by Rose Harris
Chapter Two
Ava figured the days of sneaking out of her house were over. When she found herself awake at six forty-five on a Sunday morning, she decided to execute a quick and quiet getaway from her guest.
The drive to her parents was about thirty minutes; normally, Ava enjoyed the downtime. However, today was an exception. The last time she’d felt this much apprehension about talking to her parents, she’d told them she was pregnant.
At some point during the night spent tossing and turning, Ava concluded she had to tell someone about her secret, or it was going to eat her up. Under normal circumstances, she would tell Roxi. With her being Jace’s sister, Ava knew that was impossible. Roxi and Jace were too close for her to keep a secret like that from her brother.
After she made the decision to tell her parents the truth of Ashlyn’s paternity, acceptance washed over her, and she slept deeply. The news that Jace had fathered her daughter would be shocking. She’d steadfastly maintained all along she’d had a one-night stand at a college party and refused to say more. Ava had to have faith they would support her and the choices she’d made once she told them everything.
The drive down her parents’ street at seven-thirty on a bright and sunny spring morning was like going back in time. Old Man Walters was out picking up his paper. Seeing him in his tattered robe made her reminisce about being outside on hot summer days and getting popsicles from his garage. The summer his wife died, she had taken over casseroles her mom made. From then on, he’d made sure there was always a supply of ice cream treats in the garage deep freezer for both her and Roxi.
Once she reached her parents’ two-story colonial, Ava took a moment to absorb the overwhelming feeling to run: inside or away, she couldn’t decide. When they moved to this town, she had been ready to start elementary school. Her first impression of her new home had been she was going to live in a mansion. The house turned out not to be a mansion, but it was more than enough for the three of them. She knew her parents had tried unsuccessfully to have other children, but they never complained about only having one. The thought of the revelations ahead left a heavy feeling deep in the center of her chest.
Please God, let me find a way to explain to them why I made this decision three years ago.
With a shake of her head in an effort to dislodge all negative thoughts, she looked at the house with the eyes of an adult, taking in the changes to her family home since their arrival almost sixteen years earlier.
The house still had the yellow siding her dad had put on when she was in the fifth grade. The memory of his trip to the emergency room after falling off the ladder remained etched in her brain. Of course, the bushes that had broken his fall had never grown back properly.
That would be one of those stories she could tell Ashlyn about silly Pappy and his crazy ideas. The flowers her mom and Lexi, Roxi and Jace’s mother and her own mom’s best friend, had planted around the front porch thrived. The walk to the front porch was reminiscent of a trek through a botanical gardens.
The large red door that welcomed her into the family home opened on silent hinges with the turn of the knob, and peace settled over Ava. This was the feeling she wanted for Ashlyn when she grew up: peace, acceptance and love just by coming home.
Shoes cluttered the foyer, and Ashlyn’s tricycle instantly put a smile on her face. Making her way into the recently renovated kitchen, Ava took in her mom’s youthful appearance. Lia Banks stood in front of the Keurig in her blue pajamas, holding a silent vigil for the first cup to finish brewing. She always wore her hair short with golden highlights, and in her only concession to age, the highlights had gotten a little heavier to cover the gray. One look at her and no one would ever guess she was a grandmother.
“Hey, Mom.” Ava giggled when her mother jumped.
“Sweetheart, you scared five years off me. I wasn’t expecting you this early. Ashlyn is still sleeping. We had dinner last night with John and Lexi and kept her out late.” Lia made her way around the table and stopped briefly to kiss her daughter’s cheek. “Honey, you still look tired, what time did you get in?”
“Around midnight, I didn’t sleep very well last night.” Ava could not tell her mom Jace had her tossing and turning. “No worries. My early arrival just lets me spend more time with you before Ash gets up.”
At the worn table, Ava peered around her parents’ kitchen. The old oak cabinets were gone, and in their place were beautifully handcrafted cherry cabinets, plus marble countertops and stainless steel appliances.
This is the type of kitchen I want in my house. One day.
“I know. We never seem to spend time together like we used to.” The wistful look on Lia’s face made Ava want to tell her mom all her secrets. But how could she tell her about graduation, when she wasn’t positive she could secure her final, crucial two-week student teaching assignment? How would her mom react when she learned of Ashlyn’s paternity?
The worry must have shown on her face because Lia studied her, and Ava took the examination as it was meant, a show of love. “Honey, you’re running yourself down. I’m worried about you. You work too many hours. How many times do your father and I have to tell you? We will help.”
Her mother’s offer of money was nothing new, so when she continued, Ava was prepared to decline. “Your dad and I have been talking, and we’d like to buy you a new car. Before you say no, listen to me.”
Ava couldn’t argue if she wanted to; she was stunned into silence.
“We know you won’t take any money for your household expenses and, for some unknown reason, you only let us pay for half your tuition. We have discussed this, and your car is too unreliable. You and Ashlyn are our world. We want to get you something safer.”
Ava opened her mouth to say no, but what came out surprised her. “If I agree, will you let me pay for half?”
“You keep such late hours… Did you just agree?” Lia stared at Ava with her mouth gaped open. Her obvious shock at her acceptance made Ava laugh out loud.
“I guess I am.” Ava smiled broadly. “But I have to pay for half.” Ava knew the purchase of a car would cut into her plans for the summer, but the security of a new vehicle would be worth it.
“You made that too easy. I’d convinced myself you would argue until you were blue in the face and I had a migraine. Do you have plans for this afternoon? We could go to a couple of dealerships today.”
“I figured I would take Ashlyn to the park for a little while this morning and McDonald’s for lunch. While she is taking her nap, I have some laundry to do and homework to finish.” Ava pulled at the napkin that sat under her mother’s coffee cup.
Lia took another sip of her coffee. “Why don’t you keep your plans, and your father and I will go out looking for a car? We’ll get some ideas, and then you can come over for dinner sometime this week and we’ll discuss the specifics.”
Ava halted the conversation while she prepared her own cup of coffee. Settled down again at her regular spot at the table, she continued. “Mom, you know I would love to come to dinner, but it will have to be next Sunday. I have work and class every day, and my evenings are spent between homework and Ashlyn.” Ava hated to watch the look of disappointment cross her mother’s face, but she didn’t have a choice. With any luck, she would have some free time in the next couple of months.
“I’m worried about all you’ve taken on. You work too hard, you stay up late every night to do homework and have no social life. I understand you want to spend all your time being a good mother to Ashlyn and give her everything, but you really need to take time for yourself.”
“We have this conversation all the time. I promise I am fine and when things get to be too much, I’ll make some changes. Really, life is pretty good. I’m getting a new car.” Ava tried to give her mom a carefree smile.
Absently, Ava ran her hand along the edge of the scuffed table her parents had been given at the beginning of their marriage. She could feel the dents from years of use. Trying
to change the subject, she asked, “Mom, why do you still have this table? When the kitchen was redone, you should have gotten a new one.”
“I love this table. I told your father I was pregnant while we were eating breakfast at this very table. Our family has shared every holiday and weeknight meal sitting across from each other at this table. Memories of you and now my granddaughter having your first meals at this table are things I will cherish forever.” Ava watched as her mom lovingly ran her hand across the rough top. “This table represents more than just a table, it represents our family.”
Not sure what to say to her mother, Ava just looked down at the battered wood. The sentiment of the table was lovely, but it didn’t suit the contemporary kitchen. She wasn’t about to mention that and risk another lecture. Ava sipped her coffee.
The sound of footsteps upstairs was Lia’s sign to start making breakfast for Howard. Ava’s dad was a wonderful, kind, caring man, but when he woke up, he was a hungry bear. His family just knew to stay out of his way until he had food in his belly.
Ava got the plates from the cabinet and began to set the table. Just as she was about to put the dishes out, her dad walked in with Ashlyn. The moment Ashlyn saw her mommy she started squealing.
As Pappy put down his little angel, Ashlyn rushed into her mother’s embrace and wrapped her chubby arms around her neck tightly. This was home; these were the moments she lived for.
Ava covered Ashlyn’s plump cheeks with kisses. “I have missed you so much, my little ladybug. Did you have fun with Pappy and Gram?”
Ashlyn giggled as her mommy rubbed her nose in her neck. “Mama, I miss you.”
Her baby had grown into a little girl, with her princess pajamas and sleepy eyes. Ava was the luckiest woman in the world. Staring into the face of her own heaven-sent angel, Ava knew nothing would ever make her regret her night with Jace or the wonderful person they had made together. The decision to tell her parents about Jace and Ashlyn’s connection was inevitable, and Ava placed another kiss on the cheek of her daughter and settled her into the booster seat, knowing everything would be fine.
After twenty minutes of babbling and mindless chatter and bacon frying, Ava finally sat down for a breakfast of pancakes, eggs and bacon. Noticing her dad kept one eye on her all the time made Ava anxious. It was as if he knew she was about to change their world.
Howard said, “Damn shame what that girl in Henderson County is doing to Jace.”
Lia just sat shaking her head while Ava tried to figure out what was going on. She had not seen Roxi when she got home, so she didn’t know what had actually brought Jace to town, and their midnight run-in was nothing to tell her parents about now. So she simply asked, “What’s going on?”
“I know his mama is so mad at that boy, she could kick his butt. I mean, we really don’t believe the allegations, but he hasn’t made a statement yet, so we just don’t know what to think.” Lia talked as if Ava hadn’t asked a question.
Still confused, Ava helped Ashlyn cut up more pancake and then asked, “What are you talking about? I haven’t been in town for a few days. What am I missing?”
Her parents looked at each other before either of them commented. Curiosity peaked, Ava waited patiently for a response. Finally, her dad said, “There’s a girl in Henderson County claiming Jace is the father of her son. A boy younger than Ashlyn.”
The unexpected news had the room spinning as Ava looked at her father in shock as he continued, “She’s says he was in town early in his second season with the Renegades. Nobody can verify that, except Jace, and he won’t answer his phone. As far as we know, Jace was in Nashville at the time this supposedly happened.”
While her dad continued to explain the situation, Ava could only listen with half an ear. She vaguely heard comments about DNA testing and public image. When it became apparent her parents were expecting her to say something, Ava couldn’t form any words.
Stunned silence filled the air as Ava tried to absorb the enormity of what she just heard. If this were true, Ashlyn would have a half brother out there. It would solidify Ava’s fear that what they had shared that one night was really just sex to him, and her daughter was only made with love by one parent. Oh, my God. What am I going to do? She couldn’t tell her parents or anyone the truth now.
Ava lost her appetite after hearing the news, and her parents didn’t question her as she abruptly stood and began clearing the table. In the meantime, Ashlyn was oblivious to her mother’s discomfort and continued to ramble about getting a puppy.
Ava didn’t know what had transpired between her parents, but when she turned back to the table, she noticed her mother was dabbing at her eyes. When she passed her dad’s chair, he reached out and grabbed Ava close for a hug that made her heart ache. She needed to escape the confines of her parents’ house before she broke down.
****
Roxi entered the kitchen with one thing on her mind…coffee. Having never been a morning person, she took her first sip of coffee as eagerly as a thirsty man drank water, and as usual, she was completely oblivious to everything around her. Jace smiled at his sister’s predictability.
The woman leaning against the counter inhaling coffee looked completely different from the little pain-in-the-ass he remembered. Tall for a girl, probably five ten and maybe one hundred twenty pounds soaking wet, she could no longer be called his little sister.
Jace stood across the room and waited for the caffeine to take effect so he could greet her. Before caffeine she was evil, and he knew it. He let her have her space.
Over the rim of his own coffee cup, Jace continued to take in the changes in his sister. The hair had to be the biggest difference. Gone were the long, dirty-blond locks he had pulled just to bug her; now she had a fashionably short haircut with platinum blond highlights. The piercing in her nose always made him cringe, but somehow it looked perfect on her. Roxanne Louise Coolidge, Roxi to everyone who wanted to live, was a wild child, and Jace loved her as only an older brother could.
As if she just woke up, Roxi realized Jace was standing there. Standing in her pink pajama T-shirt and striped lounge pants, she mumbled, “Good morning. How’d you sleep?”
He shrugged. “Fine.”
Jace watched her wrap her hand around the Renegades mug, clutching as if it were her lifeline. The emotions that played across her face had him bracing for the questions he’d been expecting.
“So what the hell is so important that you would come racing into town in your fancy Porsche?”
Jace took a minute to figure out what to say. “Did you tell Mom or Dad I was here?”
“No. You asked me not to tell them, and I haven’t. I did call Ava because I didn’t want her to be shocked. You seemed sort of stressed last night. So again, what brings you to town?”
The need to talk made him unload on his little sister. “I got served with some papers on Saturday morning. They spooked me, and I wasn’t sure what to do. The only thing I could think of was maybe Ava could help me out since she works at a law firm.”
“What are you talking about? Are you being sued? Did you break the law? How can Ava help you?” Shocked and worried, Roxi came across the room to stand beside her brother in a show of support.
“No, I didn’t break any laws, and I am not being sued. Well, not really. Do you remember when I came home for a short visit right after Krakitz was injured, and I was put in as starting QB?”
“No. I should, though. You only come home when it’s convenient for you.”
Damn, he was hoping his sister would remember his visit and he wouldn’t have to drag their parents into this disaster. “Yes, you do. I’d called, and you said I could come here and stay, but you were going to be out of town with your latest boyfriend.”
“Let me think.” Roxi waggled her finger by her temple and made a comical thinking face. “I remember it. Ava was going to be home, so I told you it was okay. I didn’t think she would mind, because she was staying home a lot because of the pregn
ancy.”
“Yeah well, I’d tried to call her, but she didn’t answer. I thought about her having a baby and all and decided to stay at Mom’s when Alex told me he was going to his aunt’s for a few days.” There was no way in hell he was going to tell his sister he’d made love with Ava on a previous visit and skipped out because he hadn’t wanted to face his feelings for her.
Roxi obviously still didn’t know, because if she did, he was sure she would forever be pissed at him for getting busy with her best friend. “I decided to meet up with him on Tuesday, in Henderson County, and we went out Tuesday night. This is where everything gets fuzzy. See we were drinking pretty heavy, and I drank a little more than I should have.”
Jace stared at his little sister and braced himself as he finished. “I was served with paternity papers. Some girl says I got her pregnant that night, and now I have a one-and-a-half-year-old son.”
He knew nothing he could have said could have shocked Roxi more. Her golden boy brother had made the ultimate mistake. He’d become just like his biological father. “What are you saying? You may be a deadbeat dad?”
“The truth? I don’t know. I don’t remember her. Hell, I don’t even recognize her name, and I only have a few clear memories from the night she claims we hooked up.”
Except for the reason I started drinking in the first place.
“When I came home, all I really wanted was to relax and heal my sore body before I played my first game as a starter.”
He never expected to have his feelings for Ava stirred up. Initially, he thought he would stay at Ava’s, maybe try to make amends, go back to being friends. He had planned on calling her to check up on her after their night together, losing your virginity was a big deal, but he heard from his parents she met someone and was having his baby. Ava had moved on, and he had to also. The exhausted hello when she answered his call made him change his mind; he hung up, never acknowledging her greeting. He couldn’t get over the fact she was pregnant, and he would never willingly become involved with a single mother. Kids were not in his plans.