by Wendy Smith
Drew’s eyebrows raise as he looks at me, and I walk up the hallway to Ava’s room. She’s playing on the floor with the toys Ginny bought her.
“Hey, Ava. Want to come and meet Uncle Drew and Auntie Hayley?”
Her eyes widen, and she nods slowly.
“Come on.”
I hold out a hand and she takes it, her teddy bear clutched tight in her other hand. We’ve come a long way, even since yesterday. With Ginny’s help, Ava’s trust in me has grown.
Drew stares at me as I enter the room, Ava in tow. Hayley beams.
“Drew, Hayley, this is Ava.” I sit back on the chair and Ava sits on my lap. “She’s my daughter.”
Neither of them look surprised, and I swallow.
“How … why is she with you?” Drew finally asks.
“It’s a long story, but I wanted you to meet her.”
Haley leans over. “Hi, Ava. I’m Hayley. It’s very nice to meet you.”
Ava leans against me, burying her face in my chest.
“What do you have there?” Hayley asks.
Ava sits back up. “Ginny bought me a new teddy-bear. I’ve still got my old one, but it’s falling apart. And she bought me so many clothes, and …”
I chuckle. Clearly, she feels comfortable enough to start talking. I’m just not sure if she’ll ever stop.
“Did you two want to stay for dinner?” I ask Drew.
He nods. “That would be great. We were going to visit Mum and Dad after this to tell them our news, but I called Dad to let him know we were coming, he mentioned Mum’s not having a good day. I’d prefer not to put more pressure on him.”
“Ginny should be back soon. She’s trying not to smother us.”
“I guess you have to get some time together.” Drew shoots a glance at Ava.
“Yeah. I asked Ginny to move in, but she thinks I’m trying to make her some sort of surrogate mother.”
He smirks. “Well, it’s not like you’ve ever got as far as moving in with someone before.”
Ava’s already shifted to Hayley’s lap, and is completely involved in telling her the story of what’s happened since yesterday.
I lower my voice. “She’s not like anyone else. All this has complicated things, but we’re still seeing each other.”
“So, you didn’t say why she’s staying with you. It must be weird for her.”
I take a deep breath, and lean closer to Drew. “Remember that accident I had to leave your wedding reception for?”
He nods.
“Car versus truck. Ava was the only survivor.”
“That was over two months ago, and you didn’t say anything?”
I grit my teeth. As much as having her has turned things upside down, the thought of her moving from place to place still drives me nuts. “It took the authorities a while to sort their shit out, and I had no clue she was mine. Ava was put into care, and lived with several different people.”
His mouth drops open. “No. That’s awful.”
“She’s picked up some weird shit along the way. The first night, Ginny got up and heard her crying. Ava had wet the bed and was too scared to tell us. Someone had told her it was naughty.”
Drew leans back. “Jesus. I would have thought that given she lost both her parents, that sort of thing would be par for the course.”
“It must be. Anyway, I’m just going to have to adjust. Having some warning would have been great. I didn’t even know I had a kid.”
There it is—a flash of guilt in his eyes.
“Did you know?” How could he?
His eyes dart from side to side. “That’s a long story in itself.”
“Tell me.”
He clears his throat. “Hayley helped Cara deliver Ava.”
My gaze shoots to my sister-in-law. I should be angry, but she’s got Ava wrapped around her little finger already, and building relationships has to be important for Ava. It’d be helpful if kids came with an instruction manual, but I just have to work this stuff out.
“And you guys didn’t think you should tell me?”
Drew lets out a sigh. “I wanted to. But Hayley would get in trouble for breaking patient confidentiality. I felt like I was stuck in the middle.”
“A heads up would have been nice. If Cara and Ryan were happy, I wouldn’t have done anything. It just would have been good to know. Damn it, Drew. If I’d known I would have fought from day one, and maybe she wouldn’t have been shipped around for two months.”
He nods, guilt written all over his face. “I know, but I couldn’t. Shit. If I’d known that night who was in that accident …”
I nod. “I guess I understand. It still pisses me off.”
“Yeah, I bet it does. At least she’s with you now. I bet she’s real happy to have moved to Candyland.”
Laughing I shake my head. “She’s not going to live on cookies.”
“Does she know that?”
Ava’s still talking, describing our trip to buy clothing, and offering to show Hayley her room. The expression on Hayley’s face is one of complete enchantment. She looks up and meets my gaze. “She’s gorgeous.” She mouths the words before shifting her attention back to Ava.
The door opens, and I grin at the sight of Ginny.
As if everything else is forgotten, Ava leaps from the couch and runs to her, throwing her arms around Ginny’s waist as Ginny drops her bag beside the door.
“Oh, what a tackle.” Ginny laughs. If she’s trying to avoid Ava getting attached to her, it’s way too late for that.
Ava raises her face and smiles, and Ginny bends to kiss her forehead. “What are you doing?”
“Talking. A lot.” I laugh.
“Good.” She smiles at Drew and Hayley. “Hi, guys.”
“How are you, Ginny?” Drew asks.
“Good. Things are a bit crazy, but good.”
Ava runs back to the couch, picking up the conversation where she left off with Hayley, and I shake my head in amusement. I get up and walk toward the door.
“Hey,” Ginny says. She wraps her arms around my waist, and I give her a tender kiss.
“I missed you,” I whisper.
“I wasn’t gone that long.”
“The more you stay, the more I hate it when you leave.”
She cups my face. “Coming from you, that’s a big call.”
“It’s true.”
“Well, I’m staying tonight, and it should be a quiet one. With how excited Ava is, I bet she crashes early. It’ll be nice to have some time together.”
“It will be.”
“How’s she been with Drew and Hayley?”
I let out a sigh. “She took to Hayley in seconds.”
Ginny laughs. “It figures. Hayley is such a lovely person.”
“They knew.”
She shoots me a confused look. “Knew?”
“Drew and Hayley knew about Ava. They knew, and they didn’t tell me.”
“How?”
“Hayley was there at Ava’s birth. Cara told her.”
Ginny rubs my back. “I guess she had to keep it confidential.”
“I get that. It just grates a little that Drew knew and didn’t say anything.”
She licks her lips. “What would you have done if he had?”
I shrug. “Maybe nothing while they were alive. It just would have been nice to know. Maybe then Ava wouldn’t have had to float from place to place until she came here.”
Ginny smiles. “At least she’s here now. And she has everything she could ever need. Give her time and those few weeks until she ended up here will be long forgotten.”
“How’d I find someone so smart?” I press my lips to hers again.
“I guess you’re just lucky.” Ginny grins, and I laugh, giving her a squeeze before letting her go. She walks toward Hayley.
“Ginny, it’s so good to see you.” Hayley smiles. I love how easily Hayley’s slipped into our family. It’s as if she’s always been here.
“You
too. How was your honeymoon?” Ginny sits on a recliner beside the couch.
“Amazing. So relaxing. I didn’t really want to come home.”
I plant myself back on the other recliner, and smile as the ladies settle into chatting. Ava takes a run at me, launching herself onto my lap.
“What are you doing?” I laugh.
She giggles. “Sitting with you.”
“She’s gorgeous, Owen,” Drew says. “Clearly, she takes after her mother.”
I flick a lock of Ava’s hair behind her ear. “I don’t know. The more I look at her, the more I can see Max and Rose in there. She’s definitely a Campbell.”
“You seem very happy to be here.” Drew smiles at Ava.
Ava loops her arms around my neck. This whole thing weirds me out, but that she’s that comfortable with me already is going to help a lot down the track. Maybe it’s just the relief of being with someone she now knows, someone who was there for her when she needed it. Whatever it is, she hugs me tight, and it warms my heart.
“I was there the night …” The sentence doesn’t need to be finished. Drew knows what I mean.
“Of course.”
“We hung out together, so little Miss Ava knew me. I think that’s helped.”
Ava rests her head against my shoulder. While she chatted up a storm with Hayley, she seems a bit more reserved around Drew.
“Did you know this is your Uncle Drew?” I ask her.
She looks up at me and nods.
“You’ve got four uncles and two aunts now. Plus, a couple of cousins.”
Ava smiles.
“You’ve got a big family, Ava,” Drew says.
She clings tighter to my neck.
“Ava met Adam and Lily yesterday. Today’s probably a bit overwhelming.” I stroke her hair. “I’m so glad Ginny’s here. They’ve taken a real shine to each other, and it’s helping ease the transition.”
Ava holds up her teddy-bear. “Ginny bought this for me yesterday,” she says to Drew.
“Did she? It’s a very nice teddy. Did you know you’re getting more cousins? Auntie Hayley’s having two babies.”
Ava’s eyes widen. “Two babies?”
Drew nods. “You and Owen will have to come and visit us when they’re born. We’ve got plenty of room, and a pool.”
“And Ginny.”
He laughs. “Yes, and Ginny. You’re all welcome.”
She climbs down off my lap, and within seconds is on the couch chatting with Drew.
Looking around the room, I smile.
I never thought I could be so content.
16
Owen
The first week’s tough.
I juggle everything. Getting up at four as usual, taking a break at seven to give Ava breakfast. She spends the day between the television in the living room when I take a break and the bakery. I need to sort something a bit more structured out for her, but it’s all a bit overwhelming.
Thursday’s usually our busiest day. It’s the day the supplies arrive, and when I do an inventory to see what we need for the next week. Lily picks up Ava and takes her for the afternoon. Out of habit, I keep checking the living room to see what she’s doing anyway.
The countdown to the weekend begins. Ginny will be with us. She pops in during the week, but doesn’t stay, and I don’t ask her to. She knows she has an open invitation.
On Saturday, the plan is to take both Ava and Ginny to meet my mother and father.
Hayley’s initial meeting with my parents went really badly. So badly, her reaction to it led to her and Drew breaking up, albeit temporarily.
I’m wary of taking Ginny there, but introducing Ava to them might help distract my mother. I need to hold onto that hope and be prepared to bail if it doesn’t work.
My heart’s beating fast as I pull into the driveway. I squeeze Ginny’s hand as I lead her and Ava into the house.
“I’m here,” I call out.
The house is quiet.
“Did you not let them know first?” Ginny whispers.
“I called Dad. They know we’re coming.”
I keep hold of Ginny’s hand as I lead her to the door. Ava’s on my other side, hanging back a little.
When we reach the living room door, Ginny goes through first, Ava trailing behind.
I’m right behind, smiling at the sight of my parents. Mum sits in her favourite chair, Dad on the couch. “Mum, Dad. This is Ginny. And I’d like you to meet Ava.”
Dad’s expression warms as I give Ava’s hand a little tug and she peeks around the corner. “Hi, Ginny and Ava.”
Mum, who’s had permanent resting bitch face from even before she got sick, gives me the biggest surprise with her expression. Her lips wobble as she lays eyes on my daughter for the first time, and her mouth falls open. “She’s yours?”
I nod. “I only just found out, and she’s come to live with me.”
“Oh, Owen.”
I hold my breath, waiting for something snarky to come out of her mouth.
“She’s beautiful.”
Ava squeezes my hand.
“Come on. Do you want to meet your grandma and grandad?”
Her eyes widen, and she nods.
I take a step into the living room, and in an instant, Ava’s arms are wrapped around my leg. We slowly make our way to the couch, and I sit, pulling her up beside me.
“Hello, Ava.” Dad gives her a smile, and she leans against me, planting her thumb in her mouth. Ginny sits beside me.
“We’re still getting used to each other, but she’s doing really well.”
Mum fixes her gaze on me. “Who’s her mother?”
Dad stands, walking over to the couch. “Hey, Ava. Want to come for a walk? We have a big garden out the back and lots of pretty flowers. What’s your favourite colour?”
“Purple,” she whispers, removing her thumb from her mouth.
“I think there are some purple flowers out there. Want to look?”
Ginny smiles. “I might have to go for a walk too.” She squeezes my bicep.
Ava looks at me with wide eyes, and I nod. “It’s okay. Go with Grandad and Ginny.”
I swear my dad’s chest puffs up when I call him that, and it makes me smile. There’s a bond there, ready to be formed, if Ava gives him the chance.
Ava lets go of my arm, and Dad holds out his hand for her to take. She takes another look at me, and I nod again. “I’ll be right here when you want to come back.”
There’s hesitancy on her face, but she slowly reaches for Dad’s hand, and pushes herself off the couch. One last look back at me at the door, and she disappears into the kitchen, Ginny right behind her.
I turn back to Mum. “Her mother was Cara Mitchell.”
My mother’s mouth falling open tells me I don’t need to explain what happened to Ava’s mother. “Oh, that poor girl.”
“I had no idea, Mum.” Shaking my head, I then bury it in my hands. “I was there the night Cara died, and I took care of Ava. Then I handed her off to go into care for two months before the social worker turned up and told me. She’s been through so much.”
“Well, at least you’re here for her now.”
I nod, looking back at her. “I’m not sure what I’m doing.”
Mum chuckles. “No one is. We all get things right, and we all get things wrong. You’re no exception.” She leans forward. “You’ll work it out. She’s a lovely little girl.”
“You know, you have two other grandchildren. They’re just as precious as Ava.”
She nods. “I know. And I have a lot of regret where they’re concerned. I’m not sure if Adam will ever forgive me for what I did.”
I sigh. “I’ll talk to Adam. Maybe we can sort something out.”
She leans back, and there’s pain in her eyes. “Don’t hold your breath. You’re a good boy for suggesting it, but I don’t think things will be better between us anytime soon. I can’t make things right. It’s too late.”
I shrug.
“I don’t believe that for a second. Your grandchildren deserve to get to know you before …”
Mum gives me a faint smile. “I know you’re trying to be helpful, but nothing will be resolved between Adam and me before I die.” She lets out a loud breath. “It’s lovely to see you, and your daughter is beautiful, but I think I need to take a nap.”
Nodding, I stand as she does. “Do you need any help?”
“I’ll be fine.”
I press a kiss to her cheek. “Take care, Mum. I’ll work on Adam.”
She raises her hand to cup my cheek. “I’m proud of you, Owen. I’m proud of all you boys. Even if it doesn’t show sometimes.”
“I know. I’ll bring Ginny back sometime, too. You guys were so distracted by Ava that you didn’t really get to talk to her.”
“That would be nice.”
I watch as she makes her way up the hallway toward the bedroom. It’s clear she’s going downhill, and I don’t know how much longer she’ll have. As much as she drives all of us crazy, we love her.
Stepping outside, I smile at the sight of my dad with Ava and Ginny walking toward the house.
Dad is more animated than I’ve seen him in a long time. Ava’s got a firm hold on his hand, and she’s swinging his arm as they walk. Ginny grins as I approach.
“Your dad’s been telling us all about you.” She laughs.
I roll my eyes. “Don’t believe a word he says.”
“I got a purple flower.” Ava holds out her hand, a large bloom between her fingers.
“That’s very pretty. Did Grandad show you the whole garden?”
She nods.
“Lucky. We’ll have to put it in a glass when we get home. I don’t think I have any vases. But a glass is enough to hold one flower.” I turn to Dad. “We’re going to get going. Mum’s gone for a nap.”
He nods. “It’s happening more often these days.”
“I’ll bring Ava and Ginny back soon. Give me a call when Mum’s up to visitors.”
Dad grabs hold of my arm. “Any time you need me to look after Ava, I’m here.”
“Thought you might be. I spoke to Mum about getting you two together with Adam and Lily. It needs to happen, Dad.”
He nods. “I’ve seen them from time to time. At the wedding, and when Hayley left town. They’re polite to me, but I want more. Your mother does too, although I doubt she’ll admit it.”
