Duncan’s off-hand invitation nagged at the back of her mind. Before she’d really consciously decided to do it, she slipped into her sister’s closet and snagged a simple blue sundress, with white daisies patterned on it. She appropriated matching white sandals with daisies on the toes. Ava hummed as she braided her hair. After applying simple lip gloss and some mascara, she strolled down the front steps and toward the center of town.
She passed Ruby Davis’ house and raised her hand to wave before she remembered that Miz Ruby was off RV-ing around the country with Jefferson, her long-lost love. Amy had filled her in on the whole adorable story. Perhaps second chances and happy endings were possible after all.
The old firehouse sat just a block down from Ashford Falls Square. In her youth, the Ashford Falls Fire Department ran out of a tiny, one bay brick building. Now, after a long-awaited renovation, a sprawling brick complex with three bays and sleeping quarters above stood in its place. The bright blue doors were flung open, the gleaming firetrucks parked outside and reflecting the sunlight.
Inside the bays, long tables were setup, covered in red, white and blue checkered tablecloths. Along a far wall, the firemen worked the buffet, flipping pancakes and serving the food. At the center, she recognized the gleaming silver hair of Fire Chief Chris Kincade. Duncan buzzed around next to him, a white towel slung over his shoulder. He worked with squirt bottles, hurriedly making pancakes, but laughing and chatting with the crowd.
He’d taken his father’s place as right hand man to Chief Kincade then. Ava marveled at the natural ease of the man. Duncan was where he was supposed to be, doing exactly what he was supposed to be doing with his life. Somehow, it made her feel even more untethered. Even at the height of her success, she’d never felt that contentment. Maybe it meant she’d never found the right place. Maybe it meant—
“Well, Ava Lane, as I live and breathe!” The deep voice at her elbow made Ava start. She looked into the deep blue eyes of a tall teenager, just on the cusp of manhood. She blinked, trying to place the face. “It’s Aidan Knight.”
“Aidan?” Ava gaped at Duncan’s little brother. Not so little now as he had over a foot on her frame. When she’d left Ashford Falls, Aidan had been a gap-toothed eight year old, building amazing Lego creations and hero worshipping Duncan. She gave him a quick hug, stepping back.
“How are you?” She waved to his dark blue t-shirt with the Ashford Falls Fire Department logo on it. “Are you part of the company now?”
“Been volunteering for a while but I’m still working on my EMT license.”
“Wow. All grown up then.” Ava shook her head. “It’s great to see you.”
“Grab a plate of chow and come sit with us.” He pointed to a table full of a laughing family. Though her long auburn hair was shot through with silver now, Ava would have recognized Duncan’s mother, Autumn, anywhere. Once upon a time, she’d been extremely close to the woman she thought would be her mother-in-law. She even nursed Ava through the grief over her own mother’s slow, agonizing death. Two brunette women laughed with Autumn—probably Megan and Lily, Duncan’s younger sisters. “Nathan’s on drink duty, so be sure to say hi to him as you pass.”
“I will.” As Ava stood in the slow-moving line, she reflected that, if she’d stayed in Ashford Falls, pancake suppers would be part of her life. She and Duncan would have married and probably had a few little ones by now. The thought of living her life out in tiny Ashford Falls should have made her break out in hives. Instead, she found herself pining for something that never existed. And never would.
She was only home temporarily. Soon enough, she’d find a new job and head to her real home in New York.
Why didn’t she find that a comforting thought?
Chapter Six
“What do you want in your pancakes, Birdy?” Duncan greeted Ava as she stepped in front of the pancake makers, awkwardly balancing a paper plate and her drink. Duncan kept his voice coolly professional. He didn’t look up—all his focus on the griddle as he squirted pancake batter out of plastic squeeze bottles in complicated swirls. “We’ve got chocolate chips, blueberries, apple—”
“Or could I interest you in a Belgian waffle?” Carter, the ginger-haired firefighter next to Duncan, offered as he plated a vanilla-scented waffle, perfectly golden and mouthwateringly crispy.
“She doesn’t want that. Ava loves my blueberry and bacon ones the best, right, kiddo?” Chris interrupted. He winked at Ava as she stepped in front of the pancake makers.
“Well, with all these choices, I’ll have to have one of each.” Ava smirked, the left corner of her mouth folding crookedly.
Duncan pushed away memories of all the times he’d dropped a kiss on that delicious grin. He shifted the pancakes around on the hot griddle, more to have something to do than from any need. He didn’t want to stare at Ava. Part of him couldn’t believe he’d actually invited her to this event after nearly kissing her at the wedding. He needed to stay far away. She’d leave town soon enough and he could put his ghosts to rest.
With rather more force than necessary, Duncan flipped a pancake onto her plate. She sashayed away. He rolled his eyes at the smug expression on Chris’ face.
“I saw that.”
“Saw what?” Duncan growled. “Nothing to see.”
“From where I’m standing, there’s a lot to see.” Chris jerked his chin over toward the Knight family table, where Ava pulled up a chair next to his mom. As Duncan watched, Ava giggled with his sisters, as though she saw them every day. As though she’d never left.
That was the thing about Ava. She’d always fit right in, a part of his family and world since before he could remember. He’d known her all his life. She’d been the girl he finger-painted with in kindergarten. He’d always adored her quirky sense of humor, her wicked smile, or eyes like the bluebells growing wild in his mom’s back garden. She was so much a part of him. She was so much a part of him, losing her had been like losing a limb. He couldn’t face that level of pain again, not now, not ever.
“She’s just home for a visit.” Duncan muttered as he pitched two charred pancakes into the trash can. “Stop distracting me.”
“I’m pretty sure I’m not the one distracting you.” Chris chuckled and fell silent.
“Doesn’t Aidan have something to do? Some chore?” Duncan burst out when Ava giggled again at Aidan’s exaggerated antics.
“The pancake supper is a community event. Aidan’s being sociable with the townsfolk. Some people have the personality to do that. Others are so grumpy they burn all their pancakes.” Chris waved his spatula at Duncan’s smoking griddle before tugging the flipper out of his hand. “Maybe you’d better take a break and leave the cooking to me, son.”
Duncan piled a plate high with food, grabbed a bottled water, and headed over to his co-workers. He sat with his back to his happy family, laughing and joking together, ignoring them. The pancakes settled like lead in his stomach, though he tried to keep up pretenses with his men. About ten minutes later, chief dropped into the chair beside him, his own plate piled high with food.
“You are just as stubborn as a twice-kicked mule, aren’t you?”
“What on earth does that even mean?”
“Here you’ve been pining for a decade now—“
“Pining!” Duncan snorted. “Hardly.”
“Worst case of pining I ever saw, man or dog. And yet you’re just going to let her walk out of here without even trying to—”
“She’ll go home to New York. Where she belongs.”
“And you’ll still be pining. Damn fool.” Chris glanced over his shoulder. “She’s heading out now.”
In an act of supreme willpower, Duncan didn’t turn around. He’d had to watch Ava walk away from him once before and had no desire to repeat the experience. Around a mouthful of pancakes, Chris commented. “Be polite and go thank her for supporting the fire service.”
“You’re the chief. You go thank her.”
“I’
m eating supper, so I’ll have to send my deputy in my place.”
Duncan rolled his eyes but couldn’t ignore his boss. He strolled aimlessly across the bays, since hurrying would just attract the attention of his mother and siblings. At the edge of the giant room, near the doors, he caught up with Ava. So close, her peaches and sunshine scent made him daydream of all those lazy summer days holding her close.
“Leaving so soon, Birdy?” She stopped and pivoted on her heel to face him. “Chief wanted me to come thank you for supporting the fire house.”
She raised a single eyebrow before crossing her arms over her ample chest. With willpower he didn’t know he had, he kept his eyes glued on her face. “Tell him he’s very welcome.”
“We’ll have another pancake supper next month. Maybe you can come support us some more.”
“My sister comes home next week.”
“Right.” She would leave. He would stay. And there was very little he could do to change that.
But Ava was here now. He’d have to take what he could get.
Duncan wiped his sweaty palms on his pants and then, much as he had when asking her to their first Homecoming dance together, blurted the next part very fast. “There’s an art show at the middle school tomorrow night. I’m going. Representing the chief and all. You could come.”
Duncan’s insides squirmed. He sounded like an idiot. When she simply stared at him without answering, he babbled further. “I’m just saying there is space in the car. If you want to ride in it.”
Slowly, she smiled at him. “I’d like that.”
“Pick you up at seven?”
She nodded coolly and slipped out the door into the deepening twilight. Duncan leaned against the doorjamb, watching her safely out of sight. He didn’t know what possessed him to ask her to accompany him tomorrow. Just that he wanted to spend more time with her, to get to know this new Ava, and to talk to her. He’d missed her too much. Duncan had to be with her again. Even if she’d only be here for a few more days. He knew the pain would be awful when she left again, but he was willing to face it, if it meant he could share a few fleeting moments with her now.
“There’s room in the car?” Aidan slapped Duncan on the back and guffawed. “Man, you got no game at all.”
Chapter Seven
When Duncan arrived at her house the next evening, Ava had been ready for over an hour. She still wasn’t sure what possessed her to agree to accompany him to the art show. She desperately wanted to spend more time with Duncan, to learn who he’d become in the last ten years and how much of the boy she’d left behind remained in the brooding man she now found.
Opening the door to him and walking down the flagstone path to his truck gave her such a swooping sense of déjà vu. How many dates had they gone on this way? He’d come pick her up, making stilted small talk with her parents or chatting to Amy about school, before escorting her down the path to his battered truck. She missed his big hand at the small of her back or the way he’d steal a kiss when he helped her into the cab.
Even though the shiny new truck wasn’t the same one he picked her up in, it smelled of smoky campfires and forest glens, strengthening her sense of déjà vu. In silence, they rolled through town, past the new coffeeshop and the bustling Ashford Falls Square, the high school they’d attended together, and the movie theater he’d first kissed her in. Ava felt younger, more carefree, more herself than she had in ages.
“I know a middle school art show is nothing to the fancy museum exhibits you’re used to, but we’ve got some talented kids.” Duncan broke the silence.
“I never had time for museums. I’d plan to attend things but somehow, I never did. I was always working.” Ava said. “I’m sure it’s the same with you. You have the Smithsonian downtown but I bet you never go.”
“Actually, I just caught that impressionist exhibit at the Corcoran.” Duncan tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, waiting for the light. “It’s fun to get out of Ashford Falls now and again.”
“When I moved to New York, I figured I’d do all these awesome things. Visit MOMA every weekend, see all the new Broadway plays, soak in all the culture. And I did do some of that stuff at first. But over time, work just became my life.”
“Didn’t you and Michael do stuff?” Duncan asked. “I mean, usually that’s what I do on dates.”
“We met at work and just sort of fell into a relationship.” Ava bit her lip. “We were both workaholics.”
“You’re not anymore?”
Amy shook her head, fighting not to blurt out her secret. She still hadn’t told anyone about her job loss. She could tell Duncan the truth. She’d always been able to tell Duncan anything. Or at least she had been able to bare her soul to him, once upon a time. But before she could cave and confide in him, he spoke.
“Lots of people meet at work.” Duncan said, “Or in school.”
They’d met on their first day of kindergarten. Once they’d gone to Homecoming together their sophomore year, neither of them had ever dated anyone else. Instead, they laid in the back of his pickup and dreamt of the adventures they’d have together in New York, a destination both considered glamorous and exotic. He’d join a firehouse there. She’d find work in her field. How sweetly naïve they’d both been then, confident in the knowledge that nothing could derail their bright future and plans.
Ava peeked sideways at Duncan, drinking him in as he searched for a parking space. If he’d come with her to New York, would she have lost herself in work the same way? Or could he have pulled them both out into the hustle and bustle more? Maybe the pressures of adult life would have fractured their relationship? On the other hand, didn’t she first lose herself in work precisely because she was nursing her broken heart?
But if’s and maybe’s didn’t exist. The past couldn’t be changed. Just after their college graduation, as they were on the verge of leaving, Duncan’s dreams turned to ashes in the fire that killed his dad. She always understood why he stayed with his family and helped his mother finish raising his siblings. But she didn’t think he’d ever understand why she left. And she doubted he’d ever forgive her.
“Do you still take photographs?” Ava slipped a bit closer as they strolled along the tree-lined walk to the middle school. Once upon a time, he’d been a talented photographer, capturing the beautiful scenery around Ashford Falls with his battered old camera. The setting sun dipped below the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance. Gilding the scene, just like one of his golden photographs from when they were younger.
“Not so much. Not anymore.” Duncan said. “When you’re a kid, all these big dreams seem possible and then, when you’re an adult, it’s all you can do to get the laundry done after work. It doesn’t leave much time.”
Ava placed her hand on his warm forearm, the crisp hair there springy under her fingers. “You’re so talented, Duncan. You shouldn’t give it up.”
“Maybe.” Duncan opened the door to the middle school and her hand slid off his arm. “Maybe I’ll start again.”
“Your sisters and brothers are grown now. Do you ever think of leaving?”
“Ashford Falls is my home.” Duncan shook his head. “Someday the chief will retire and I’ll run the station. It’s a good life.”
“What happened to us?” Ava blew out a breath. “When we were younger, we used to plan all these great adventures.”
“We grew up.” Duncan said, his voice cold. “And, just because I stayed in Ashford Falls doesn’t mean I haven’t had any adventures.”
“Oh? Tell me some wild tales about the mean streets of Ashford Falls.”
“Well, there was getting Mrs. Carlton’s cat Twiggy out of the tree just last week.” Duncan smirked at her. “He about scratched me to death.”
Ava rolled her eyes and huffed out a laugh. “I didn’t know firemen really got cats out of trees.”
“What do you think those big ladders are for, anyway?” Duncan said. “The felines of the greater Ashford Falls
area are relying on us.”
Ava laughed. Duncan bought their admission to the event, chatting easily with the older woman manning the table. Duncan took her hand, the simple, sweet gesture sending a thrill through her. They wandered into the gymnasium where rows of vibrant paintings greeted them.
As they stepped into the first aisle, Duncan clucked his tongue. “You know, just because I live in Ashford Falls—which isn’t so tiny anymore—doesn’t mean I’ve never been anywhere. Me and a group of buddies from the firehouse went on a whirlwind trip to London, Paris, and Rome two years ago. I even went to Vegas a couple years back and we’re supposed to see Machu Picchu in the fall.”
“I stand corrected.” Ava’s eyes widened. “I had no idea you were a world traveler.”
“I like to travel. But I don’t think I could stand living in those vast, anonymous places. I need my community, my roots, people who know me and my family around.”
“Did you ever get to New York in your travels?”
Duncan fell silent for a few seconds, staring at an abstract whirl of color on the canvas in front of them. With a wry twist to his mouth, he shook his head. “Didn’t want to see it without you.”
Before she could say anything back to that extraordinary admission, Principal Welch arrived at their side to take them on a tour of the artwork. She trailed in their wake, as Duncan made small talk with their host, her mind racing with the implications of Duncan’s bombshell. Was she grasping at straws here or... Maybe if he could forgive her for leaving, maybe they could have a second chance at that bright future?
In just a few moments, he ushered her back to his truck. Once he climbed inside, she turned and faced him. “Remember I used to have that poster of the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center on my wall?”
Duncan chuckled. “I’d forgotten about that.”
“Every night, I’d lay on my bed, building up this whole fantasy of our first Christmas in New York together. We’d go skating and sip hot chocolate, under that glittery, sparkling tree.” Ava blinked back the moisture in her eyes. “I never did go see it.”
Fireworks Frappe (Cupid's Coffeeshop Book 7) Page 3