Forever Box Set

by Wendy Louise

  “Are you okay?” I ask Ava, almost scared to hear her response. I cup her face with my hands and run my thumbs along her soft cheeks.

  She nods, but unconvincingly. “I’m fine. Sorry Ethan, it’s just going to take me some time to get used to this whole acting thing and what goes with it. I hate seeing you in the arms of another woman, whether it’s real or not. I just had a tiny freak-out when I saw the two of you wrapped up in that scene together.”

  I pull her to my lap on the sofa and bury my face in her neck taking in her scent. “Ava, I love you, always and ever, there’s no one else. You don’t need to worry about that.”

  She pulls back and takes my face in her hands as she places her soft lips on mine, and kisses me with every emotion she can muster to show me that she feels the exact same way.

  By the time we wrap filming for the day I’ve had a text back from Grayson. He suggests that we take Ava’s dad golfing the next morning at the club where his grandfather is a member. He even suggests that I drive the golf buggy and let them play so that I don’t embarrass myself – smart ass!

  I reply telling him that we’ll meet him at the club at 7am.

  I then text Ava to let her know that I’ll pick her Dad up from her apartment at 6.30am. I also tell her that I miss her. She and Olivia are taking their parents out to dinner tonight to catch up so I didn’t want to intrude on that, even though she wanted me to.

  I decide to pay Nanny Grace a quick visit on my way home, so I turn my car towards the Nursing Home and crank up the Bon Jovi on my stereo. Today has been a fuckin’ good day.

  Birthdays

  Liv and I have had the most wonderful time with our parents over the past couple of days. We’ve done a lot of sightseeing and I’ve seen more of LA since they arrived than I have in the whole time I’ve been here.

  Mum took us shopping yesterday while the boys went golfing. She spent a fortune on us, buying both Liv and I lots of new clothes and shoes. She loved it and kept saying that she was always happiest when she was spoiling her girls

  Dad had a great time golfing with Ethan and Grayson. Ryan couldn’t join them, so it was just the three of them. Dad kept commenting on the fact that he kicked both the boy’s asses at golf, but refrained from saying that they weren’t very good, although he did imply it on more than one occasion.

  I love Ethan so much for taking him out there and making that effort. I know he doesn’t like golfing, so it made it even more special to me that he did that.

  My parents both really like Ethan, and we’ve all spent as much time together as possible. I even introduced them to Nanny Grace. Mum and Nanny got along so well, it was like they were long lost friends, but then Nanny has that effect on everyone she meets.

  Today is my birthday and Ethan is taking us all out to dinner tonight, but I don’t know where. He also mentioned a surprise he has for me and I can’t wait to see what it is.

  He texted me first thing this morning, in fact his text came through just as I opened my eyes to the morning sun.

  Happy birthday beautiful. Love you. E x

  I decide to get the kettle on and start on breakfast for everyone. I pull my hair up in to a knot on top of my head and make my way to my bathroom to splash some water on my face. When I make my way to the kitchen, my mum is already there, frying bacon and scrambling eggs. Dad is sitting at the table out on the patio, enjoying the warm weather and reading the newspaper.

  “Good morning birthday girl.” Mum comes around the breakfast island and wraps her arms around me, giving me a tight squeeze.

  “Thanks Mum.”

  “There’s my girl,” says my dad, “Happy Birthday Princess.”

  “Ta Dad.”

  “Go out and relax with daddy sweetheart. I’ll bring breakfast out in a moment. We’ll do presents when Liv is up.” Mum motions to the patio with the spatula in her hand and I head out there to take a seat with my father, squinting in the early morning sun.

  Dad finishes the article he is reading and folds up the paper, placing it down on the table and folding his hands in front of him.

  “Sooo,” he says, “Ethan hey?” My Dad loves to tease Liv and I about boys. He always has. He has been using this same tone on me since my first pseudo-boyfriend in kindergarten.

  All that aside, whenever he does this it still makes me feel a bit nervous and clammy all of a sudden.

  I feel a smile break out across my face and Dad returns it.

  “He’s a very nice guy sweetie and he seems to really love you. Couldn’t stop talking about you when we were golfing; or at least when he was trying to golf,” my dad says with a laugh. “That Grayson was a damn nice fella too, asked after Olivia, is there anything going on there?”

  I shake my head no. “Liv is with Ryan, Grayson is just a friend.”

  Dad nods in acceptance.

  He smiles at me and says, “So much for the no American men rule hey?”

  I chuckle and respond, “I know. I wasn’t very good at sticking to that rule. Was I?”

  “No you weren’t. Just remember that your mum and I are always there if you need us. We may be on the other side of the world but we are only a phone call away.”

  “I know. I appreciate that.”

  Dad leans over and gives me a tight squeeze. He whispers into my ear, “He’s a nice guy Ava, I approve.” He pulls back and gives me a wink just as Mum places plates of breakfast in front of us both, followed by steaming cups of green tea.

  Liv finally joins us on the patio as we are about to tuck in to our plates, wearing her sunglasses and a huge smile. We eat breakfast together as a family for the first time in a long time and it feels so nice to be here with the three of them. I feel safe, wrapped up in this little cocoon of a family.

  Just like I always have.

  I couldn’t ask for a better way to start my special day.

  Mum, Dad and Liv have all bought me gorgeous gifts and I feel incredibly spoilt.

  As we wrap up breakfast, I check my watch and realise that we’ve all talked the morning away and I need to grab a shower before Ethan arrives. He’s taking me out today, just the two of us, and then we’ll all regroup for dinner. I don’t know where we’re going but Ethan has asked me to bring my bikini. Olivia is taking my parents down Rodeo Drive today. We all have a day off from filming as we have a packed seven day schedule starting in a couple of days.

  I give my parents and Liv a final kiss and hug and excuse myself to get ready.

  Butterflies deep dive in my tummy. Just thinking about spending the day alone with him is enough to have me all worked up.

  A smile breaks across my face as I walk to my bathroom. I realise that I’m the luckiest girl in the world.

  Ethan Drake is mine, and more than that, I am his.

  Ethan has turned his car onto the road that runs next to Santa Monica Beach. I recognise the theme park on the pier. The sun is bright in the sky and LA’s finest are out appreciating it. There are families, couples, dog walkers and street vendors lining the street and the sand.

  We park the car, and Ethan moves to the trunk to retrieve a basket and two towels. I grab my beach bag and hat and we walk hand-in-hand to a quiet spot on the sand.

  Ethan puts a cap and sunglasses on, as much to hide from any prying eyes as it is to shelter him from the sun’s rays.

  “I thought we could have a birthday picnic.”

  “I love that idea,” I reply, leaning up to place a light kiss on his lips.

  Of course a quick kiss is never enough for Ethan and he deepens it, dropping the picnic basket to the ground and circling his hand around my neck to hold me to him.

  Once satisfied he pulls back. “I had the chef pack us a picnic, there’s chicken salad, fresh fruit, choc dipped strawberries, ‘coz I know they’re your favourite, and sugar coated donuts, ‘coz they’re my favourite.”

  He smiles, showing his dimples and I can’t help but laugh.

  We lay out the towels and the feast that Ethan has brought for
us, and we toast one another with Diet Coke.

  “Happy birthday babe,” he says.

  “Thanks,” I reply giving him a smile and taking a sip of the fizzy drink, wincing as the bubbles tickle my nose.

  “I have presents.” Ethan states.

  As he turns I catch a glimpse of the inside of his wrist and there is a large piece of white gauze taped there. I grab it in my hand and he winces.

  “What happened?” I ask in a panic.

  “Nothing happened babe. I’m fine.” He pulls back a piece of the tape and removes the gauze. There on his wrist is my name in simple flowing script with a small black heart to the side of it.

  Ava

  “This is your first present,” he states proudly.

  “You got my name tattooed on to your wrist?” I ask in astonishment.

  He nods and takes my hand. “Do you like it?”

  I nod but can’t seem to form any words.

  If I was in any doubt as to how Ethan felt about me, then this has completely erased any concern. He has branded himself with my name, in the most permanent way possible. I feel giddy and excited and so in love with him that it consumes me.

  I place a kiss on his lips, overwhelmed by his gesture. I kiss his wrist gently over the script that bears my name, ensuring not to hurt him. It is still a little red around the edges and it looks like it is smeared with some sort of antiseptic cream.

  He smiles and turns back to the basket and gives me a small blue box with a white satin bow; it’s a box from Tiffany and Co. I can’t help my excitement and I climb on to my knees bouncing up and down and clapping at the same time.

  Ethan laughs and says, “This is your second gift. Open it.”

  I almost don’t want to open the gift and mess up the bow, but I don’t tell him that. I slowly remove the lid from the box and find a small blue velvet drawstring bag inside. I pull the strings and pull out the most gorgeous ring I’ve ever seen. It’s large and silver with the words I Love You engraved on the outside of it. It is so thick that it will span from the base of my finger, half way to my knuckle. I adore it.

  Tears well in my eyes as I look up to Ethan.

  His face drops. “If you don’t like it I can return it and change it for something else.”

  I shake my head. “No, no I love it; I just can’t believe that you got this for me, and from Tiffany’s.”

  Ethan takes the ring from the palm of my hand. “I had it engraved on the inside too,” he says.

  I take the ring back from him and look inside the band. It says:

  Always, Ethan x

  I love it.

  He takes the ring and places it on to my right ring finger. It’s a perfect fit. He kisses the inside of my palm and drops it to my knees, turning back to the picnic basket.

  He opens his palm to reveal a second Tiffany box. My mouth drops open and I shake my head. “Ethan one gift is enough, plus the tattoo,” I motion to the box in his hand; “…this is too much.”

  He laughs, “You don’t even know what it is yet. Open it.”

  Again I untie the perfect white bow and remove the lid of the box to reveal another blue velvet pouch. This time I pull out a delicate double strand silver bracelet with the infinity symbol entwined on it.

  My voice comes out as a whisper, “I love it. Thank you.” I throw my arms around his neck and bury my face in to his hair, inhaling his wonderful scent mixed with the smell of the sand and sea. I breathe on to his neck, “I love you.”

  “I love you more,” he responds, with a smile against my cheek.

  He fastens the bracelet around my wrist and takes my hand, entwining our fingers.

  I smile; still feeling like all this is make-believe, and waiting for the other shoe to drop.

  We attack the gourmet food that is set out before us and enjoy the sunshine and each other’s company. After we’ve eaten our fill, Ethan says, “Let’s walk.”

  We pack the leftover contents of the picnic basket and grab the towels, placing them all back in to the trunk of Ethan’s car. He grabs out another bag and takes my hand again, walking us back down to the sand.

  “What’s in the bag?”

  “You’ll see,” he says with a sly grin, not giving me any more detail.

  He stops at the point where the dry sand turns wet due to the incoming tide. He drops to his knees and opens the bag, revealing two buckets and spades. I throw my head back and laugh, remembering our conversation in Hawaii. Ethan has never built sandcastles before and I promised that I would teach him.

  “I love this, almost as much as I love you.”

  “Come on and show me how to do this,” he says looking up at me through his dark lashes. I drop down beside him on the sand and before I can reach for the spade he has rolled me under him, positioning his body over mine and staring deep in to my eyes.

  “Happy birthday,” he breathes.

  I smile up at him as he leans his gorgeous face to mine and covers my lips with his. His kiss is soft and sweet, slow and savouring, he’s taking his time today and that suits me just fine.

  “Thank you for my gorgeous gifts and for such a special day. I feel like a princess.”

  “You are. You’re my princess.” He places another kiss to my mouth before moving back up on to his knees and pulling me with him. “Now show me how to do this,” he says as he hands me a small plastic spade.

  We build a huge sandcastle, adding shells to decorate the sides, before the tide comes in and washes it all away.

  We finish up making sand angels in the sand and drawing a large love heart around them, just like I did on our first date in Hawaii.

  “Let’s make this a birthday tradition,” Ethan says. “We’ll come here every year on your birthday and do exactly this. One day we can bring our kids too.”

  My heart speeds up at the thought.

  I see myself with Ethan forever, he is my happily ever after, and I’ve never even considered that exists. I haven’t even thought about kids at this point, but it sends a thrill of excitement through my bones to think of having children with him. It warms my heart to know that he is thinking the same way as I am. The tattoo has given me an unspoken promise of forever.

  “I’d love that,” I reply.

  “C’mon babe, we need to get back. We have dinner reservations to get to and we need to wash this sand away. I have my clothes with me, can I get ready at your place, will your folks mind?”

  “Of course not, they love you.”

  He interlocks our fingers as he leads me back to the car. Like always, sparks of electricity fire through my veins.

  I think life with him will always be like this and I can’t ask for more.

  Ethan pulls out my chair for me when we arrive at Katsuya for dinner. I love Japanese food and I’ve wanted to try this restaurant for ages. There is a gorgeous red origami heart sitting at my place setting. I open it and it reads:

  I love you. x

  I lean up and place a kiss on his full red lips in thanks.

  He has booked a large table so there must be a few extra people joining us. Soon after we arrive, we are joined by Liv and Ryan, Mum and Dad, Grayson, Josh and Chelsea, and even Nanny Grace. Ethan has even invited some of my other friends from work. He’s thought of everything. The food is exquisite, the company is amazing and the birthday cake that follows the meal is breathtaking and delicious.

  Grayson suggests that we all head out for drinks afterwards. We end up at a small lounge bar with Liv, my mum, my dad and Grayson. Ryan had to head home due to an early meeting so he offered to drive Nanny Grace back to the Nursing Home. He’s such a nice guy.

  Josh and Chelsea also headed home.

  My dad insists on buying the drinks because Ethan insisted on covering the cost of everyone’s dinner. They are both such alpha-males.

  After we’ve all had a few drinks, we get up and dance to the small band that has taken the stage. I don’t think I’ve ever had a birthday as good as this, and I can’t imagine anything t
hat could top it.

  I look to my right and see my parents lovingly embracing one another on the dance floor. Grayson is twirling Liv around on the other side of them and they are both laughing out loud.

  I turn my gaze to Ethan. He is looking down at me with so much adoration in his eyes that it almost stops me in my tracks.

  This man that is holding me in his arms as we sway to the music is everything to me and my heart swells with love for him.

  Life is good.

  My only hope is that it stays this way.

  I Didn’t See That Coming

  I flick on the indicator to signal my turn in to the Nursing Home.

  The past couple of days since Ava’s birthday have been a whirlwind. Ava’s parents return home to Australia tomorrow and we’ve been so busy showing them around and making the most of the time that we all have together. They’re really great people and I now see where Ava and Olivia get their spark for life from.

  Ava’s dad scared the shit out of me when I first met him, but he’s a really great guy.

  We commenced seven straight days of filming yesterday and the schedule over the next few days in particular, is really tight. We have quite a few location shoots and a few night shoots as well.

  Tonight is the charity concert that Grayson got us all tickets to. I’m pumped to see Ava’s reaction when she finds out where we are going and especially who she is going to meet. She’s going to freak.

  I promised Nanny Grace that I would come by and visit her today before heading out to the concert this evening. We need to have this conversation that is so important to her. I’m really anxious to see what it’s all about, so it’s time to get it done.

  I pull in to a car spot in the front of the Nursing Home and remove my sunglasses before stepping out in to the sunshine.

  I enter Nanny’s room and she doesn’t even notice my approach. She’s been more quiet and reflective since the stroke. I think it’s taken more of a toll on her than she is admitting.