I quickly slide on some shorts, jog down the stairs, and make us coffee. I hear her coming down the stairs, and, with two mugs in hand, I greet her. “Morning, sweetheart, here’s your coffee.”
“Thank you, baby.” That nickname is shaking my insides up, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Taking her hand in mine, I guide her to the deck. “I can’t believe we missed the sunrise this morning.”
“There will be plenty more.” We sit on the sofa, and she curls herself into me.
We figure out what needs to be moved to her new place and how she’ll decorate. It’s all working out. She needs time to pack up boxes. I need time to pick up the bench from Dane’s and install it here. I was figuring it would be a quick, easy project for my brother and me to do, except now I want to make it a free-standing bench swing. I need to transfer the vision from my head to paper.
My brother will be all in on this one. I can’t stretch it out until she leaves. With this surprise, I don’t want it to be spoiled by her finding any clues at all. Dane letting me take the bench means a lot to me. I have great friends, and I don’t know what I’d do without them.
Our coffees are empty, our hearts are full, and we decide to hit the road so Ava can pack up. The ride over to her sister’s house was all logistics, a sharp turn from our emotional conversation a little bit ago. It’s a good distraction for her; she won’t have any idea what’s going on. I chuckle to myself.
FORTY-FIVE
Ava
Kai drops me off at my sister’s and practically flies out of the driveway.Weird.But I focus on the task at hand—packing for a new beginning. This new life I’m committed to building. Scared…yes, excited…yes, ready…who the hell knows, but I’m trying.
No one is home as I pack up the things in my sister’s guest room, my temporary room. I love being here. It will be refreshing to have my own space and visit here when I want to or if my sister needs me. I’ll only be right down the street. When my nephew decides to show himself, I’ll still be close by.
Packing up my stack of books, a piece of paper flies out of it. I reach down to pick it up, unfold it, and read it.
Ava, if one day you find this…know that I’ve been thinking about you since that first day we sat on the bench by the water. I’ll never forget how I felt, how I feel about you. One day…
Kai
I back up and sit on the edge of the bed, wondering when the hell he slipped a note in my book. I bring it to my chest, hugging myself tightly.
Another sign.
Kai, the one person who has chipped away at my outer shell, piece by piece, and I’m thanking him for not giving up on me—ever.
A tear slides down my cheek. Part happy tears, and part sad tears. I’m truly happy in my life. I don’t think I wanted to admit that because ifI did, maybe it would all fall apart around me. That’s not how I want to live my life. Not now, now that I’m living a life that I’m proud of here in Saxville.
The new owner of the Saxville Coffeehouse, soon to be a bookstore as well. With all my possessions packed up—sadly, there aren’t many—and that makes me want to change it. Living life with a few bags of belongings can be fun; it was fun. It was also very lonely at times. Pulling the note from my chest, I read it one more time and realize…I want to start living my life, put down roots, and be truly present in this day and every day.
Flickers of images of Kai play through my mind like a memory board. I giggle as all the images of him are shirtless or in a polo. It has me free-falling onto my back with a wide smile. I’m not sure anything could wipe it off at this point.
Being completely loved by Kai, it ripples heat through my body and settles in my chest. Just thinking about him has my pulse racing. A future with him seeps into my bones, knowing I’m cherished by him. Never did it even cross my mind that I’d be loved so deeply by someone.
All the little moments with him stacked up until there was no way I could walk away from him, even if I tried. Well, I tried for a few beats, but in the end, fear didn’t get the best of me; it didn’t take the best away from me.
Interrupting my cascading reels of Kai and how he makes me feel, my phone vibrates with a notification.
Theresa:
We’ll be home soon.
Ava:
I’m packing :)
Theresa:
Wow! Already!
I toss my phone next to me. There’s not much more to pack, but I’m excited to start this new chapter. Having some sister time is just what I need.
