by MJ Masucci
“No, no, Aunt Ava, going to mess my hair up.” Elizabeth put her hands up to her hair to see if her ribbon was still intact.
“It’s fine, sweetie. I wouldn’t dream of messing up your hair.” She put Elizabeth down to hug Alicia who was now six months pregnant with her third child, another boy.
“Where’s Daddy?” Ava asked her brother.
“He is finishing up a few things at the office. He should be home for dinner soon. Let’s get your bags to your room so you can clean up.” She followed Michael into the house as he carried her bags up to her childhood bedroom. Alicia and the children stayed on the front porch. Michael dropped her bags on the padded bench at the end of her bed and kissed her forehead.
“I’ll see you downstairs for dinner. Brooke, Walter and William should be here soon.”
Ava descended the stairs just as Brooke and her family entered the foyer of their father’s home. She rushed over to Ava to hug her, happy to see her. Ava hugged Walter and then picked up her nephew, William; he was so precocious and smart. He had grown almost as tall as Mikey, who was a year older. He showed Ava his skinned knee with the Elmo band-aid on it.
“How did you get that?” William stuck his finger in his mouth and told her he fell off his bike.
“Tell the truth, William,” Walter instructed.
When the boy didn’t answer, Brooke told her that he was climbing the porch post and slipped. Ava put William down when he started wiggling in her arms when he heard his cousins in the dining room and wanted to play with them. Walter followed, leaving Ava and Brooke alone in the foyer.
“Ava, how are you doing?”
Ava looked at Brooke, “I’m okay.”
“No, how are you doing?”
Ava looked at her puzzled.
Brooke lowered her voice and continued. “Daddy told me that you haven’t been okay. Are you still missing Xander?”
“He was there.” Brooke, Rachel, and Sam were the only people to whom Ava chose to drop her façade. Her sister cocked her head because she didn’t understand the reference.
“At the camp,” Ava clarified.
“How could you know? Did you see him?” Ava reached into her pocket and took out her cell phone. She scrolled to the picture of the lavender rose.
“How do you know that was from Xander?”
Ava used her fingers on the screen to zoom in on the picture, pointing to his initials and her birth date. “Look, do you see it?”
Brooke squinted her eyes and found what Ava was referring.
“How do you know that was for you?”
“Really, Brooke? June fourth and his initials? He somehow knew that I was going to be there. Maybe he saw my name on one of the schedules or something. Also, the picture of me in my white bikini is missing from the bulletin board in the camp director’s office.”
Brooke laughed.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Ava, you’re a beautiful woman. Anyone could have removed that picture. Why do you think it was him?”
“Because two weeks before my arrival, they had volunteers working to repair the camp. The floor in the director’s office had two new planks right under the bulletin board.”
“That could have been anyone that fixed it not just him. I think you’re reaching.”
Ava took a deep breath and lowered her voice almost to a whisper.
“Am I reaching that he sent me lavender roses for my graduation?” Ava removed the necklace from her shirt and showed Brooke the inscription on the ring.
“He put this same inscription on the card with the roses, and that was it. No signature. It was his handwriting; I remember it.”
Brooke put her hand over her mouth. “Maybe he is coming back to you?”
Ava shook her head. “If he was then why hasn’t he already? Why would he give me hope and then not show?”
Brooke could see the tortured look on Ava’s face and hugged her sister as she told her, “I’m sorry. I wish I could do something for you.”
They were disrupted from talking further as Natalia called the family into the dining room to sit down for dinner. Afterward, Ava went to her room. She was tired from the flight and decided against sitting outside with her family. She went up to her room and lay on her bed. Within a matter of minutes, she was asleep while still fully dressed, not even having removed her shoes.
When she woke up the next morning, it was early, but she had gone to bed early. The house was quiet, and since it was only her, Natalia and her father staying in the home, she expected as much. Brooke and Michael both lived in the same neighborhood in large homes, but not larger than their father’s. It was surprising to Ava that her father still lived in an eight-bedroom home by himself. It must get lonely at night.
She went to the bathroom to take a shower, feeling sweaty from the Georgia heat even though the house was nice and cool from the air conditioning. The sun was starting to rise as she got dressed. She went down the kitchen and heard the clack of shoes, the shuffling of slippers and muffled tones. She peeked around the corner to see her father kissing a dark-haired woman probably only a few years older than her brother. Ava instantly hated her even though she knew it was irrational for her to expect her father not to move on with his life.
Her mother had been gone for fourteen years. It was still natural for a child to hate the person trying to take their lost parent’s place, no matter what their age. She hid behind the wall until her father went back to his room, preferring not to have this conversation with him. Anyway, who was she to question? She would be a hypocrite if she made a big deal out of it. Her personal life was non-existent since she couldn’t forget about Xander.
Later that morning, Ava was sitting at the dining room table drinking coffee as a flurry of activity went on around her. Alicia’s sister, Ingrid, was in the kitchen instructing her catering staff. Ava’s father, as usual, had gone overboard with everything for his grandchildren’s party. A couple of men were setting up fencing for a petting zoo and pony rides.
Several workers were finishing the large carousel that they had put up yesterday. A bouncy house had been secured with stakes. A few food vendors were under tents on the perimeter of the lawn. They would be serving frozen custard, cotton candy, ice cream, kettle corn and homemade candy. There are going to be a lot of tummy aches this evening.
She stood to go to the kitchen and wash her coffee cup. Ingrid hugged her in between carrying a tray of pigs-in-a-blanket to the oven. There would be many children here today, and her father had asked for kid-friendly food. To appease the parents, he had sushi and brick oven pizza being made in tents on the other side of the yard.
Ava went out to the backyard just in time to see her brother bring the twins into the pool area. It was a very warm day, and they were whining about being hot.
She called out to him, “Michael!” He waved to her, and she joined him in the pool enclosure. Her father had hired two certified lifeguards to watch any children that entered the area. They would be patrolling the pool deck on foot. She watched at the twins slipped into the water. They swam like little dolphins back and forth even in the deep area. Ava was surprised that they were so good. Last year, Elizabeth didn’t even want to get her face wet.
“When did they start swimming on their own?”
“We took them to a swim class during the winter at the Sandy River Country Club. At first, they didn’t want to do it, but when they saw the other children, they got right into the pool. William was in the same class, and he can swim very well, too. I’m sure when Brooke gets here, he will want to join them.”
Mikey got out of the pool and while dripping wet, hugged Ava around her legs ensuring her shorts were as wet as he was.
“Mikey! Look what you did to Aunt Ava!” Elizabeth seemed mortified by his behavior. “It’s alright. It’s hot out, and it will dry quickly.”
Ava was right because as soon as he jumped back in the pool, her shorts had begun to dry. The temperature was already in the mid-ei
ghties even though it was only 11:00 AM.
She was hesitant but decided she needed to ask her brother. “Hey, Michael,” she started, waving him to the side of the pool as she knelt down for more confidential talking, “Can I ask you something?”
Her brother moved closer and looked up from watching the children to make eye contact with her, “Anything.”
“How long has Daddy been dating?”
Michael looked like he was a trapped animal. “When did you find out about that?”
“I saw her leaving this morning. You knew and didn’t tell me? Why?”
“Ava, you know how you get. Dad needs companionship. None of us live with him, and Mom has been gone for fourteen years. He can’t just ramble around this house by himself.”
Ava chewed on her lip. “He has Natalia here.”
Michael rolled his eyes. “Felice is going to be here today, so please for the kid’s sake, don’t start playing twenty questions. She’s very nice and treats Dad well.”
“Should I ask him about it?”
“Ava, please don’t get started with this. I’m sure he will tell you when she comes today. Just don’t start grilling her? Please?”
“Alright, I promise I’ll wait until he says something.”
Ava left her brother and went back into the house. Her head was pounding, and she needed some aspirin. When she came into the kitchen, her head hurt even more. Her father was in the kitchen with his arm around the same dark haired woman she had seen several hours earlier. Her father turned when he heard her enter the house and called her over.
“Ava, sweetie, come meet my friend, Felice.”
Oh, so that is what you are calling her, your friend.
“Felice Davenport, meet my daughter, Ava.”
The woman turned, and Ava was whiplashed with the overpowering scent of her perfume. Uggggghhhh, what did she do? Marinate in that stuff?
Felice extended her hand, and Ava shook it to be polite. It was as cold as ice, and almost every finger had a piece of jewelry on it.
“Please to meet you, Ava. I’ve heard so much about you.”
At least you heard about me because I haven’t heard anything about you. And she was about to say so, Michael, who had just entered with the twins gave her a warning look.
“I hope only good things.”
“Ava, can you help me change the twins? Alicia is not feeling so well in this heat and she is resting.”
Ava followed him upstairs.
“You were going to say something weren’t you?” Michael accused.
“No, I was not.”
“I saw that look. I know you were. “
Ava ignored him and helped Elizabeth change into dry clothing.
By noon, several children had arrived at the Keene home. A DJ played music. The food was beginning to circulate from the kitchen as well as the tents outside. Ava went to the pool to watch the children swim. Though they had two lifeguards, she was still worried that with all the children in the pool that they wouldn’t be able to spot one that was in distress. She went to the house to change into a modest bikini.
She jumped into the pool and began playing with several of the younger children, including William. Walter was off talking to a few other business people but left Brooke and Ava to watch him. As Ava got out of the pool to talk to her sister, Brooke was fanning herself and sweating a lot.
“Are you feeling okay? You don’t look good.”
Brooke gave her a weak smile. “I feel like crap. If not for William’s birthday, I would have stayed home.”
Ava looked at her with alarm.
“Don’t worry Ava; I’m fine. Just pregnant is all.”
Brooke noticed the pained look on Ava’s face and hugged her.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said it. I only just found out a couple of days ago. I haven’t told anyone besides Walter, Michael and Daddy.”
“It’s alright. I can handle you being pregnant, but can you?” Ava smiled widely to let Brooke know she was fine. But it was fake. Inside, Ava’s heart was breaking. She was happy for her sister but it seemed like everyone around her was pregnant, and she could never be.
“Why don’t you go into the house and relax. I can watch William.”
“You’re a lifesaver. If Walter is looking for me, tell him I’ll be in the library.”
She watched Brooke walk towards the house then turned her attention to her nephew and his friends.
By five that evening, the party was winding down. A lot of the families had already left, the children’s little bellies full of snacks. Each child had left with a bag of swag. At most kid’s parties, you would get a little gift bag but Ava’s father went overboard, and it was more like a grocery bag. At 8:00 PM, most of the attractions had been taken down, and Ingrid’s staff had cleaned the kitchen.
Members of the Keene and Cartright families as well as Felice Davenport sat in the large living room. All three of the grandchildren were napping upstairs. One of the large bedrooms had been converted to a child’s room. The extra large room had two sets of bunk beds and many toys, books and games in the bookshelves that lined the walls.
Ava was tired, and Brooke had fallen asleep on the couch. Ava had avoided talking to Felice all day; she was turned off by the woman’s appearance and presence. She got up to get something to drink, and when she closed the refrigerator door, Felice was standing there.
“I would like to speak with you about something,” giving Ava no choice but to listen to what the woman had to say.
“I enjoy your father’s company very much and would like to get to know you better. I lost my mother at an early age, too, so I understand what it’s like to have someone come into your home and seem like she is taking her place. I don’t want to take the place of your mother. Your father told me how wonderful she was and I doubt I could ever fill her shoes even if I tried.” Felice hesitated, waiting for her to speak.
Ava started to feel horrible. This woman was only interested in making her father happy, and she wasn’t giving her a chance.
“I’m sorry if I seemed standoffish today. I’m shy around new people. I understand that you just want to make my father happy. He deserves it because he hasn’t had that for a long time.” Ava smiled at Felice.
“Maybe we can get together this week while you are here and go to lunch?”
“I would like that. I should have some free time.”
Felice extended her hand, but Ava pulled her into a hug. When they walked back into the living room together, her father looked at her suspiciously, but it was Felice who spoke.
“Ava and I are going to lunch sometime this week.”
Michael mouthed, “Thank you.”
Later, when Ava was getting ready for bed, she received a text from an unknown number.
I miss you.
That's all it said.
Who is this? Xander?
But she received nothing further.
Chapter 5
Xander felt horrible. He had come down with the flu, even though he couldn’t imagine who would get the flu in the summer. His temperature hovered at around one hundred one point five for a couple of days until Billy came and took him to the doctor for some antibiotics. He had a sinus infection on top of the flu, and it triggered a memory; the time that Ava was sick with the same thing. He had taken care of her. He stayed home from work and took her to the doctor.
He missed having someone to take care of him and for him, to help, too. He picked up the pre-paid phone he had gotten a week ago. His father insisted he get a cell phone so he could be reached. His mother was not doing well and had started antibiotic IVs twice a week for her Lyme disease. His father admonished him since he didn’t check his emails often enough, he needed to get in touch with him somehow.
He picked up the phone and put her number in the text box. He had no idea if she had the same one but just the same he typed his message and hit the send button. A minute later he received his answer. He put the phone down on
the pillow next to him and felt comforted by the message. At least he was still in her mind.
The next few days he spent in bed, feeling better. Janelle brought him soup and Gatorade. He didn’t feel much like eating. The only comfort he found was turning on his phone and looking at her message. He had no idea why after all these years he felt worse about not being with her than when he first left.
On the fifth day, he felt good enough to get dressed and go outside. It was hot and humid with temperatures in the nineties. He got into his truck and made a trip to town. He could have easily run it, but he wasn’t feeling one hundred percent and didn’t want to push himself. Tomorrow, he promised himself that he would start running again. He stopped at his favorite burger joint and got a double cheeseburger with chili fries. He had been dreaming of them all week, and Janelle refused to get food that heavy for him when he was sick.
Back at his apartment he took large bites of his burger and shoveled fries into his mouth. This elicited another memory for him. There was a time Ava had said to him she noticed how could he eat burgers every day.
Four years later, and he was still able to do it though he was nearing thirty-two. He knew that he shouldn’t eat this way. He was healthy, running several miles each day and working at the lumberyard kept him in better shape than when he lived in the city. He used to work out five days a week on the weights, but it didn’t give him the muscles that he had from the outside work he did now.
Xander woke the next day, July second, just before dawn. It had been so hot this summer that he preferred to run in the early hours of the morning. His normal run would be three miles to the Hudson River and back. He could do it in less than forty-five minutes if he ran at a moderate pace, faster if he ran at full speed, but he preferred a moderate pace. He would be back home by 6:00 AM and he could shower, dress and be at the lumberyard before 7:30 when Bill opened the place.