“She’s my friend, regardless of her brother. Plus, she’s the only one helping me with the cabin. So really, she’s helping me get out of here faster, so I can get back to all ofyou. Suck it up, buttercup.”
“Fiiiine,” Morgan sighed. “I’ll talk to you later. Tell Summer I said hi.”
Morgan ended the video call before Ava could respond. She sighed and got up from the chair, throwing her now lukewarm coffee over the porch railing.
Break time was over. Back to her current reality.
Chapter 9
The Surprise
Ava rounded the front porch and walked to the driveway to meet Summer but stopped short at the duo exiting the SUV.
“Hey, guys,” Ava greeted.
“Hey, girl. We come bearing treats,” Summer said with a little too much enthusiasm. She mouthed an ‘I’m sorry’ over Avery’s head.
Avery approached with a rectangular box from the Early Bird Café, his dejected face staring at the gravel he kicked up with each step.
“Yum. Thanks for bringing it, Avery.” Ava addressed him directly, picking up on his sour mood.
He lifted his head, a slight pout still on his face. “Dad said you like blueberries, so we brought you a whoopie pie,” he said, holding the box out for her to take.
“He’s right. Come inside and let’s see what else he put in here,” Ava said. She ushered them inside the cabin through the porch door. This door opened to the hallway in front of the stairs, the dining room tothe left and the living room on their right. She led them to the dining room and placed the box on the table.
“Hmm, let me guess which one is your favorite,” Ava said, hoping to lighten his sullen attitude. She didn’t know why it bothered her so much to see him upset. Maybe because his wild brown hair and eyes reminded her so much of Owen at his age. His age when they’d first met.
She opened the lid and chanced a glance at Summer, who mouthed ‘chocolate’ at her. Ava took the hint.
“You strike me as a double-chocolate muffin guy,” Ava said.
Avery gave her a small smile, his reluctance still clear. But Ava could work with that.
“I call dibs on the cinnamon roll,” Summer said, as she reached out to ruffle Avery’s hair.
“Ugh, Aunt Summer, stop.” He stepped out of her reach and shifted from upset to annoyed, which Ava took as a good sign.
“Ava, can I use your bathroom?”
“Down the hall behind the stairs, on your left,” Ava directed him.
Avery left the room, leaving Summer and Ava alone.
“Did you get my text? Maddy had to leave today, so Owen asked me to take him this afternoon. He had a meeting he couldn’t get out of. Sorry to spring this on you,” Summer whispered.
“I must have missed it. I went on a cleaning spree today,” Ava said.
Summer glanced at the line of black trash bags propped against the wall. “I’ll say. Are you donating all this? I can drop them off for you at the church thrift store on my way to yoga tomorrow.”
Ava widened her eyes. “I forgot all about the thrift store. I thought I’d have to drive to Augusta to get rid of this crap. Yes, please take the first round for me.”
“You got it,” Summer said.
Ava bit her lip and glanced toward the hallway bathroom, listening for signs of Avery’s return.
“So, I guess that explains the bad mood. Poor kid, I could tell how excited he was to have his mom in town,” Ava said, speaking in a low tone to avoid Avery overhearing.
Summer tugged at the end of her braid in thought, her eyes also glancing at the hallway. “Yeah, he’s always upset when she leaves. She sprung it on him this morning.”
