Ava smiled and smoothed the hair on Alison’s soft forehead.
“Life is a great adventure, and you need to experience lots of different people and things to make the experience more enjoyable. Other teachers can show you things that I haven’t, and will give you new adventures. You’ll have so much fun!”
“My mommy says I can hug you next year in the hall.”
Ava looked into Kaylee’s eyes once again, wishing she hadn’t removed her sunglasses. She wanted to make eye contact with the kids, but she couldn’t let them see her cry. She was trying to reassure them, for goodness sake!
Change could be good for everyone.
Ava struggled to embrace this outlook, even though it was normally one she fervently believed in.
Happiest face in place, she hoped for her own sake that her smile would be contagious.
“Well, honey, I won’t be here next year. But I’d love for you to make me some pictures. Mrs. Guyotte promised me she’d mail things like that to me. I’m moving far away to a place called Japan. Let’s find it on the map.”
She brought the globe to the circle, tracing the route from New Hampshire, USA to Japan.
The children stared with wide eyes, unable to believe that a teacher could have any sort of life outside of school. Patrick even stopped fiddling with the blocks on the shelf long enough to stare at her in total disbelief.
It had taken her forever to convince them that teachers didn’t sleep at school, and that the sensory table was definitely not her bed.
Ava couldn’t contain her joy as each set of chubby arms tried to wiggle their way around her waist; every child claiming a part of her body. She loved these children as if they were her own. And she hoped Cole would want to be with her forever so they could have a big family. Maybe sooner than later.
But she was getting ahead of herself.
“Miss O’Connor, you’re not married, right?” Cameron held her hand in his own, studying her fingers for a ring that would match his mother’s. He had gone through this same routine on a weekly basis throughout the year.
For the first time, Ava allowed herself to imagine Cole placing a ring on the left finger that Cameron was fiddling with.
“No, hon. Not yet.”
“You’re supposed to marry me, right, Miss O’Connor?”
Patrick began to jump up and down, pointing at the doorway. “She’s not gonna marry you, Cameron. She’s gonna marry him!”
Wondering who she was being paired up with this time, Ava turned in the direction of Patrick’s pointing. Filling up the doorway—taking more than his fair space, as usual—was none other than the man she had planned to surprise.
The room closed in on her as if she had become trapped in a distorted realm. Sounds of children wavered in and out. Colors whirled around her—twisting, contorting, lengthening.
Her teacher brain kicked in and alerted her to Cameron’s pouting and Patrick’s teasing. She moved into action, prepared to redirect and comfort her students.
And then she allowed herself to breathe.
Shock had nearly rendered her useless.
Maybe Cole was a hallucination. There was no way that Mrs. Guyotte was actually standing beside the man of her dreams. No, the crooked smile on her principal’s face and the load of motherly pride had to be from something else. Something less Cole-ish.
She chanced a glance at the doorway. Nope. Not a hallucination. A living, breathing, smiling, confident Cole.
The one man who could inspire this breathlessness.
The one man she had changed her life to be with.
The one man who had no idea what changes she had made to be with him, since she hadn’t spoken to him in weeks.
The one man who could sweep her off her feet and make her forget her troubles.
Why was he here? In her school? In her classroom?
In her country?
***
Confidence had always been his thing, but standing here, in her kindergarten classroom, had him feeling like an insecure schoolgirl. Every nerve ending in his body screamed for him to rush to her, to pull her into his arms and to love her so fiercely she’d never try to escape or avoid him again.
After not seeing or speaking to her for so long, he didn’t trust his body to behave appropriately in front of a classroom full of kids.
Mrs. Guyotte cleared her throat and pushed him—not a gentle nudge, mind you, but a full-forced, military shove—into the classroom. When he found his footing again, he walked toward Ava.
His beautiful Ava.
Her honey brown hair was braided neatly on both sides, showing off the glistening highlights the sun had gifted to her. In her element, surrounded by kids, she radiated joy and youth. As he got closer, he grew concerned at her bright and shiny eyes, reddened with unshed tears.
He knew the tears were not tears of joy for him.
They were tears of mourning for everything she had been prepared to give up.
To be with him.
He didn’t deserve her. He knew the truth as surely as he knew that he’d never stop trying to make himself better so that one day he might come closer to deserving her.
Lucky for him, Mrs. Guyotte had been principal of this school since he was a student here. He had spent many Christmas breaks doing projects around the school as a community service (and as an excuse to take a break from the family), and she had always stayed in touch with him. When he called her with his crazy plan, she was all for it. She had promised to be there to personally let him into the school so word didn’t have a chance to spread. Mrs. Guyotte had been more focused on keeping his visit a surprised than he had been.
Ava’s flushed cheeks and swollen lips—a product of her nervous chewing—coupled with the swarm of children wrapped around her like a pig-in-a-blanket, had her looking every bit the goddess.
He craved her.
He would claim her.
She’d be his.
Mrs. Guyotte called the children toward her, telling them something about an early recess. They bounced away from Ava, clearing the way for him to make his move.
After flight delays, traffic holdups, and difficult decisions to make in the jewelry store, Cole thought he might not make it to her on time. Thankfully he had been able to see her in this element.
Ava rubbed her hands on her khaki skirt. Her eyes darted every which way before they settled on his face.
Questions clouded her eyes. She started to speak, then stopped.
He wished he could read her mind.
She wiped away tears with the back of her hand. The primal urge to put a smile on her face startled him.
He reached for her.
No words necessary.
The minute their lips met, sparks ignited.
He had to stop himself from consummating their reunion then and there.
Some boundaries were important, he supposed.
Ava looked up at him, her hands still clutching his arms. For once, he didn’t try to keep her from seeing his feelings in his face.
He had nothing to hide.
“What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in Japan.”
He pulled her closer until they were perfectly aligned. The velvet box in his pocket burned into his thigh.
“I came to stop you from leaving this place where you’re so loved.”
“I have a plane ticket. To Japan. It cost me a fortune.”
“I’ll buy it from you.”
“That’s not what I meant. I mean, I was coming to you. I quit my job. Got my landlord to release me from my lease. Got Karly to agree to watch Bear until we could finish all the requirements to have him exported to Japan. Oh my god, what’s happening?”
She brought her shaking hand to her forehead and he watched the color drain from her face.
“You won’t need that apartment, and Mrs. Guyotte quite joyfully ripped the job posting off the staff bulletin board.”
“What?”
“No one in their right mind woul
d willingly let you go.”
“Cole. You don’t understand.”
“I understand perfectly. You can’t leave here. The work you do here in one day is more important than the work I could do in a lifetime. And I don’t want to live a lifetime without you.”
“Cole…”
He put a finger over her lip, then kissed her nose.
“You have no idea what it means to me that you were willing to give up so much to be with me. I was a fool. A complete idiot. What did you call me before? Oh, right, a poopyhead. Thinking I could leave you here and be okay? Thinking I could live my life anywhere without you?”
She opened her mouth. Then snapped it shut. He marveled at her speechlessness. He thought for sure she’d jump on the poopyhead bandwagon.
“I couldn’t wait another minute to tell you how I feel. I love you. I’ve loved you since the first time you swung back too far and almost hit me with a hammer.”
She laughed through her tears.
“Without a doubt, you’re the best thing ever to come into my life. I don’t have a single question about it. I can’t tell you how much it tore me up when you were with another man. I should have fought for you then, but it took me being half a world away to realize how much I need you in my daily life.”
Tears flowed down her cheeks. He caught them in his hands.
“I’m ready to go to Japan with you, Cole.”
He shook his head. She closed her eyes.
He cupped her chin, forcing her to look at him.
“I can’t have you give this up. I’m staying here. With you. If you’ll have me.”
“What about your job? You worked so hard to get that contract.”
“I’ve worked hard to build a team I can trust. I’m learning to delegate, to let others help me with my responsibilities. I’ll have to fly out there on occasion, but most of what I’m needed for can be done long-distance.” He paused, fully realizing how much power she held over him. “I need to be here with you. And Bear would never forgive me if I took you away from him for any length of time.”
She shook her head vehemently, shocking him. Hadn’t she been willing to come to him? She should be happy with this turn of events.
Dammit, he’d never understand women.
“You can’t stay here, Cole. You hate this town.”
“I don’t hate this town.”
“Healing Springs holds you back. You’ve never wanted to be under your father’s shadow. You’ve told me that a million times.”
“Yes, when I was young and self-centered and moronic, I thought that. I’ve worked to build my business. My reputation. I have this new consulting branch under my name now, too. And you know what? I don’t care about any of it nearly as much as I care about feeding ducks in the town common. With you. With our future children. With your howling maniac of a dog.”
“I don’t want you to resent me someday.”
He kissed her to quiet her, but got easily caught up in the mingling of their emotions. This moment was the perfect example of everything he needed. All of it revolved around her.
He broke the kiss, eager to pose an important question. He smiled at her disappointed sigh.
Her eyes widened as he stepped back and pulled the small, black box out of his pocket. Pushing a kid-sized chair out of his way, he bent down on one knee. Her hands flew to her mouth, but she never broke eye contact.
“Ava, I love everything about you. I love the way you use chocolate as a crutch, the way your face lights up whenever you see a child, the passion you give to me. I know I may never be the man who deserves you, but if you’ll stay by my side, I’ll give the world to you.”
He opened the box, mesmerized by the beauty in her face as the brilliance of the diamond cast light onto her.
He had selected the setting specifically for Ava. The emeralds flanking the sides of the diamond reminded him of her eyes. The diamond promised commitment. The platinum band was unbreakable. Just like their bond.”
“Ava O’Connor, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you marry me?”
Silence. The doubt he saw flickering over her face when she was trying to make sense of his surprise was long gone, replaced now with a look of sheer joy and adoration. A look he hoped never went away.
He waited for her answer, wanting to sweep her out of this school and into his rental car so he could seal the deal properly.
He figured they could start negotiations about when to start their family after an intense session of lovemaking.
His leg began to cramp, but he waited patiently for her to verbalize her answer.
“Ava, please be my wife.”
“Yes. Yes!”
He stood to his full height and lifted her hand so he could place the ring on her finger. A perfect fit.
Her breasts swelled against the tight fabric of the red and white button down shirt she wore. He couldn’t wait to free them from their prison and hold them captive in his hands and mouth.
“I love you, Ava.”
“I love you, Cole. More than you’ll ever know.”
“I think I have a pretty good idea.”
“Don’t seduce me here. I’m working, you know.”
“Oh, I know. But I have after-school plans for you, young lady.”
She gave him a look that made him feel naughty for flirting with the teacher.
“So was it Tiana who told you my plans?”
“Do we have to talk about my sister now?”
“She ruined my surprise!”
“Ava, even if she never told me a thing, I’d be here now.”
“Did she tell you about the letter?”
“Yes. And I’m sorry. So sorry that you felt abandoned or unloved by me. I may not have realized then what I realize now, and maybe back then I wouldn’t have been ready. But I am now. I love you. I desire you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and our future children.”
His hand rested on the flat planes of her abdomen, where he hoped many children would bloom.
He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing at himself. Months ago, having a family wouldn’t have occurred to him. Now he couldn’t wait.
“And how soon do you think we should plan for these future children?” Ava giggled, joy dancing in her glossy eyes.
Her fingertips grazed his arm as he held her belly.
“As far as I’m concerned,” he shrugged, “we could begin as soon as possible.”
He pretended to consider the question more carefully.
“At the very least, we should get in as much practice as possible before the wedding.”
She threw her head back and laughed. He kissed her neck until her giddy laughter turned to moans of pleasure.
“Hey, I’m still on the clock, you know.”
“How much longer?”
She looked over his shoulder at the clock on the wall.
“Five minutes. But I have to say goodbye to my kids.”
“I’ll wait for you. Just don’t take too long.”
He winked so she’d know she could take as long as she needed, then pressed himself to her so she’d know exactly what he had in store for her.
“Maybe we should wait until after the wedding.”
He cleared his throat.
“Kidding!”
She reached around and pinched his ass.
“I have to go show off my ring.” She kissed him on the cheek and pulled away. “Oh, when should I tell them we’re planning the wedding for?”
“I haven’t given it much thought. What do you think?”
“Well, we’re not getting any younger, you know!”
“Did Mrs. Reynolds tell you that?”
They laughed together, knowing very well that she had.
“Well you’re out of school as of today, and my schedule is clear. So how about before the summer is over we make you Mrs. Cole Stanton?”
“Best plan ever.”
In the back of his foggy, love-drenched mind
, the ringing of the school bell signaled the end of the school year and the beginning of their life together.
Epilogue
A summer wedding turned out to be an easy feat when the elderly community of Healing Springs insisted on forming a planning committee.
Mrs. Reynolds was in charge, naturally. Miss Molly worked her magic throughout the entire process, matching people up left and right.
Karly stayed sober all the way through the ceremony, as promised. She finally let loose during the reception. Ava was thrilled to see her relaxing after the last two months of extreme wedding planning.
Ava couldn’t help but smile as she watched the crowd of people who had come to witness this most miraculous moment. She still had to pinch herself every once in a while to see if she really had managed to capture the heart of the most perfect man she’d ever imagined.
The man in question gently smacked her butt as she laughed at her ring bearer’s antics with the flower girls. Bear had been the perfect choice for the job. And Cole’s nieces adored getting him ramped up on the dance floor.
Cole wrapped his arms around her, kissing her neck in a way that would quickly lead to something inappropriate.
“How soon can we ditch?”
“Cole Stanton! This is our wedding. We only get one, you know. We need to enjoy it.”
“I have enjoyed it immensely. Seeing you in this gown is a tease. I can’t wait to see what you have on underneath.”
“Who says I have anything on underneath? It’s pretty tight, you know.”
Cole growled and nibbled her ear.
“You two need to get a room,” a drunken Karly stumbled by, chugging a bottle of wine as she passed. “There are little eyes around here, you know.”
Ava smiled.
“Where are you off to?”
“I’ve got some business to attend to. Over there.” The bottle sloshed as Karly pointed to the left.
Ava watched her best friend stumble away.
“Hmm, should we worry that Ben is in her path?” Ava asked. “Looks like he’s waiting for her. Yup, he’s holding the door open. Is his hand on her lower back?”
“Sure looks that way. No fair that they can consummate before we can.” Cole moaned his displeasure.
Stay (Healing Springs, Book 2) Page 15