applied a lighter touch to Noah’s forearm. “Let me talk to her. I’ll come down and let you know what’s happening.”
“I hope you get through to her,” Noah said. “Because I came home early for two reasons. One was to see Sawyer. The other was to sign a six-month lease on that little house next to the children’s home. I’m here to stay.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“HERE TO STAY.” For a moment Ava could only stare at Noah. Those certainly had not been his words six years ago. No, those words had been “I’m sorry. I’m married.” But, then, what more did he owe a woman who clearly was willing to spend one night with him, no strings attached? That was then. Tonight, thank goodness, Noah listened to Ava and Carter. He slumped in his chair and stared at his hands. Maybe he was calmed by the comforting touch of Cora’s hand on his shoulder.
Ava decided she could use a comforting hand as well, though no one in this house would know why. Noah living next door? How was she going to cope with Charlie’s father living so close? She’d already begun to change her opinion of Noah and think of him as a sympathetic figure. He had handled the realization that they’d known each other before with calm and rationality. That was a point in his favor. But as a father, he was a man who wanted to do the right thing but didn’t have a clue how to go about it. A man who perhaps couldn’t cope with being a father and never would. How could Noah, with his parental track record ever be a father to a troubled five-year-old?
And now her baby’s father was moving in next door to try and make amends with the daughter he’d somehow lost along the way. And Ava would see him often, and each time she would think of her precious Charlie. She would never tell him about Charlie now, not when his parenting skills were so in question. If even half of the animosity and hurt Sawyer felt toward her father was real, well, she couldn’t risk exposing Charlie to such a toxic relationship.
Just a few days ago, Ava had considered that maybe Noah was selfish because he couldn’t see his daughter’s viewpoint and didn’t want to try. Now she didn’t believe that. She believed he was as lost as Sawyer. Maybe he mentally ran from her as much as she physically ran from him. If there was a way to help these two, Ava wanted to bring them together and give them both hope for their future, a future that wouldn’t be next door to Sawtooth Home.
After several uncomfortable seconds, Ava said, “How can you do this, Noah? What about your job? Don’t you have to live in Chapel Hill?”
“Nope. As you well know, I drive long distances to reach a job site anyway. Why not leave from here instead of Chapel Hill?”
“How do you think Sawyer will react to this news? Doesn’t she like living in Chapel Hill? Doesn’t she have friends?”
“I suppose the town is all right. It’s me she doesn’t like living with. But I hope she’ll get used to it. If nothing else, Ava, you have convinced me that I need to do something now or I may never mend the rift between my daughter and me. I’m betting establishing myself here in Holly River might show my intentions are positive.”
Actually, Ava’s first instinct was to believe that Noah’s proximity to Sawyer might only increase the stress on Sawyer while she adjusted to Sawtooth Home. But she didn’t want to discourage Noah, so she said, “Yes, I suppose it could.”
“Are you sure you want to talk to her instead of me going up there?” Noah asked.
“Yes. I won’t tell her your plans, but I think she needs a bit of girl talk.”
As Ava climbed the stairs to look for Sawyer in one of bedrooms, she didn’t know how she would begin to help heal this family.
Ava heard sobbing when she reached the top of the stairs. She followed the sounds to her old bedroom, knocked softly on the door and went inside. Sawyer lay crumpled on the bed, her arms clasped tightly around one of Ava’s pillows. She hiccupped loudly and said, “Go away, Dad. I don’t want to see you.”
“It’s me, Sawyer, not your dad.” Ava sat on the edge of the bed, threaded her fingers together. “What can I do to help you?”
The girl’s answer was simple. “Make him go away. I hate him.”
“Do you, Sawyer? Do you really? At first I thought you believed that, but now I’m not so sure.”
Sawyer rolled onto her back and lifted teary eyes to Ava. “How can you say that? Do you need another example of how much we hate each other?”
“No. To be quite honest, I haven’t especially liked the ones I’ve already witnessed. But I can tell you what I’ve discovered so far. Your father doesn’t hate you.”
“Yeah, right. Like you know.”
“What do you want your father to do, Sawyer? What would make you happy?”
“He can quit that stupid job and stay home once in a while.”
“So you can be the center of his universe?”
“Maybe. No. I don’t want to be the center. I just want a place in it.”
“Okay. But there must be something you can admire about how hard he works. He makes a good living, right?”
Sawyer hunched one shoulder.
Ava interpreted it as a yes.
“And he’s good at what he does. From what you’ve said, he might be the best at it. You can be proud of that, can’t you? It must take a tremendous amount of courage to climb one of those towers.”
Sawyer coughed, clearing her throat. “Courage? You think it takes courage? I think it takes blind, freakin’ stupidity mixed with selfishness, and anybody who does what he does wants all the glory. Or he wants to die.”
Ava put her hand lightly on Sawyer’s arm. “Do you believe your father wants to die?”
“No, but I believe he will. Nine climbers have died so far this year, and none of them had worked on the towers as long as my dad has.” She sputtered a cold, hoarse sound. “The odds are running out for him. It’s just a matter of time. And then it will just be me and the witches. Or me and a woman in Oregon who doesn’t even send me a birthday card.”
They sat quietly while Ava digested everything Sawyer had said. Then she released a deep breath and spoke softly. “Sawyer, are you afraid your father will die, not because you don’t want to be with a housekeeper, but because, deep down inside, you don’t want to lose him?”
Sawyer’s body trembled. Silent tears fell to her cheeks. “I don’t know. Maybe. He’s all I have. We never hear from my mom, so no, I don’t want to lose him. We argue all the time but in my heart I suppose I... I love him, a little. But he doesn’t care that every day he goes up on a tower, he scares me. Doesn’t he get that it’s just the two of us. If something happened to Dad, I wouldn’t stay with one of the witches one day. And I wouldn’t go to my grandmother. I’d just leave, be on my own.
“I’ve tried to tell him that, but he doesn’t listen. He thinks he’s invincible just because he’s had some training. Well I know he’s not. Every time he’s gone, my mind keeps bringing up images of guys high in the air. I read about it on the internet. I watch videos of tower climbers.”
Sawyer stared at Ava as if begging her to understand. “Do you know what the earth looks like from five hundred feet in the air, especially when all you’ve got to hold onto is a skinny pole?”
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