Ava

by Denise Devine

  Stretching out on the wide, comfortable mattress, she closed her eyes for a moment. She needed to call her mother, but had put it off until she’d had some time to think about how to describe the situation without sounding an alarm. Her mother was a chronic worrier. The last thing Ava wanted to do was get Georgette, and consequently her dad, upset over a situation none of them could control.

  She let go of her problems with a long sigh as her body began to relax. She’d nearly dozed off when the phone rang. Dragging her arm toward the nightstand, she grasped the phone and pulled it to her ear. “Hello?”

  “Ava, is that you?” Her mother, Georgette, had a squeaky voice when she sounded anxious.

  “Hi, Mom. Yes, it’s me.”

  “Are you all right? I haven’t heard from you in two days. Why haven’t you been answering your phone?”

  “I’m fine,” Ava mumbled, racking her brain for a believable excuse. “My phone charger went kaput, that’s all, so I can’t charge it. I need to buy another one.” She didn’t know why, but after all these years she still experienced a pang of guilt whenever she lied to her mother.

  “You don’t sound fine. You sound stressed. Have you been crying?”

  “No, Mom. I’m just tired.” Ava sighed and threw her arm over her eyes. “I’m glad you called. Would you do me a favor?”

  “Why? What’s wrong?”

  If I tell you the truth, you’ll have a cow. That’s what’s wrong...

  “Nothing is wrong. Would you mind sending my passport by Fed-Ex to the hotel?”

  Georgette gasped. “Oh, my gosh, are you in trouble?”

  Ava began to laugh out of sheer frustration. “No, Mom. I’m resting. Then I’m going to take a bath and have something to eat.”

  “Then why do you need your passport? Enchanted Island is a territory of the U.S.”

  Think! Quick! Why do I need my passport?

  “I went swimming and forgot my license in my bathing suit pocket,” she said, hoping it sounded plausible. “It got wet and came apart. Now it’s ruined. So I need my passport for an ID to get on the plane when I return home.”

  “Oh,” Georgette answered, never questioning the fact that bathing suits rarely had pockets, if ever, or realizing that most people who went swimming stored their valuables in a watertight container on a nylon string around their necks. “Where do you keep it?”

  “The passport is tucked inside my oversized Bible. You know—the one that’s as big as a coffee table book. I put it there to keep it safe. The Bible is sitting on one of my nightstands.”

  “When are you coming home?”

  Ava pinched the bridge of her nose with her fingers. She loved her mother dearly, but some days it became vitally apparent that she needed to get her own apartment. “When you send my passport, Mom.”

  “Oh, right. You’re sure everything is fine?”

  “Yes, everything is wonderful,” Ava replied, trying not to lose her patience.

  “How is Lisa? Did the baby come yet?”

  “Not yet, but it will be soon. I’ll send you some pictures when I get another ph—I mean, when I get my phone charged. Thank you for taking care of my passport. Call me when you send it off.”

  They talked for a couple minutes longer before Georgette decided to hang up and get busy hunting down that Bible.

  Ava expelled a deep breath, glad she’d been able to get her mother to send her passport without telling Georgette the ugly truth about what happened to her driver’s license. Things were bad enough without her mother worrying over the situation, too.

  She wanted to spend the rest of the day soaking away her troubles in the tub with a glass of good wine, but she remembered how rude she’d been to Jeff the evening before and her conscience pressed upon her to make amends. He’d stepped in to help her at a time when she’d needed it the most and had even cancelled his own plans in order to assist her. Besides, she wanted to know more about him.

  She picked up the phone and hit the button for the operator. The operator came on the line and connected her to Jeff’s room. The phone rang several times, making her wonder if she’d already missed him. Perhaps he’d gone to the beach or to the bar for an afternoon drink.

  On the fourth ring he suddenly answered, but he sounded a little rushed. “Hello?”

  “I’m sorry to bother you, Jeff. I hope this isn’t a bad time to call.”

  “Not at all. I was just leaving when I heard the phone ring.” He laughed. “The door shut on me and it took me a minute to find my key. What’s up? Did Sheriff Hall call you about your purse?”

  “No,” she said sadly, “not yet. I just wanted to ask you what your plans were for dinner. Last night I turned down your offer, but I’d like to take you up on it tonight—that is, if you still want to dine with me.”

  “Yes, I’d like that.” His voice softened. “What time would you like to meet?”

  She thought to check her phone and remembered she didn’t have one any longer. “Um...”

  “Is seven okay? Or is that too late for you?”

  “Not at all,” she said quietly. “That would be wonderful. Where shall we go?”

  “It’ll be my surprise. I’ll meet you in the lobby at seven sharp.”

  A surprise? That sounded like fun. “Seven it is then. I won’t be late. Bye.”

  Chapter Six

  Friday, September 4th

  The Perfect Evening

  Jeff met Ava in the lobby at exactly seven that evening. She walked out of the elevator looking radiant in a long taupe halter dress with a wraparound waistband that crisscrossed in the front, accentuating her small waist. She’d let down her long, thick hair, her curly tresses reaching nearly to her elbows.

  “Good evening. You look lovely,” he said as she approached him.

  “Thank you,” she replied, her eyes shining.

  He gestured toward the side door. “Shall we go?”

  She took his arm and accompanied him out of the lobby.

  Perfect Match employees were advised when they were hired not to get romantically involved with any of their clients for a host of reasons, but mainly because Dawson strongly believed it created a conflict of interest. If a relationship ended badly, it had the potential to reflect negatively on the reputation of his company. As a manager, Jeff knew Dawson expected him to uphold a high standard of professional conduct as a leader for his team and his peers. He needed to keep things on a friendship level only with Ava, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t have a nice dinner together. He just wanted to lift her spirits.

  He opened the door for her and, as she passed by, the crisp floral notes of her perfume wafted upward, filling the air with her scent. The folds of her long, shimmering dress gently flowed with the sway of her hips.

  He swallowed hard and looked away.

  It’s only dinner for one night. She’s a client...not a potential date.

  They barely knew each other and it had to stay that way. His goal was to help her get safely back home. Nothing else.

  They walked down a lighted path to the pier behind the resort and the Black Coral Restaurant. As the maitre d’ led them through the open-air, over-the-sea restaurant, Jeff breathed in the freshness of the evening air and took in the unforgettable, panoramic view of crystal-clear turquoise water stretching toward a pink and blue sky along the horizon.

  The tables, covered in white damask cloths with lit candles in glass hurricane holders, were each set for an intimate evening. Soft strains of Caribbean music filled the air, accompanied by the happy voices and laughter of the couples seated in this romantic outdoor dining room. The maitre d’ suddenly stopped at a table and pulled out Ava’s chair.

  “Thank you,” Ava said and sat down. She smiled as the maitre d’ pushed in her chair.

  “Enjoy your dinner, Madame. Enjoy your dinner, sir.” The maitre d’ dropped Ava’s napkin on her lap and left.

  Immediately, a waiter’s assistant dressed in a black uniform appeared at the table. The youn
g woman silently filled their water glasses and left as quickly as she’d appeared.

  “How do you like your room?” Jeff said, attempting to keep the conversation light.

  “It’s wonderful.” Ava sipped her chilled water with a smile. “I love the balcony and the garden below is so beautiful. I have a small table out there and I think I’m going to have coffee delivered to my room tomorrow morning so I can sit in the fresh air and enjoy the sunrise.”

  A waiter appeared at their table wearing a black suit and tie. His nametag indicated he was Jamaican. He held a bottle of Chardonnay in his white-gloved hands. Smiling at Ava, he presented the bottle and said, “Good evening. I am Charles, your waiter. Would you like a glass of our featured wine tonight?”

  Jeff gestured toward Ava. “It’s your decision.”

  She looked up at Charles. “Oh, that would be lovely.”

  Charles opened the bottle and poured their glasses. After he left them, neither said anything for a few moments as they sipped their wine.

  Ava relaxed in her chair, twirling the glass between her fingers. “How long have you worked for Perfect Match?”

  Jeff set down his wine glass. “I’ve been with Dawson for about a year, since the company’s inception. At the time, I had a job working strictly as a leisure travel specialist for a large travel agency. A friend told me about a new company he had applied for online and suggested I apply, too. I thought, ‘What the heck, why not?’ I had nothing to lose.” He sobered. “I got a job with Perfect Match; my friend didn’t.”

  “You must find great deals for yourself, but I’m sure everyone asks you about that. Do you travel a lot?”

  Charles appeared at their table and handed them each an opened menu then proceeded to describe the specialty dish of the day, a seafood medley for two.

  “I used to travel all the time,” Jeff continued once Charles left. “I want to see the whole world. That’s why I got into the business.”

  “But...you don’t travel now?”

  He lowered his menu. “Perfect Match is growing so fast, I’m too busy to take a vacation. I’ve just received a promotion and a new project so I’ll probably have less time than ever now.”

  Ava’s face lit up. “Really?” She looked radiant when she smiled. “Tell me about it.”

  “Dawson Yates is starting a regional office in Minneapolis and he’s assigned me as the project manager. I’ll also be the office manager when it’s finished and our staff moves in.”

  Her lips parted slightly in surprise. “I didn’t know you lived in Minneapolis. I live there, too.” She blushed, obviously realizing she’d pointed out the obvious. “But then, you already know that.”

  He nodded and let it go.

  Ava had begun to peruse the list of entrees when Jeff signaled for their waiter to return.

  “Do you like seafood?” At her nod, he continued, “Do you mind if I order for us?”

  “Not at all. Surprise me.”

  “We’ll have tonight’s specialty, the seafood dinner for two,” he said to Charles and snapped his menu shut.

  The conversation ensued until Charles brought an appetizer of tamarind-glazed fried calamari. Once they’d finished the first course, they shared a salad bowl of mixed greens with passion fruit-sweet ginger vinaigrette and a basket of fresh rolls.

  As they ate, they talked about safe subjects such as fun times in college, where they had traveled, the books they’d read, the movies they’d seen...never once trespassing on sensitive, personal topics. Jeff wanted to know more about her, things that weren’t listed on her profile, but knew it would be inappropriate to dig deeper.

  Charles brought a platter containing seared scallops, Cruzan garlic shrimp, yellowfin tuna and a side dish of creamy asparagus risotto. They began to taste the food and had so much fun trying the entrees they ended up simply eating off the platter together instead of dividing it up and putting it on their plates.

  “Oops,” Ava said, laughing as she reached for a shrimp and the tines of her fork tinkled against his.

  “Go ahead.” With a grin, Jeff pulled his fork back. “You reached it first.”

  She speared the shrimp and popped in in her mouth. When she went to take another one, their forks clashed again, causing her to burst into a fit of laughter. “You can have this one.”

  Jeff picked up his wine glass. “I think I’ve had enough.”

  She picked up hers. “Me, too, but I’m having more fun than I’ve had in a long time!”

  Laughing, they touched their glasses together and sipped more wine.

  The sun’s waning rays had completely disappeared, turning the sky to a deep blue as their waiter’s assistant cleared away the dishes and Charles brought steaming mugs of coffee. He handed them each a small dessert menu and left them to pour over the luscious offerings.

  Ava set her menu on the table and picked up her coffee mug. “I’m too full for dessert. How about you?”

  “Frankly, I find most of the items on this list too rich and too sweet.” Jeff set his menu down and pushed it aside. “I could use a bottle of water and a long walk instead.”

  “That makes two of us. We could go back to that garden we were at yesterday. It’s next to the main building.”

  “Sounds good to me. Let’s go.”

  They requested bottles of water from Charles’ assistant and walked back to the main building, taking the sidewalk to the garden, now softly lit with LED lights placed along the curving walkway.

  Ava had removed her high-heeled shoes and she walked barefoot most of the way.

  “It’s so beautiful here. I miss visiting exotic places. I used to travel a lot before I met my ex-husband,” she announced suddenly. They passed a tall bush of magenta bougainvillea, a mass of sprawling branches growing along the walkway.

  “Why is that? Was his job so demanding that it didn’t allow time for travel?”

  She responded with wry chuckle. “It was more like he didn’t have time for me.”

  “I find that difficult to fathom.” He stopped walking. “How could any man in his right mind not have time for you?”

  Her sad smile glowed in the overhead light as she turned her face upward and looked into his eyes. “He’s a vice president of a large corporation. Brian travels a lot for his job, so when he has time off, he merely wants to stay home...and work some more.”

  “Did you work alongside him in his corporation, if you don’t mind my asking?”

  “No,” she replied sardonically. “I didn’t work at all. Oh, I’d had a job before we were married. I worked as a flight attendant for Sunshine Airways. Actually, Brian and I met on a flight from MSP to O’Hare. We started dating and eventually he asked me to marry him. The problem was that he wanted me to quit working and stay home so we could be together more often. I didn’t want to quit—I loved flying, but I thought I loved him more and so I did what he asked.”

  They began walking again. A light breeze picked up. He watched the warm wind scatter the curly wisps of hair framing her face, wondering how any man could treat her so selfishly.

  “It didn’t work out, of course, because it was doomed from the start,” she continued. “You can’t sustain a one-sided relationship. Brian was never home. I eventually became bored and unhappy with his work schedule. Then one day he simply dropped a bombshell revelation and blew up our marriage. He said I wasn’t the woman he’d married. Over the course of two years, I’d become someone he didn’t know any longer and he wanted a divorce.” A rueful laugh escaped from her lips. “He’d demanded that I change and when I did, he didn’t love me anymore. Many times, I’ve wondered if he ever did.”

  Jeff drained his water and tossed the empty bottle into a recycling receptacle next to one of the lights. “That must have been a tough situation for you. How did you handle it?”

  “Not very well.” She shrugged. “I had to start over completely. I’d left the only job I’d ever wanted and at the time, Sunshine Airlines wasn’t hiring flight attendant
s, so I applied for a ticket agent position instead. I made it through all of the interviews and now I’m on a waiting list. In the meantime, I’m working for my father. My mother convinced me to move back home temporarily until I got my life back together and I hate to admit this, but it’s been over a year and I’m still there.”

  “I understand you work with landscaping.”

  “Well, I don’t actually do any of that,” she replied. “I’m a manager at my father’s garden center. He’s the landscape architect. I handle the retail division.”

  “How is that working out for you?”

  “Dad wants me to take over the business when he retires, but I’m certain I don’t want to spend the rest of my life selling birdhouses and flats of petunias to suburban housewives.”

  “You like spontaneity. I could tell that the moment we met.” He took her hands in his, gently pulling her close. “Your ex-husband was a self-centered fool. A woman like you would be an asset to any man.”

  She looked up at him with wide eyes, her lips parting slightly as though she didn’t know how to respond to such a frank comment.

  For a fleeting moment, he wondered how she would respond if he kissed her. His head dipped low, nearly brushing her lips before he realized his mistake. Reminding himself she was a client, he drew back. “It’s getting late,” he said. “Your feet must be tired. We’d better go inside.”

  She nodded and pulled away, but not before he’d caught a glimpse of disappointment in her eyes.

  They walked back to the lobby in silence. At the elevators, Jeff pressed the call button and the doors opened.

  “Thank you for meeting me for dinner,” Ava said quietly as they stepped inside and he pressed their floor buttons. “I had a wonderful time.”

  “Will you be around for breakfast?” He spoke before he remembered that she had planned to call room service.

  The doors closed and the elevator began to lift upward.