Waiting On the Rain

by Caudia Connor

She went right to Winnie’s stall, running her hand over the braille name plates, no help needed from him. Just one more impressive thing about her. She took the halter and lead rope and with a few flicks of her fingers had unbuckled the bridle.

  He waited until she’d slipped the halter over Winnie’s ears before he stepped forward. “For God’s sake, don’t do that again.”

  She turned her face to stare at him, or seemed to. “Excuse me?”

  “Look, you can ride in the ring. You can—”

  “I can ride in the ring?”

  Her tone hit something scary which was punctuated by his sister’s abrupt departure. Damn it. The women had already conspired against him.

  “So,” Ava said. “Tell me again exactly what I can and can’t do? Maybe you should write it out. Oh, wait. I wouldn’t be able to read it. Maybe you should put a leash on me so you can be sure I do as I’m told.”

  “Now hold on.”

  “No, you hold on.” She was standing close enough that when she poked out a finger it hit its mark dead center in his chest. “Didn’t I already tell you I had my family breathing down my neck, worrying about me?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “And didn’t you say you understood?”

  “Yes, I said that.” He took the finger poking him, wrapped his fingers around her entire hand. “But I sometimes forget what I’ve said when my heart stops.”

  Her expression lost some of the anger, replaced by confusion.

  “My heart stopped when I saw you hit the ground, Ava. I’m not even sure it’s started again.”

  Now she smiled at him, soft and sweet. “The ground is sandy.” She laid her other hand on his chest. “I didn’t fall that hard.”

  “I know.” He brought her fingers to his lips. He’d meant the kiss to be quick, an apology, a period, but it wasn’t quick. Nor was it a period at the end of anything. He kept right on kissing her as her hands came to his shoulders. Her fingers slid around to the back of his neck and up into his hair.

  When Luke finally managed to release her, Ava was breathing hard which was a relief considering the way his own heart was pounding. A sexy flush tinged her cheeks and there was a just–kissed look to her mouth. Both made her eyes look even bluer. “I’ll see you later?”

  “Okay.”

  He ran the back of his hand down her cheek, then made himself step back. There was something going on here, new territory, no map. But he pretty sure he knew which way he wanted to go.

  28

  “I think if you just labeled the shelves, that would be enough,” Ava said. She’d hung around this morning after riding to help Hannah with some camp details. “Like brushes and picks. The individual items wouldn’t need to be labeled.”

  “Okay,” Hannah said. “Got it. And I had this thing I was going to ask you about. It was an app people could download and use when they’re here. Hang on. I’ve got it somewhere.”

  Ava heard Hannah opening her file drawer then closing it.

  “How was your date with Luke?”

  “It was good.”

  “Yeah? Anything else?”

  Ava heard more shuffling and also the teasing friendship in Hannah’s question. “It was really good,” she said, smiling. And it had been.

  He’d taken her to a quiet restaurant with cloth table coverings and a candle in the center. She had an app on her phone that could scan and then read the menu to her which he’d thought was cool. But leaning in, their heads together, he’d read it to her. With her.

  Deciding and debating on what each of them would order, what they might share. And for more than two hours, they’d shared food and wine, tasting from one another’s plates, talking about everything and nothing.

  She started to take another sip from the cold can of Coke she held, then stopped. “You know, on second thought, labeling each one wouldn’t be a bad idea and they’re not expensive. Children or even adults who’ve recently lost their sight could use the practice. Like anything, it’s better to practice with a purpose. Feels less like a chore.”

  “Absolutely.” Ava heard Hannah’s pen hit the pad. “You know, you’re really good at this.”

  “Happy to help.”

  “No, I mean you’re really good at it.”

  Ava smiled. “Well, thanks.”

  They went over the app Hannah had found and in the end decided it wouldn’t be that helpful and the money could be better spent.

  “What else is going on? How’s your dad?”

  “Good. Better every day. We’ve been doing the home therapy for four weeks now and he’s starting to get around more.”

  “Do you know how much longer you’ll be here?”

  “Not exactly.” She busied her hands, flicking the tab at the top of the can. “I’m supposed to be back in three weeks unless I ask for more time.”

  Ava flicked the tab again and decided to take the plunge. “My mom has it in her head that Luke has to come to her birthday dinner. I mean, she’s insistent and it’s ridiculous that I even feel pressured about it. But she’s all like, ‘it’s my birthday and if you’re going to…’ I won’t repeat exactly what she said as it’s just too embarrassing, but she’s insistent.”

  “Well, I don’t know about parents, but I do know that no matter how old I am, my brothers, especially Nick, can lay down the pressure. And the guilt. And oh, my gosh. Before Stephen? He was like a lunatic.”

  Ava smiled.

  “I take it you don’t want Luke to come.”

  “No. No, it’s not that. It’s just… It’s weird, right? Like guys say, don’t take a girl to a wedding unless you want her to get ideas. Asking him to my house for a family event definitely seems like I’m getting ideas.”

  “Are you?”

  “No. I mean…I’m…” I’m deathly afraid I’m going to fall in love with your brother. “I’d rather have him there than not, but I don’t know.” She blew out a breath thinking she seemed to not know a lot lately. Especially when it came to Luke.

  She thought about their recent date. How thoughtful Luke had been, how at ease she’d felt. She had an app that would scan and read the menu for her which Luke had thought was extremely cool, but he’d ended up reading most of it to her, going over choices he was considering, what they might share. He made it easy. He handled it. He’d handled everything.

  “I don’t want to mess things up,” Ava said, pulling her thoughts back. “We’re having fun. It’s temporary.”

  “If it’s just temporary how messed up can it get?”

  “Mmm. Good point.”

  There was a knock on the door then it opened.

  “Hey,” Luke said. “Hey, Ava. Didn’t know you were here.”

  “I didn’t know you were here,” she said with a smile in his direction. “We were just going over some camp stuff.”

  “Right. That’s good.”

  There was something in his voice she thought as he came farther into the room and closed the door behind him.

  “I found something. I really hate to tell you this, either of you, but I found two of the kittens. Just outside the barn. Looks like something got to them.”

  “Oh, no,” Hannah said. “Did you see Tom?”

  “No. No sign of Tom or the others.”

  He crossed the short distance and Ava felt him beside her just before he laid a hand on her shoulder. Sadness filled the little room.

  “Could have been a raccoon,” he said. “Or a weasel. Probably something small or there’d be nothing— well.”

  Ava reached up and covered his hand with hers.

  “I’ll bury them, okay? Then look around again for the others.”

  “Okay,” Hannah said. “Thanks.”

  “Sure.” He gave Ava’s shoulder a squeeze then he left.

  “Well, that sucks,” Hannah said.

  “Yeah,” Ava said, staring after Luke. “Maybe Tom took the others somewhere.”

  “Yeah. Maybe. Shit.”

  Ava heard Hannah’s office chair sque
ak as she sat heavily, heard her sigh. “Not all the kids know about the kittens yet. The ones that do, well… I guess I can answer honestly and say I don’t know where they are.”

  “I wish I could help you look,” Ava said.

  “If they’re anywhere around, Luke will find them.”

  Ava sat a moment with her thoughts then stood. “I better get going.”

  “Yeah. Me, too. I’ve got a rider coming in ten minutes. Ava.”

  She stopped at the door. “Yeah?”

  “I think you should ask Luke to dinner. I think he’d like to go.”

  Luke knew enough not to go empty handed, so when he entered Ava’s parents’ house he had flowers in hand. He’d gone back and forth over one bouquet or two. Flowers for Ava’s mom was a no brainer. It was her house, it was her birthday. But Ava had invited him. Should he take Ava flowers too? In the end he’d decided on the one, pulling out a single rose for Ava. He left it in the truck to give to her later.

  The second Ava opened the door he regretted his decision. She looked like a dream, standing there in a dressy white top and dark jeans. Her hair was brushed to a curtain of fine silk that framed her face. There was a touch of nerves in her eyes.

  “I brought flowers for your mom,” he said, when he leaned in to hug her.

  She sniffed and smiled. “Mmm. Roses. That will get you major points. Might even get you extra cake.”

  “I’m hoping. I pulled one out for you. It’s in the truck.”

  She smiled and he turned his head so that his lips slid from her cheek to her lips. She was so damn sweet, he had to kiss her.

  “Luke.”

  Mrs. Bennet’s voice had him jerking back. “Hi, Mrs. Bennet. Happy birthday.” He held out the flowers to the thin woman with a silver bob.

  “Yellow roses. How lovely. Thank you. Come in, tell Ava what you want to drink.”

  With Ava’s hand on Luke’s arm, they moved into the kitchen. Ava’s father, a stout man with a full head of gray hair, bushy gray eyebrows, and a smile much like Ava’s sat at the table.

  “Luke, good to see you again.”

  “You too, Mr. Bennet. How’s the knee?” he asked, coming over to shake the man’s hand.

  “Good, good. Better every day. Ava’s a slave driver.”

  “Hey, man.” Luke shook hands with Ava’s brother, who sat near his father, some type of magazine between them. “This is my sister-in-law, Connie,” Ava said, leading him toward the kitchen counter.

  “Hi.” A slim brunette, several inches shorter than Ava turned to him. She had wide brown eyes and a kind smile. “I’d shake your hand, but…” She held up hands dotted with chocolate icing. “I’m just putting the finishing touches on the cake. Leave it to me to wait until the last minute.”

  “Well, when it comes to chocolate icing, I say better late than never.”

  “Good answer,” she said, going back to the triple layer round cake.

  “I’ll get a vase for your flowers, Mom.”

  Ava let go of his arm and using her cane, went to the cabinet below the sink and retrieved a tall, clear vase. “In case you’re wondering why my mom is cooking her own birthday dinner, it’s because she’s stubborn.”

  “I like to cook. And I told you, going out is too much trouble. There’s some snacks here, Luke,” her mother said. “And tea, beer, water, soda. I think we have a bit of everything.”

  “Thank you.”

  Luke took a glass of sweat tea and took a seat at the table with the men as directed. He watched Ava move around the kitchen.

  “I hope you like lasagna,” Mrs. Bennet said to him.

  “Love it.”

  Twenty minutes later, grace was said and they were seated.

  “This is amazing,” Luke said. “The salad, the lasagna. All of it.”

  “Thank you. Ava made the salad. Though I always worry when she uses a knife,” her mother said, frowning at Ava.

  “Seriously?” Ryan pushed the lettuce around on his plate. “Am I going to find a finger in here?”

  Luke slid a glance at Ava, noted the small smile on her lips as she shook her head while her mother scolded her brother.

  “You know when Ava was seven, she cut her finger off,” Ryan said.

  “Would you stop?” Connie elbowed her husband.

  Luke lifted Ava’s hand, held it up. “Looks like she’s got all her fingers to me. Unless you started out with six?”

  Ava turned her head, sent him a smile that went all the way to her eyes. “Nope just five.” For a second everyone else disappeared. “And I didn’t cut it all the way off,” she said to her brother.

  “Nearly,” her mother said. “So when she tells me she’s taking this cooking class in the city and learning how to make all these fancy things and chop faster, it makes my heart race.”

  Luke looked at her again. “I didn’t know you could cook fancy.”

  “I haven’t told you everything,” she said, with a smirk.

  “Did she tell you how she used to hit me with that stick she carries?”

  Luke eyed Ryan, might have taken offense but he heard the teasing in his voice and saw Ava’s mouth twitch.

  “Ryan James,” their mother admonished mildly. “That stick,” she muttered.

  “No, I didn’t,” Ava said. “I also didn’t tell him how you used to take broccoli off your plate and sneak it onto mine.”

  “Did not.”

  “Did, too. And I’m not sure but… Dad, did I ever tell you how Ryan took your rental car one night when he was fifteen?”

  “Ryan!”

  Mrs. Bennet seemed shocked, while Mr. Bennet kept eating like he’d known all along. Reminded Luke of his own dad. For all the stuff he’d pulled, he’d never fooled his dad. He wondered what his own parents would be like now. Imagined them sitting around a table, enjoying the sound of their grown children squabbling like kids.

  Ryan pointed his fork at his sister. “I can tell some stuff on you, too.”

  “Ignore them, Luke,” Connie said. “In another few minutes they’ll start throwing food. They revert to childhood whenever they’re around each other for more than ten minutes.”

  Luke smiled. This didn’t seem so bad. Just some good-natured ribbing between siblings. Not nearly the awkward event Ava had warned him of when she’d asked him to this dinner.

  “Maybe you could help us, Luke.” Ava’s mother was looking at him pointedly.

  “Um…” Luke looked up from his nearly cleaned plate. “You want me to stop them from throwing food?”

  “Heavens, no. They know better than that. I meant help us talk Ava into staying. At the very least talk her out of this idea of moving to Italy. I mean really.”

  “Mom, please. Not today.”

  “I love the city,” Connie put in. “I miss it.”

  Ryan swung his gaze to his wife. “I thought you liked it here.”

  “I do,” she said quickly. “I do. I just said I miss it. I can see why Ava would rather live in a city and Italy? Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to live in Rome?”

  “Me, for one,” Ryan said, making a face.

  And oh, boy, maybe they were just getting to the family undercurrents. “I think it’s cool,” Luke said, taking Ava’s hand under the table. He might not want her to go on a personal level, but he’d have her back. “It’s a great job opportunity. And you know, it’s easier for her in a city. I’m sure she’s told you.”

  “Well, I don’t know how that could be possible,” her mother said.

  Luke shrugged. “I’m not sure either, but then I’m not the one who’s blind. Ava’s more than capable.”

  Mrs. Bennet’s face took on a sour look, but the little squeeze Ava gave his hand made it worth it.

  “Well, it’s dangerous,” her mother said. “New York is bad enough but a foreign city?”

  “Well.” Luke swallowed his last bite and took a sip of tea. “Nowhere is completely safe, not for anyone. What happened to Ava on the way to the pool could have ha
ppened to anyone, anywhere.”

  Ava’s mother lowered her fork. “Excuse me?”

  Her dad also stopped eating as did Ryan and Connie. Ava tensed beside him. Shit, Luke thought to himself.

  “What happened on the way to the pool, Ava?” Ryan asked.

  “Nothing really.”

  “Ava Lane?” her mother said.

  Ava mumbled a curse under her breath and tugged her hand from his. He’d definitely stepped in it here. He’d clean it up.

  “Her Uber got lost,” Luke said, taking a another sip of tea, going for casual. “It happens. You know, they think they know where they’re going and then they don’t.” He shrugged. “She even drove my truck,” Luke added, hoping to change the subject.

  Bad idea, he thought when Ryan fumbled his garlic bread and both Mr. and Mrs. Bennet simultaneously choked.

  * * *

  When the driving his truck comment was adequately explained, Luke slipped off to the bathroom. He was kicking himself for putting her on the defensive again. If he’d thought it would help, he’d be in there right now explaining to her family how absolutely capable Ava was. Of course, if they didn’t see it, nothing he said would make a difference.

  Part of him understood. He saw it, and didn’t he still worry about her?

  He did his business and noted a bedroom across the hall. One with a white iron bed covered in a white bedspread with small pink flowers. Curious he stopped in the doorway. The matching bedside tables were also white, as was the dresser. The walls were painted a pale gray and were decorated with art and a large mirror hung over the dresser.

  “Get lost?”

  Luke turned to find Ava nearly beside him. “Didn’t hear you. And sorry, I was just looking. Your room?”

  “Yep.”

  “There’s a mirror over the dresser.”

  “I know. My mom said the wall looked bare without it.”

  Ava stepped into the room and Luke followed. There were sheets of papers stacked on a desk. They looked blank and his eyes almost passed right over them before coming back. “Is this braille?" He picked up a sheet and felt the raised dots.

  “Yep.”

  “How do you—?”

  “Braille printer. I have one at work and love it so much I broke down and bought one. These are some papers I brought with me.”