And for the first time since I’ve known him, I don’t shy away. In fact, I revel in it. I’m his son. He’s my dad. In all honesty, I could have drawn far worse cards in the parent department. They’ve been nothing but loving, patient, and supportive.
“Of course you can come,” Ava says. “I’m happy you want to be a part of it. I’m sure Dr. Russo won’t mind doing an unscheduled ultrasound given the circumstances.”
“These delightful circumstances”—Mom motions to Ava’s belly—“have me thinking you’ll need a bigger place. That apartment of yours is going to be claustrophobic once there are three of you.”
“Yeah, well, with me not even working at the moment, there’s not much chance of us getting a house.”
“Not to mention the debt I got us into,” Ava adds.
I rub my hand down her thigh. “For all the right reasons, babe.”
My parents share a conspiratorial look.
I narrow my eyes. “What are you two up to?”
“Your mother and I talked about this long ago. It’s ridiculous for the two of us to have all this space. We don’t need four bedrooms. Especially since we only live here in the summer. We’ll take the apartment. You take the house.”
“Mom, Dad, I appreciate the offer, but that’s just not in our budget right now.” I squeeze Ava’s hand so she knows I’m not in any way mad at her about it.
“We aren’t suggesting you buy the house from us. We’re suggesting we simply swap spaces. The apartment would be perfect for us. Not to mention it’ll be a lot more convenient for us to help out in the coffee house once the baby comes.”
“I, uh…” I look at Ava, who is as surprised as I am. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say it’s a deal,” Dad says. “In a year or two or ten, when you’re in a position to do so, we’ll make it all legal and legit. Heck, maybe by then you won’t even want our house. But it just makes sense right now.”
Mom puts a hand on Ava’s shoulder. “Say yes. It’ll make us happy knowing a family,yourfamily, is living in the house Trevor grew up in.”
Ava and I look at each other and seem to have an entire conversation without words. Did we used to? Then we both smile, and I think she even bounces in her seat a little.
“Yes,” I say. I reach out to shake Dad’s hand but get pulled into a hug. “And thank you. It’s very kind and generous of you.”
“You’re family, Trevor. You and Ava, and that little baby. This is what families do for each other.”
My insides turn to mush. I think I might even feel tears clogging my throat as I repeat the same words to them I said to Ava last night.
“I’m so glad it’s you,” I tell them. “I’m glad you’re my parents.”
I’m pretty sure all of us are crying in one way or another as we make plans to swap our households.
Chapter Forty
Ava
Trevor wraps his arms around me from behind, careful not to touch the hot stove I’m cooking eggs on.
“Morning, babe,” he mumbles lazily in my ear.
Hearing him call me that makes my heart skip a beat. Over the past few weeks, he’s transformed from someone who didn’t even know who he was into a man who knows exactly what he wants. Thankfully, I’m one of those things. Because at almost three months post-accident, I think we’ve both all but given up on his memory returning.
I give the eggs a stir then spin around and lean up to kiss him. “Good morning.”
He swipes my messy hair aside and stares into my eyes. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to this.”
“This?”
“Waking up with you. Having breakfast. Doing normal couple shit.”
I don’t even have a reaction to his choice of words. His colorful vocabulary has become one more normal part of who he is.
