He closed the guest bedroom door on his way out and tracked down Avery in his own room. He was on his stomach, flipping through a comic book. His lips moved as he mouthed the words to himself. Owen’s heart squeezed painfully. Was it a disservice to Avery to never take risks? To shelter him from everything under the guise of protecting him?
Avery looked up from his comic book, catching him in the doorway. “Hey, Dad. Is Mom sleeping?”
“Yup, she’s taking a nap for a while. Can you keep an eye out for her while I work for a few hours, or do you want to come with me to the café?”
Avery’s face lit up. “Will Ava be there?”
The question hit him like a punch to the gut.This is why I pushed Ava away.
The excuse felt hollow, even to himself.
“Probably not. She’s been busy at the cabin.”
Avery shrugged and made a face. “I’ll stay here, then. But if you see Ava, tell her I said hi.”
Owen nodded and rapped his knuckles on the doorframe before turning away. The need to stay busy drove him to visit the café. He had plenty of things to care for there. Things that wouldn’t call him out the way Maddy did.
He checked on his staff and made the rounds in the dining area, doing everything he could to ignore the empty table in the corner where he’d gotten used to seeing Ava work. Her absence intensified the doubt plaguing him since his talk with Maddy.
He retreated to his office.
Owen sank into his creaky old office chair. Then he started thinking about the last time he had Ava in this office. How one of his last memories in here was of Ava on her knees in front of him. He’d never be able to get rid of this chair now.
He couldn’t stay there.
Owen stalked out of the office and through the back entrance of the café, not wanting to see anyone. He could go check on the bed-and-breakfast, but then he’d be reminded of the night they’d finally kissed. Of the desk. He’d named the place after her, for god’s sake.
Owen got in his truck, deliberating where to go. There was no place in town he could escape her. She was everywhere, because she was a part of him. A part he’d never been able to give up.
Before he knew what he was doing, Owen was turning onto the dirt road that led to Ava’s cabin. His heart pounded, the anticipationalmost too much to handle. Would she turn him away? Would she forgive him?
His anticipation turned to confusion at the sight of another car parked off the road, right in front of the driveway for Ava’s cabin. He slowed the truck down and rolled down his window to get a better look. A man was hammering a signpost in the ground.
For Sale
5 Loon Cove Drive
His stomach plummeted. He was too late.
The guy hammering the for-sale sign spun around to face him, the mallet held aloft in his hand.
“Hey there. Three bedroom, two-bathroom cabin just listed. Waterfront property, new water heater, and the sellers are motivated. You come to check it out?”
Owen shook his head. Words failed him.
She’d left. She’d really left.
“I’m a friend of the owners. Came by to check on them. Are they still around?” Owen’s heart caught in his throat, waiting for the answer.Please say yes.
The guy walked toward Owen’s truck. His white veneers reminded Owen a bit too much of Ava’s ex. He instantly disliked the guy.
“I’m Griffin Hawk. I run a real estate firm out of Augusta. It’s nice to meet you. I believe Lucas is around. Here, let me give you my card in case you know anyone interested.” Griffin opened his wallet and slid a business card out of a slot. He extended it to Owen. “This has my office and cell on it. I’m free anytime for showings. Like I said, the sellers are motivated.”
Griffin’s smile didn’t waver, despite the awkward pause before Owen took the card and continued driving. His tires crunched on the familiar gravel. Gavin’s Subaru sat parked outside, so someone must still be there.
He jumped out of the truck and strode to the door, banging on it louder than was necessary, but his nerves got the better of him. He needed to see with his own eyes. To really know if she was gone.
The door swung open to reveal Lucas. He leaned against the doorframe, not inviting him inside but not shutting the door in his face, either. That had to be a good sign, right?
