Joseph jogged toward Ava as Zeb turned the police car around and pulled away.
“That’s one way to make an entrance.” Ava couldn’t help grinning at him. He hadn’t ditched her.
“I’m so sorry.” Joseph stopped a few feet in front of her. “My car broke down around Sandy Creek Road. I tried to call, but I didn’t have any reception. I was running back to town when Zeb came along.”
Ava stared at him. “You were going to run all the way back to town?”
He nodded with a laugh. “I was going to try. Not sure I would have made it. Sorry if I stink before we even start hiking.”
Ava laughed and leaned closer, sniffing. He smelled like the same minty lemongrass scent that had always made her feel at home when he was near.
“Nope.” She took a few stumbling steps backward, grabbing her water bottle and camera bag off the steps. “Not too stinky.”
“Gee, thanks.” But Joseph grinned at her. “I don’t suppose you’d mind if we take your car?”
“Sure. I’ll go get my keys.” Ava ducked into the house, popping into the family room to let Aunt Lori know she was leaving. But as she entered the room, it took her a moment to find her voice. Aunt Lori and Mr. Germain were sitting―no, make that snuggling―on the couch.
She cleared her throat, and Lori and Mr. Germain both looked over.
“Hey, Ava.” Mr. Germain gave her an easy smile. “Want to join us? I need help keeping Lori honest. She seems to think the letters a-i make a word.”
“They do.” Lori snuggled closer to Mr. Germain. “An ai is a three-toed sloth. You’re just jealous of my superior vocabulary.”
“I guess so.” Mr. Germain dropped a kiss on Lori’s forehead.
Ava stared for a moment, then remembered her mission. “I’m heading out.” She held up her keys. “Joseph’s car broke down.”
She gave Lori a pointed look, and her aunt grimaced. “Just be careful, Ava.”
“Yep. No bears today.”
“Have fun, Ava. Say hi to Joseph for me.” Mr. Germain waved cheerfully.
“I will.” Ava backed away, then hurried out of the house. She was still shaking her head at the sight of her aunt cuddled up with Mr. Germain. Lori had looked so . . . content.
Had Ava been keeping her aunt from happiness all these years?
“Everything okay?” Joseph asked, tossing a stick that both Griffin and Tasha chased after. “You look . . . perplexed.”
Ava laughed as Griffin got to the stick first but left it for Tasha to pick up. “That’s a good word for it. Remember Mr. Germain?”
“The history teacher? What about him? Please tell me you weren’t one of the girls who had a crush on him.”
Ava shook her head. “No. I had―” She bit down hard on her cheek before she could say you. “But apparently Aunt Lori was. Or is.”
Joseph tilted his head, clearly not following. “Is what?”
“One of the girls with a crush on Mr. Germain. They’re in there snuggling right now. He says hi, by the way.” She jerked her head toward the house.
“No kidding? That has to be kind of weird.”
“Ha. Kind of. I’m glad for her though. She seems really happy.” A pang went through her as she remembered how she and Joseph used to be that happy.
Time to focus on something else. “So, since I’m driving, does that mean I get to choose where we go?”
“Sounds fair to me.” Joseph loaded the dogs into the backseat of the SUV, then opened Ava’s door for her.
“Thank you.” She was careful not to meet his eyes as she slid past him into her seat, tucking her camera bag onto the floor behind her. She started the vehicle as she waited for him to climb in the other side. As she pulled onto the road, she risked a look at him. He was watching out the window, looking completely at ease, his lips sporting a small, relaxed smile. Obviously he wasn’t fighting the same memories she was. Memories of the way they used to fill the car with constant chatter, mostly about their plans for the future.
Sometimes she wished they’d spent more time focusing on the present, on what they’d had right then―which had been pretty amazing.
“Penny for your thoughts.” Joseph interrupted her memories.
“Oh.” Her face warmed, and she only hoped she was wearing enough makeup that the pink wouldn’t show through. “I was just thinking about . . . Griffin.”
Oh my stars. Had she said she’d been thinking about her dog? But Joseph laughed as Griffin, hearing his name, shoved his face forward so that his muzzle was between them.
“You excited about our hike, boy?” Joseph rubbed at the dog’s nose. “No bears this time though, huh?”
They fell silent again, although Ava was sure she could feel Joseph’s eyes on her from time to time. She concentrated hard on not looking his way.
But when she finally turned down the road that led to the trail, Joseph made a surprised noise, drawing her eyes to him in spite of her best efforts. “What?”
“Nothing. I just haven’t been here in a long time. Not since . . .”
Her breath caught as she realized. This was the first place they’d kissed.
They’d come here for a science project junior year―Mr. Smith had wanted them to collect soil samples for something or other.
Joseph and Ava had paired up and somehow found themselves separated from the rest of the class―Ava had wondered afterward whether Joseph had worked that out on purpose.
She’d just finished scooping some soil into a test tube, and when she’d turned to give it to Joseph, he’d been looking at her in a totally strange way.
He’d lifted his hand and rubbed his fingers lightly over her cheek.
All she could do was stare at him and swallow. They’d been friends since she could remember. But he’d never once touched her face like that.
“Sorry,” Joseph had whispered. “You had some dirt.” But he hadn’t lowered his hand.
“Okay.” Her voice had been just as soft, though she didn’t know why.
Mr. Smith had called for them then, and Joseph had leaned forward and touched his lips to hers, just for a second―but that second had been long enough to change their lives. Afterwards, he’d grinned at her and dropped his hand from her face, slipping it instead into her hand.
And she’d laced her fingers through his, as if that’s where they’d always belonged, and they’d rejoined their class.
Strangely, no one had seemed surprised to see their hands locked. Probably because people had been asking for years if they were a couple.
And right then, Ava had known: their relationship had always been headed for this moment.
She shook herself out of the memory as she pulled the vehicle into a parking spot at the trailhead. “It’s easy terrain for Griffin’s first time out.” She jumped out of the SUV, suddenly needing some air―and some space. A reminder that her past with Joseph was no longer her future.
She opened the back door, and both dogs shot out.
“Wow.” Joseph came around the vehicle. “It looks exactly the same.”
Ava shrugged. The scenery may be the same―but they weren’t. She had to remember that.
She grabbed her camera bag out of the vehicle.
“My pack!” Joseph groaned. “It’s still in my car.”
“Don’t worry.” Ava patted her bulging bag. “I come prepared.”
“I made a picnic.” Joseph looked so defeated that Ava had to laugh.
He gave her a mock frown. “I’m glad my incompetence amuses you.”
“Always has,” she teased.
His eyes widened, but he laughed, and Ava tried hard not to enjoy the sound.
“Come on.” She pulled her camera out of her pack and attached it to the strap around her neck. “I want to get some good shots for the gallery.”
“Henderson’s? You sell there?” Joseph looked impressed, and in spite of herself, Ava was pleased. She’d worked hard to become good enough to sell at the prestigious gallery downtow
n.
They set off down the trail, which was thankfully wide enough to allow for plenty of distance between them. Ava stopped every now and then to snap pictures of the trees, the occasional wildflower, and the dogs romping through the underbrush. She was sorely tempted to take a picture of Joseph more than once, but she resisted. What would she do with that?
As they walked, Joseph asked her questions about her photography, and she asked about his veterinary practice. Both of them steered very decidedly away from any topics that related to their past.
To her surprise, Ava found herself enjoying the conversation. The only person she talked to most days was Aunt Lori―unless you counted Griffin. It was nice to talk to someone who didn’t already know everything that went on in her life―what little there was to tell.
“Wow.” Joseph stopped as they came to a spot on the trail that opened up to a spectacular view of the river below. “I missed this.”
“Me too.” The words were out before Ava realized that he could have meant the view―or being with her. “I mean, I haven’t been here in a long time either.”
Joseph’s smile wrapped her up tighter than a hug, and she started walking again, picking up the pace. “So, you were saying that you’re hoping to modernize the office?” she asked as Joseph caught up to her.
“Um. Yeah.” He sounded slightly confused, and Ava realized they’d had that conversation a good ten minutes ago. But she’d needed something, anything, to chase away the memories that had almost caught up with her back there.
“I don’t think Dr. Gallagher ever threw a single piece of paper away. There are records in there from before we were born. Probably from before my dad was born.” Joseph chuckled. “I want to switch everything over to digital.”
“That makes sense.” What didn’t make sense was the disappointment that flooded her as she spotted the trailhead and her car. Had they really reached the end of the loop already?
She ignored the feeling. It was obviously better if she spent less time with Joseph, rather than more. Otherwise, she might start to want things she knew she could never have.
She pulled the camera strap off her neck and opened the vehicle, tucking her equipment back into her case. “See. No bears.”
“All right. You win. No bears. But it wasn’t so bad to hike with Tasha and me, was it?” Joseph came up next to her and nudged her arm. He’d done it a thousand times before, and yet this time―this time it made her want to slide closer to him. She closed her pack and stepped away, calling to the dogs to get in.
“You’re right. Tasha was a lot of fun,” she answered as she shut the door behind the dogs. “She’ll have to come with me and Griffin next time too.”
“Sorry.” Joseph opened the driver’s door for her. “We’re a package deal. You want the dog, you have to put up with me too.”
“Hmm.” Ava stepped past him, accidentally catching a hint of lemongrass again. “I’ll have to think about that. You’re a lot to put up with, you know.”
“I know.” Joseph grinned and closed her door.
Ava let out a quick breath, fighting to get her own grin under wraps as Joseph got in the car too.
But he turned uncharacteristically serious eyes on her as she pulled onto the road. “Can I ask you something?”
Ava’s stomach plummeted. They’d managed to keep things light and breezy so far today. To ignore the past, even if it had been hovering between every word.
Why couldn’t it stay that way?
She waited silently, knowing he’d ask whether she invited him to or not.
“Are you hungry?” His voice was flat, completely serious, and she let out a relieved laugh.
And then realized she had to answer his question.
The truth was, she was starved. But―
“This was only supposed to be a hike, Joseph. Not dinner.”
“I know. But I spent all that time packing a picnic we didn’t get to eat . . .”
He turned toward her, and she made the mistake of glancing at those blue eyes.
He must have read in her expression that he’d won because he smiled. “Murf’s?”
She chewed her lip. Murf’s had been their favorite hangout in high school, and plenty of high school kids still frequented the place. It was the kind of place she avoided like a rattlesnake these days.
“We can get it to go,” he said. “Eat it at my house. Maybe you could give Tasha her first lesson.”
She glanced at him again. This time his eyes were understanding. He was giving her an out, so she didn’t have to be seen in public. Or maybe so he didn’t have to be seen in public with her.
Either way, she couldn’t deny that Murf’s sounded amazing. And if she went home, she’d likely be grilled by Aunt Lori―or have to spend the evening watching her aunt and Mr. Germain cuddle.
“Can we get a shake?” She stopped herself, flustered. They’d always shared a shake when they went to Murf’s. “I mean, can we each get a shake?”
Joseph grinned at her. “Obviously.”
“All right then.” Ava pointed her car toward River Falls. “Let’s do it.”
Chapter 11
So far, today had gone even better than he’d hoped.
Joseph stood in line at Murf’s and glanced out the window toward where Ava remained in the vehicle with the dogs.
Any doubts he may have had about whether she would still be the same person, whether they would still be good together, had been erased today.
Ava was quieter now, more reserved maybe, but there was also a new air of thoughtfulness about her. And her laugh was as contagious as ever―even if she didn’t unleash it as often as she used to.
He stepped to the counter and placed his order, smiling as he requested two shakes. If things kept going this well, it wouldn’t be long before they shared one shake―and one straw―again.
The order was ready quickly, and he thanked the server, then hurried to the door, nearly running over a woman on her way in.
“Sorry.” He bit back a groan when he realized it was Madison, the awkward encounter in the grocery store still fresh in his mind.
“Two shakes.” Madison raised a thin eyebrow. “So you really are seeing someone.” She offered a laugh that sounded forced. “I have to admit, I was getting a little paranoid that you were blowing me off the other day.”
“Of course not,” Joseph mumbled.
“So who’s the lucky lady?” Madison glanced over her shoulder toward the parking lot, her gaze stopping directly on Ava’s SUV. “Ah, I should have known y’all would be back together.”
“Well―” He didn’t know how to say he was still working on that part.
“I want to say hi. I never see her around.”
Joseph had a feeling that was the way Ava liked it. But Madison was already on her way to the vehicle.
He jogged to catch up, careful not to jostle the shakes.
Ava’s eyes widened as she spotted them, and Joseph made an apologetic face that he wasn’t sure she interpreted correctly.
He climbed into the passenger seat, fending off the dogs, as Madison rounded the vehicle to stand at Ava’s open window.
“Hey there, Ava. I haven’t seen you in ages.” Madison’s voice was sweet enough, and Joseph let out a pent-up breath.
“Hi, Madison.” Ava, too, sounded friendly enough.
This was going to be fine.
“Where do you keep yourself hidden these days? Locked away in a tower?” Madison giggled at her own joke.
“Nope. In my cabin in the woods.” Ava’s response was cool and calm.
“Guess you were waiting for your Prince Charming to come let you out.” Madison looked past Ava and winked at Joseph. “I knew when he left me at prom that he wasn’t over you.”
Joseph blinked slowly, averting his gaze so he wouldn’t have to see Ava’s reaction to that. He was sure Ava already knew he’d gone to prom with Madison―things like that didn’t stay quiet in a town like River Falls―but that didn�
��t mean he wanted to remind her of it. Especially not now, when things were going so well.
“Anyway―” Madison took a step backward. “I’ve gotta run. I’m meeting friends.” She fluttered her fingers in a wave, then turned and flounced toward the restaurant.
Joseph let out a breath and glanced at Ava. Once upon a time, they would have laughed together over something like this. But Ava was watching Madison as she joined up with a group of women he recognized from high school.
Ava looked . . . wistful? Envious?
“Let’s go. Before our food gets cold and our shakes get warm.” Joseph adjusted the food on his lap so it wouldn’t spill.
But Ava’s hands didn’t move toward the keys. She was still gazing at the blue awning over the entrance to Murf’s, though Madison and her friends had disappeared inside.
“Ava?”
“Hmm? Oh.” She grabbed at the keys and turned on the engine. As she pulled out of the parking lot, Joseph gave her directions to his house.
She didn’t say a word the entire drive, and by the time they got there, he was next to certain she was going to dump him at the curb and screech away the moment he got out of the vehicle.
But she shut off the engine, then unbuckled her seatbelt and opened her door.
He took a deep breath, telling himself this was it.
This was the opportunity he’d been waiting for.
So he’d better not blow it.
Chapter 12
She shouldn’t be here.
Ava let her eyes rove Joseph’s living room again as she waited for him to come back from cleaning up the “dishes” from their dinner.
His home was warm and cozy―and just as organized as she’d known it would be.
And the longer she was here, the more she liked being here.
The more she liked being with him.
Which was dangerous.
Her eyes fell on a clay pot that had very obviously been broken and then glued back together. She got up and moved toward it. Behind her, she heard Joseph come into the room.
“You still have this?” She picked it up and turned it over in her hands. She’d made it in vacation Bible school the summer after sixth grade, and it had been nearly flawless. The teacher had praised her for the extra details she’d added―etched flowers and pomegranates―and shown it to the class.
Pieces of Forever: A Christian Romance (River Falls Book 1) Page 6