by Pinki Parks
Allison came running around to the other side of the counter and shouted, “Wait!” Ava held her hand out and tugged Allison onto the bar stools. Allison plopped into the seat and squealed, “Bye, Mom! I love you!”
Ava grinned and closed out of the video chatting app, in the blackened screen, Tristan’s face became visible. Ava whipped her head around and slid her arms around Tristan’s waist. “Hey, there, sleepyhead. Ready to go to the airport?”
Tristan pressed his lips into Ava’s forehead and said, “Yeah. As ready as I’ll ever be,” he pulled away and asked, “Are you sure that you’ll be okay-”
“Tristan. This is your future.” She interlaced her fingers with his and raised his hand to her lips. She pressed her lips against the back of his hand and said, “I’ll be here when you come back. I’ll even be here if you decide that you don’t want to come back.”
“Stop. Allison, will you tell your aunt to stop being a negative Nancy?”
Allison pointed a finger at Ava and said, “Don’t be negative lady!”
“Close enough.” Tristan said, he stepped back as Ava slipped off of the barstool. She lifted her foot over an orange and red stuffed dragon that Allison had left lying in the middle of the floor. Ava snatched her keys out of the key bowl and reached down to straighten her Capri pants. Summer had been good to her. She’d spent the first month telecommuting into work four days a week, and then coming into sign off on some sensitive documents every Friday.
Ava pulled her phone out of her back pocket to check the time, and a message from Valeria was still on the screen. Ava dragged her finger across the screen and did a quick scan of the message. Valeria had done an extraordinary job of keeping her involved while Allison was staying with her. Ava knew that once Allison was safely returned to Vivienne in Hawaii that she’d be launching back into work at the start of the quarter.
Ava sighed as she walked past Tristan and affectionately squeezed his shoulder. She narrowed her eyes and said, “Are you sure you don’t want to be flown there on one of my jets? You don’t have to take a regular flight.”
Tristan shook his head and slipped his hands into the handles of his bags. “No, I don’t need the extra first-class treatment. You already bought me a first-class ticket.”
Ava grinned and whipped her head around, “Allison! Shoes on, we’re taking Tristan to the airport!”
Allison slid off of the bar stool and her feet moved across the floor. She fell onto the floor in front of her pink and white sneakers and said, “I don’t want Tristan to leave!”
Me either. Tristan headed downstairs and loaded up the car, and Ava and Allison joined him a few moments later.
As the three of them sat in the back of the car, Ava didn’t miss the way that Eric smiled to himself in the front seat. Ava squeezed Tristan's hand and said, “I’m so excited to compete with your Mother when I say goodbye.”
Tristan laughed and said, “She would do that to anyone, apparently even the most successful woman in the city still gets scrutiny.” The three of them enjoyed the peaceful ride as they drove to the airport. When they arrived, Eric hopped out of the car and pulled Tristan’s bags out of the car. The airport smelled like a mixture of sweat and fried foods, Ava smoothed the front of her dress as she, Tristan, and Allison waited for Anna and Mateo.
In the six months that had passed since she and Tristan had become official, Ava had met and had dinner with Anna exactly two times. The first time she was assaulted with questions about why she’d never married, why she didn’t have any children, and what were intentions with someone as young as Tristan. The second time, Ava invited Anna and Mateo to a nice dinner out, and while it had gone better with the first dinner, Ava decided that her interactions with Anna were better off being left few and far in between.
Ava plastered on a smile as Anna came barreling towards them. She waved her arms about and said, “Tristan! I’m so glad it was so easy to find you!”
Ava stepped to the side as Anna wrapped her arms around her son, and she offered a polite nod to Mateo. Anna extended her hand to Ava and said, “Ava, it’s so nice to see you again.”
Her smile looked practiced, as if she’d spent the entire car ride practicing how to interact with her. “Thank you for getting Tristan here. I came straight from work.” She gestured at the starched white shirt that she wore and sleek black pants. Anna had accepted a job as a general manager of a restaurant.
The speaker above them screeched for a moment, and the voice said, “Flight 422 is ready to board, flight 422 to Washington D.C.”
Ava ignored the penetrative gazes of Mateo and Anna and threw her arms around Tristan. She buried her face into his collarbone and breathed in the smell of him, and the woodsy smell of his cologne. “I’m going to miss you, you know.”
Tristan grinned and pressed his lips against hers. “It’s just for a while.”
They took their time separating, and Tristan hugged and said goodbye to both of his parents after. Ava stood beside them as Tristan took off towards security. Allison slipped her hand into Ava’s.
Ava squeezed her niece’s hand as she watched Tristan move past security and fall in place behind the other boarders. It’s just for a little while. Her eyes lingered for a moment before she looked down to Allison and said, “Wanna go get an ice cream? You can tell Tristan all about what we did when he gets back?”
Allison nodded and Ava spared one last look towards the boarding line, where Tristan had long disappeared. “Good. He won’t be gone long.”
Chapter 24
Ava knelt down to tie one of her shoes that had come loose during her run. The heat penetrated her sweaty skin as she walked over to the water fountain to wet her lips and take a deserving big gulp. She looked around at the group of kids playing ultimate Frisbee in the field. She walked along the path to allow her breath to slow back down to a normal pace. She could hear the laughter from the people having their picnic down by the pond and the chitter chatter of the students on the benches. It was a perfect summer day.
She resisted the urge to grab her cell phone from her waste and check her messages. Her fingers tapped against the back of the phone still hoisted in her belt. It had not buzzed for the past hour.
She walked over to a park bench, set her hand on the black decorative curled iron. She shifted her weight over to one leg and took her opposite foot into her hand and pulled. Her thigh muscle felt a warm stretched after a forty-minute run. She swung her leg over and rested her sneaker onto the top of the bench and leaned in. She felt a strong pull in the back of her leg that was looser now than when she woke up that morning. She thought about Tristan’s muscle man presentation and how she could never get enough of watching him flex. A small smile fell onto her face as she switched legs.
“This is a new thing?”
The hair from the back of her neck shot straight up. Ava recognized the voice but couldn’t believe her ears. She turned around to see Tristan standing behind her.
Her heart jumped. She leaped forward and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Tristan! What are you doing here?”
“I might ask you the same thing.”
“Me first. How… how did you know I was even here?”
“I checked with your office. They said you went out for a run. I thought, that couldn’t be?” He chuckled. “So, I went to the coffee shop and when you weren’t there, I came here.”
She gently slapped him on the chest. “I mean what are you doing back?” It had been three months since Tristan had started his internship at the law firm in D.C. She braced herself to endure an entire summer of his absence and maybe longer.
“Oh, that!” Tristan was toying with her.
“Well, I was working my ass off doing research for these assholes and I thought, I needed a break.”
“You quit?”
“No, no. I have to go back but I realized that all I wanted was to be with you. The entire time I was working, I th
ought of you. I miss you so much.” He put his hands around her waist.
“Me too.”
“Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. So, I booked a flight. I flew back overnight and here I am.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I could have had come to pick you up. I’m so glad you are here.” Ava lite up with joy in the beaming sunlight. “I can’t believe you flew all the way down here on a whim like that.”
“I had to follow my heart.” Ave smiled back at him. “But um… I had to make a short stop on the way.” Tristan knelt down on one knee, he squinted up at Ava as the sunrays pierced his vision. He pulled out a sparkly diamond ring and held it up to Ava.
“Ava, I love you. With all my heart. From the moment we met. The intensity I feel for you has never faded. Will you marry me?”
“Oh, my god!” Ava was at a loss for words.
“Before you answer. Please don’t say no. I know this is a big step but we can go slow. We can have a long engagement. Whenever you are ready, we’ll do it. I just couldn’t live another moment without tell you this.”
“Oh, my God, Tristan.” Ava’s eyes teared up as she nodded. “Yes.” She was overwhelmed with joy and busted into tears and laughter. Tristan slid the gorgeous ring on her finger, stood up and kissed his beautiful bride to be. Their long sensual kissed got everyone in the crowd clapping and cheering for them.
As their lips parted, Tristan looked into her eyes and said “why are you so sweaty?”
Ava’s laughter made her tilt her head back. “I’ve been running.”
“Oh, really?” Tristan’s surprised look waited for more information “and tell me, what does that entail, exactly?” Ava chuckled.
“Oh…you know, since you’ve been gone, and I got the new shopping mall account, I hired a V.P. and extended our office into the empty offices next door to accommodate for the new department. It’s has allotted me more free time so-”
“No, I mean, what’s up with this outfit?” Tristan looked up and down at her tight-fitting workout attire.
“Oh, this. Well, you know…live longer. I’ve joined the movement.”
***
THE END
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SNEAK PREVIEW
Sergeant Hardcore
Action Suspense Military Romance
By Pinki Parks
Chapter 1
Chelsea
I was sitting there enjoying a drink to soothe my nerves before my flight to Guam. My friends Lindsay and Harmony had convinced me to take off the shackles of society for a week of rest and relaxation.
“I haven’t done anything spontaneous. This is a first for me.” I was straight-laced never one to go against the natural order of things. Adventure was not my middle name.
“Chelsea, this is our chance to get out from underneath the domineering thumb of our ex-husbands.” We met in a support group for divorcees. Harmony got the beach house in Guam in the divorce settlement. “I don’t see any reason why we can’t enjoy our windfall.” Harmony looked like a blond bimbo and she used that perception to fool people. The girl had an intellect off the charts but knew how to use what God gave her.
I was in the mood to try something different and the spicy Caesar was stronger than I had originally thought it was going to be. The rest of the patrons were talking amongst themselves in tiny groups. There was a sense of relief on those faces getting away from the depressing cold and snow.
“I have the both of you to thank for opening up my eyes. I mistakenly believed I could work it out with Brent. He hid his true face for the first five years of our marriage. He was my first love, but I never did learn what it was like to play the field.” Although we married in our thirties, I never truly had a strong relationship with a man. Right after the divorce settlement was signed on the dotted line I began to notice furtive glances from the opposite sex.
“We are in the prime of our life. The settlement we all received is going to keep us flush for years. I doubt any of us will ever have to get a real job. I can’t believe neither one of you could guess the reason why I made you join the gym.” Lindsay was a raven-haired beauty standing at close to 6 feet. She could easily intimidate those Guys who dared to undress her with their eyes.
“I might be a little bigger than the average girl, but I wear it well. I don’t get out of breath as easy and I appreciate the reflection looking back at me.” I was feeling in the best shape of my life and the results from the gym showed it. I was never going to be a hard body with a tiny waist, but I had learned to accept my body type. My hips matched my D cups and that’s all that matters.
“Guys have a tendency to want a little more to their loving than a stick thin Barbie doll. We all have a lot to offer and there’s no reason why we can’t share the wealth. This is our one opportunity to try out other flavors. I’m looking forward to a more decadent chocolate to my diet.” I didn’t want to tell Harmony, but I wasn’t looking to throw my fishing line into the sea just yet.
The spicy bean dipped into the Caesar took my breath away. I never was one to indulge and had never been drunk in my life. I had seen my fair share of those acting like idiots after consuming a few stiff ones. Seeing them like I was a fly on the wall gave me a new perspective. I had this feeling I was going to make the acquaintance of other different drinks to numb my senses.
“The one thing Brent did give me was an appreciation for the arts. I’ve been to multiple plays in the big apple and have graced many different functions for various artists trying to break into the scene. The music of Mozart touches me in a way that I can’t even convey.” I was a flaming redhead, but I didn’t have the temperament to match.
“I can’t say my time with Jason was all bad. The man was an animal in the sack. If only I could keep his mouth shut after the deed was done life would have been perfect.” Lindsay always knew Jason relied on his good looks and I had to admit seeing him that one time, stirred things up inside. His dazzling smile and physical attributes made him wanted by the female population.
Lindsay had fallen for his lines without fully realizing his intellectual limitations. There wasn’t much going on upstairs. She finally had enough when she caught him sleeping with identical twins in their marriage bed. This was something we had in common for the reason why we had to cut the matrimony cord.
About six months ago, I walked in unexpectedly to find Brent in the arms of an 18-year-old college student. The noises coming from the bedroom was like something from the wild. I stood there and watched mesmerized with the way they were moving under the sheets. I didn’t say anything. I closed the door and walked out.
I stayed in a hotel for three days ignoring his text messages and voicemails. I had designs on getting a divorce and I went to one of the support groups to get the necessary advice to go forward. I felt guilty for making it necessary for Brent to go somewhere else to get what he needed. I was reminded by those in attendance in the support group it wasn’t my fault. Lindsay and Harmony became the loudest voices in the room with conviction behind every word.
I was going to suggest counseling to see if we could make it work. It was when I went to see him at the office things became abundantly clear. I barged in with the secretary breathlessly trying to stop me to no avail. The smell of sex was overpowering and his face contorted into a mask of euphoria gave me the courage to send him the divorce papers by messenger.
I hired a shark to represent me in court and I didn’t give Brent the chance to speak his mind. He tried to get me alone, but I refused to play his game. I wouldn�
�t have been able to do that without Lindsay and Harmony whispering in my ear.
I heard the announcement for those of our flight to begin boarding. I finished off the double Caesar and consumed the spicy bean with a guilty fascination. Any hesitation to leave the hustle and bustle of the big city had vanished with the liquor running through my veins.
“I have to admit the gym has toned me in all the right places. I’m ready to flaunt my stuff on the beach.” I was 5’7, 165 pounds with my red hair cascading like ocean waves down to the small of my back.
“Don’t think about the past when the future is right in front of us. There is a lot of fish in the sea. I don’t plan to be alone for very long after we land. I would suggest the both of you follow my lead. I have always been somewhat of a magnet for those looking for a one-night stand.” Harmony had this zest for life and she wasn’t letting her divorce define her.
I was a little unsteady on my feet and I began laughing for no apparent reason. My parents had raised me in a strict Catholic way never giving me room to breathe. They tried to fight me telling me it was against their religion to get a divorce. They hadn’t talked to me. Losing that connection to my family made it necessary to strike out on my own. I didn’t have any siblings.
Harmony and Lindsay became the sisters I never had growing up. I was hitting my stride at the ripe age of 40. A new chapter was being written without the need for a man in my life. Unwinding and catching my breath was necessary after the dust had settled on the divorce.
I moved seamlessly down the aisle to first-class accommodations with a champagne glass presented from a comely young stewardess with her uniform pressed to perfection. Her perfume surrounded her like a halo and her long legs would make any man think that they went to heaven and beyond.