Kai:
Good night.
The next day, I go back to the office by myself to sand and paint the walls. Painting should not take as long as it does. I’m able to finish half of the painting. I went in there thinking I’d finish all of it today, but not even close. I want to be home at a reasonable time tonight so Ava and I can talk on the phone—it’s like when I was in high school, when all we could do was talk on the phone.
Kai:
I’m home. What are you up to?
I place my phone on the island as I rummage through the fridge for something to eat, realizing I should have stopped to grab a bite to eat before coming home. I guess a sandwich is what’s for dinner. It will do. The echoing of my phone vibrating on my island gets my attention. Scooping it up, I take a look.
Ava:
I’m in bed reading. Another long day with Giana, playing while Mom and Dad have a date day.
Kai:
You’re a great auntie. Can I interrupt your book for a call?
Holding my phone tightly, waiting for her answer, my muscles shake. Geez, I need to calm down. The phone vibrates in my hand.Ava…You Should Call Herpops up on my screen. A quick smirk, remembering the very moment she put her name and number into my phone. No time to dwell on that memory…she’s calling.
“Hey.” I slip onto the barstool, propping up my arm with my elbow, listening to her soft, tired voice on the other end. I imagine her lying in bed in her PJs, snuggled up with her book.
“Hey, yourself. How was your day?”
Whenever she asks about me, my day, anything really, my heart leaps out of my chest. She’s not one to jump into her day until she hears mine first. I do the same when she calls me. The importance of listening and being hyper-focused is that it allows people to feel heard. I fill her in on the day—nothing exciting, just a bunch of painting.
“Seems like mundane work, but has to be done, right?” she scoffs.
“Tell me about it. So, a day with Ms. Giana. She wore you out?” I make my sandwich as we talk, so then I can eat and hop into the hot tub. Having this time with her is the highlight of my day.
“Oh, she did. We played with every toy she owns, or that’s how it felt. I’m thankful the backyard is fenced in because she’s a maniac out there yelling and running around. Of course, I’m chasing behind her. She swung for a good thirty minutes. There were a few minutes when she let me swing too, but it didn’t last long.”
I listen to her as I eat my dinner, shaking my head like she can see me and humming on the other end of the phone. I laugh at her stories as I see her running around the yard and swinging. “Reading is your downtime tonight.”
“Yeah…” There’s a small sigh after.
“When are we going on that date you promised?” Forward, sure, but I had to bring it up tonight. I saw her yesterday, and it’s already been too long.
She laughs at me. “Well…”
“Well, what?” I ask, humming.
“I have something on my calendar I need to attend to early this week. Do you have time mid-week?”
“I will clear my schedule to see you.” I clear the lump in my throat. “How about dinner on Wednesday night? I’ll pick you up at 6 p.m.”
She yawns on the other end. “It’s not the conversation, I swear…that time works.”
“Good, I would have been highly offended if you yawned and then said it didn’t work for you,” I chuckle, shoving the last bite of my sandwich in my mouth.
“I think I need some sleep. Good night, Kai Hastings.”
“Good night, A—sweetheart.” I had to say it. My heart is about to explode thinking that I have to wait three days to see her again. Not that I’ll have a ton of time, but maybe she can squeeze in a coffee one morning too. One step at a time.
It’s Monday morning already, and my entire body is sore. There’s no time for rest, so I hop out of bed, slip on my work clothes and boots, and head out the door. This is a different routine from the one I had in the past few years working at the law firm. There’s pride in knowing this firm is all mine, and I’ll be working with clients that I can help.
I roll up to the curb and park. The Saxville Coffeehouse is right next door. My thoughts are of Ava. I wonder what she’s doing this morning, resisting the urge to text her.
