Chapter 19
Birds chirped in the nearby trees as Ava stretched her legs in the shade. Tomorrow was the day. She wasn’t sure where Detective Lingley would send her this time, but he’d promised it would be someplace nice. She was glad that he’d found an alternate place so soon.
Glad not because she wanted to leave Haven Hills, but because sheneededto, for the sake of Richard and his family. In truth, she’d never done anything so painful in all of her life. It was like cutting off her own arm, leaving a major piece of herself behind while she headed into a new unknown.
Shelovedher new life. She loved Richard. Loved him more than she ever thought possible because, unlike Wren or her very own father, Richard knew how to love her in return. More than that, he cherished her.
Richardwas noble. She didn’t blame him for staying behind. He was the head of the family. And, the massive rip in her chest reminded her, he thought she’d been cheating this whole time. Cheating on Wren and lying to him about it.
If Ava hadn’t received the counseling that she had, she might have seen it that way too. But now she saw things clearly. Could the captive reallycheat ontheir captor? No. She didn’t love Wren, and what they had wasnota relationship, it was an ownership. Ava had not been free.
Detective Lingley was looking into the ads and getting verification about Wren’s whereabouts even now. But at this point, he said there was no reason to worry. There’d been no searches for her name outside of her hometown, and those traced right back to Wren.
At least she could be sure that he would not be led to Haven Hills. That he wouldn’t come pounding on the doors of the inn looking for her after she’d left.
The sweet squeal of laughter echoed from the nearby playground. Ava glanced over to see a father pushing his young girl on a swing. Her legs kicked wildly as she made her lift—up, up, and then back. Her dad gave her one more push, then ran beneath her making thechoo-choosounds of a train.
The little one giggled in delight. “Mommy, look!” she bellowed.
Nearby, nursing a little one at her covered breast, sat a young woman. “Daddy’s a train, isn’t he?” she called. “Just wait until little Trevor can play with you too.You’llget to be the train.”
Ava clenched her eyes shut as the tears came. She’d been so close, hadn’t she? So close to having a life like that with Richard. He’d even talked about having kids one day, with all the fondness she saw in that young dad.
It would be healing to give her children the exact life Ava had always wanted. A father and a mother who loved and cherished, not only them but one another too.
More tears came, and Ava tugged off her sunglasses to wipe them away. As it was with each stroll she took along the boardwalk, she may have been alone, but there were plenty of tears to accompany her.
Over the years, Ava had gotten very good at hiding her pain. The pain of trauma, abuse, and even the pain of nursing physical wounds as well. But this was different. Ava didn’t know how to fight back the tears of grieving over losing the greatest thing she’d ever had. As unexpected as it had been, she’d gotten a taste of a love she hadn’t believed existed.
But in Haven Hills, at the Homestead Inn, that type of love was floating all around. Between Trenton and Andie, and Mable and Don, who were enjoying their golden years with grandkids in tow. Perhaps it was contagious, because not long into her stay, Ava found that very love blooming between her and Richard. Not just free from violent abuse and controlling tactics, but rich in respect, kindness, and adoration.
A breeze picked up, and for a moment, Ava let herself recall their quiet rendezvous. She’d never see summertime the same. No matter how long she lived, no matter who she went on to love, Richard and those warm summer nights would hold a treasured space in her heart.
Ava considered that final thought, surprised by the assumption that shewouldgo on to love someone else. As much as that hurt—imagining loving anyone but Richard—it was tohiscredit that she felt that she could. Men like him did exist.
A vision of his warm smile soaked into her heart. He was so thoughtful, honorable, good.Wouldshe ever find someone like him again? And if she did, would he handle her in the same manner? Would he even know how? Richard was magic in that department. His touch, so gentle, light, and thrilling. His kisses, laced with a delicate balance of passion, heat, and controlled resistance that kept him from moving too fast. Richard Duran was a gentleman, but he knew how to unleash the rogue from time to time without pushing boundaries. She admired that patience. It seemed to say, without ever saying it, that he knew they had time. That it wasn’t something fleeting between them. What they had was lasting. Or at least, it could have been.
Ava clenched her eyes shut as a fresh wave of despair washed over her. She would ride it out, along with the waves that followed, until they ceased at last. She’d keep her head up, careful not to drown in them, and remember that, at least for a while, she was truly loved.
A swell of emotion bloomed big and heavy in her chest. A combination of gratitude, pride, and…and grief. Her professor always said cliches were cliches for a reason, and perhaps he was right. Because surely it was far better that she’d known and lost this love, than to have never experienced it at all.
A familiar-looking car pulled into the lot of her hotel across the street. An Audi Coupe that looked an awful lot like Richard’s. Her heart jumped the gun—breaking into a mighty sprint, excitement and hope fanning every stride. Her mind knew better.That couldn’t be him.
She moved to reach for the phone but remembered that she’d left it in the hotel to charge up after it died.
The sleek-looking Audi came to a stop.
The door flung open, and a tall, muscular Richard stepped out and closed the door behind him.
Ava’s heart was doing hurdles now. It really wasRichard, and he was taking quick and determined-looking steps toward the hotel’s entrance.
Her heart jumped a few more hurdles. She’d figured, or maybe hoped was more like it, that Richard had been tracking her. Seeing for himself, through the app she downloaded on her phone as well, just where she’d gone off to. But that didn’t mean he’d know which suite she was staying in. There was no way the front desk would tell him.
At once she was on her feet, wondering just what Richard had in his mind. Would he tell her off for lying to him about Wren? Probably, but Ava didn’t care. If he was there, if he was willing to speak with her face-to-face, she would at least take the chance to apologize for messing things up. She could tell him that she hadn’t been in love with Wren, and that leaving him was no sacrifice at all. It was the first taste of freedom she’d had in a very long time.
Ava squinted against the setting sun as she checked the street for passing cars, one direction, and then the next. She darted across once the way was clear, and hurried toward the entrance as well. The double doors slid open, and Richard’s voice spilled out.
“I’m not asking you to tell me what room she’s staying in, I just want to know if she already checked out. Surely you can tell me that much.”
