Another few centimeters and―
Joseph let go of her and stepped back, clearing his throat. He’d gotten too close to the line. “I’m sorry. I should go.”
Ava’s eyes opened wide in confusion and―was that anger he saw there?
“If I’m so beautiful―” She jabbed a finger at his chest. “Why can’t you bring yourself to kiss me? You can talk sweet all you want, but when it comes down to it, I repulse you.” She gave an angry swipe at the tears still on her cheeks.
Joseph ran both hands over his head and gave a disbelieving laugh. “I’m the furthest thing from repulsed by you, Ava. I am so― You are so―” His breath came in gasps as he fought to keep from striding over there and proving to her right now just how badly he wanted to kiss her. “But I don’t know if you want to. And I promised you I wouldn’t ask you for more than friendship, so―” He held up his hands, working to gentle his voice. “This is me not asking. If you’ve changed your mind”―Please, Lord, let her have changed her mind―“you have to let me know. I can be over there and kissing you in half a second flat.” He grinned, trying to diffuse the intensity he was feeling right now.
Ava blinked at him, running her fingers back and forth over the scars on her lip. “I don’t know,” she finally whispered. “I . . .” She shook her head, as if she was at a loss for words.
“It’s okay,” he said quietly. He called for Tasha and Princess, and the dogs bounded over. “Take as much time as you need.”
He reached for the door. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Chapter 26
If he could, Joseph would go back in time and kick himself.
What had he been thinking, telling Ava to take as much time as she needed? It had only been three days, and he was already going out of his mind.
He’d counted on work to provide a good distraction, but even that wasn’t proving to be much help.
He escorted Mr. Glover and his aged pit bull to the waiting room, careful to keep a smile on his face until they’d left. Then he sagged against the counter, rubbing his hands over his cheeks. At least he only had four more appointments today.
“You look like you could use a pick-me-up.”
Joseph jumped at the voice. He wasn’t used to having an assistant here with him yet.
“I’m fine.”
“I know what you need.” Madison slid her rolling chair across the floor behind the desk so that she was directly in front of him.
Yeah. So did he. He needed Ava.
“Pie,” Madison said, triumph ringing from her voice. “How about I run out and get you a slice?”
Joseph considered. Pie did sound good. And if Madison went to get it, he’d have a few moments to himself. Not that working with Madison was all bad. Though he’d certainly had his doubts when he’d hired her earlier this week, he hadn’t had much choice, given that of the three applicants, she was the only one even remotely proficient with a computer. Already, Madison had completely computerized the appointment system, and she was in the process of sorting through all of Dr. Gallagher’s antiquated records. Even so, Joseph missed the peace and quiet of having the office to himself.
At least while Madison was out getting the pie, he could call Ava.
No. No calling Ava. He’d told her he’d give her time, and that was what he was going to do.
“I’ll be back in a flash.” Madison grabbed her purse and headed for the door.
Joseph made a mental note to pay her back when she returned.
Then he pulled out his phone and stared at it. Still nothing from Ava.
Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to send one little text, just so she’d know he was thinking of her.
He moved his finger toward the screen.
Then he pulled it back and tucked the phone into his pocket.
If he sent that text and she didn’t respond, that would be worse than not sending it at all.
At least this way he could tell himself there was still hope.
It had taken Ava three days. But she’d finally worked up the courage.
She was going to tell Joseph that she had changed her mind. She did want to be with him.
And she was going to sweeten the deal with pie.
She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about those almost kisses all week. And every time she did, all she could think was what a fool she’d been not to realize how badly she’d wanted them.
She locked the door to her studio, where she’d just finished taking pictures of a sweet six-month-old girl, then set off on the short walk to Daisy’s. With the beautiful fall weather, the streets were busier than usual, and she ducked her head, letting her hair form a protective barrier around her face as she walked.
She didn’t look up until she was nearly to Daisy’s―and when she did, she drew to a stop.
Even though it was two in the afternoon on a Thursday, the parking lot was packed.
She couldn’t go in there―not alone, not with all those people.
Could she?
She clenched her hands into fists, taking a few deep breaths and picturing the look of delight Joseph would wear when she passed him the unexpected treat.
Maybe she could do this after all.
Tucking her head down again but making her steps purposeful, she marched for the restaurant’s door. Her heart battered against her ribs like she was marching into battle instead of into a pie shop, but she made it through the door and to the back of the line.
As she waited, she pulled out her phone, pretending to check it as an excuse not to look up.
Although the shop was loud with voices and laughter and clanking dishes, Ava couldn’t help but overhear the conversation taking place in front of her.
“I heard you got a job,” a woman’s voice was saying. “I almost didn’t believe it.”
“I thought it was time.” This voice sounded familiar to Ava, but she couldn’t quite place it. She allowed herself a quick peek up through her hair.
It was Madison, standing at the counter to place her order but facing backwards to talk to the woman behind her in line.
Ava ducked her head again. Running into Madison in the parking lot at Murf’s a few weeks back had been enough. She wasn’t in the mood for another awkward conversation.
“I bet you did.” The other woman giggled. “The pie’s a nice touch. Fastest way to a man’s heart . . .”
“That’s not what this is,” Madison said. Her stylish boots shuffled to the side as the line moved forward. “He’s just having a rough day.”
“Ah, a rough day. Good thing you’re there to comfort him.”
“Stop it.” Madison’s voice held a laugh. “This really is only about the job.”
“Whatever you say.” The other woman made a dismissive sound.
Madison said something Ava didn’t catch, and then her boots disappeared out the door.
Ava shuffled forward with the rest of the line, a feeling of unease hovering over her that went beyond nerves over what she was about to tell Joseph.
“Can I help you?” The woman at the counter waved her forward a few moments later.
It wasn’t too late to back out. She could leave. Forget her whole plan.
But she made herself place the order. “One slice of blueberry and one lemon. To go.” She could always give the lemon to Aunt Lori if she couldn’t bring herself to finish the journey to Joseph’s office.
The woman rang up the order, her eyes straying to Ava’s face only once before darting away. Ava made herself hold her ground.
“Here you go.” The cashier passed Ava a bag with her boxed-up pie slices.
“Thank you.” Ava pretended not to notice as the woman allowed herself a longer stare.
Outside, she forced herself to direct her footsteps toward River Falls Veterinary. As the afternoon sun warmed her, she dared to lift her head a little bit.
Her eyes fell on the river, sliding lazily along its banks. She smiled at it―maybe if Joseph wasn’t busy, they could take a walk
after their pie.
When she got to the veterinary office, she was relieved to find the parking lot nearly empty. She hadn’t considered what she’d do if he was with a patient. Wait, she supposed. She had the rest of the day free, and this was too important to put off any longer.
Gulping in a deep breath to fortify herself, she pulled the door open.
The front lobby area was empty, but the click of puppy toes clattered toward her. Tasha scrabbled to her first, giving her a happy sniff, followed by Princess, who appeared to have doubled in size yet again.
Ava bent to pet the puppy, whose whole body wagged in excitement. “How’s my girl?” She hadn’t meant to start thinking of the puppy as hers―but apparently somewhere along the line she had.
“You two running the place today?” She stood and made her way through the lobby and down the hallway toward Joseph’s office, a current of nervous energy propelling her limbs.
The door was open, so she didn’t knock. “Surprise. I brought―”
She froze.
Joseph was leaning against the edge of his desk, laughing, holding a half-eaten piece of pie.
On the couch across the room, Madison was laughing and eating pie too.
“Ava.” Joseph jumped up from the desk, coming toward her. His smile was as big and warm as ever, but Ava wondered if she detected a trace of guilt under it. “What are you doing here?”
“I was just― I mean― I should go. You two are in the middle of something.”
“Don’t be silly.” Joseph took the bag out of her hands. “You can’t say surprise and then take it back.”
“I should get back to the front desk.” Madison stood, sending Ava a look that screamed guilty as she hurried out of the room, dropping the rest of her pie in the trash on the way.
“Pie.” Joseph laughed as he peered into the bag from Ava. “Two slices in fifteen minutes. Must be my lucky day.”
Ava swallowed. Two equally delicious slices of pie. Two very unequally matched women. It wasn’t hard to guess which he would choose. Just like he had for prom.
That’s not fair, she reminded herself.
Joseph hadn’t had a choice for prom―not really. She’d made that choice for him when she broke up with him.
“What was Madison . . .” She bit her tongue. It was none of her business.
Joseph pulled out the pie slices and passed the blueberry one to her. “Oh, I hired her as my new assistant. She started Tuesday, and she’s a miracle worker. The way she’s organized everything already.”
Tuesday. That explained why Ava hadn’t heard anything from Joseph since then.
“I’m really glad you stopped by.” Joseph took a step closer to her.
She opened her pie, letting the clamshell packaging serve as a flimsy shield.
But Joseph didn’t stop. “I’ve been wanting to―”
There was a knock on the doorframe. “Sorry, Dr. Calvano.” Madison sounded ridiculously formal. “Mrs. Sampson is here with Chester. Did you want me to tell them to wait or . . .”
“I have to go anyway.” Ava closed up the pie she hadn’t yet taken a bite of. “I just wanted to drop off the pie and tell you . . .” She scrambled for something to say. “Congratulations on your first therapy dog visit.” Yes. That worked.
She turned toward the door.
“Wait,” Joseph called after her. “Will you be around later? Maybe we could―”
“Sorry, I have plans.” Ava’s voice was flat.
He’d know it was a lie, of course. She never had plans.
But it was the best she could come up with right now.
Chapter 27
“Good sermon today, Dad.” Joseph held out a hand to shake his father’s as he filed out of the church.
It truly had been, even if Joseph had struggled to focus, his thoughts constantly drifting to the person who wasn’t sitting next to him this week.
When Ava had shown up at his office unexpectedly the other day―and with his favorite pie―he’d made the mistake of letting himself hope, however briefly, that she’d made up her mind, that she did want to be with him.
But that hope had dried up the moment she made her escape―and he wasn’t sure if he could handle resurrecting it.
He’d tried texting her, asking if everything was all right, inviting her to church―but all had gone unread.
“You all right?” Dad gave him that compassionate look that made him so good at getting people to share their burdens with him.
“Yeah. I guess.”
“Why don’t you come by for lunch?” Dad clapped a hand to his shoulder. “Invite Ava if you want.”
He did want to. But he wasn’t sure he could take one more unanswered message from her.
Maybe he had to face the fact that he and Ava were never going to happen.
He moved out of the way of the people behind him. “I’ll pick up the hot chicken.”
Half an hour later, the smell of hot chicken filling the car and making him practically drool, Joseph pulled into Dad’s driveway. He grabbed the chicken off the seat, thankful he’d left the dogs home. Otherwise, he’d have spent the whole drive restraining them from the food.
Instead of thinking of Ava.
On second thought, maybe he should have brought the dogs.
He let himself into the house and headed straight for the kitchen.
Dad already had the table set. For three.
“No Ava?”
Joseph plunked the chicken on the table and dropped into a chair, leaning his head back to stare at the ceiling. “Nope.”
“Something happen with you two?”
Joseph could hear Dad’s real question: Did you do something to screw this up?
Joseph shook his head. “I honestly don’t know. One moment I could swear she feels the same way I do. And the next―I don’t know. It’s like she’s scared, like she doesn’t think I could possibly love her.”
“And do you? Love her?”
“Of course I do.”
“How much?” Dad’s eyes pierced Joseph’s.
“What do you mean, how much?” How did you put a quantity on love?
“I mean, do you love her more than you love yourself?”
Joseph didn’t have to think about it. “Yes.”
“Do you love her enough to let her go, if that’s what she wants?”
“You don’t think she wants to be with me?”
“That’s not what I’m saying.” Dad stabbed a piece of chicken and set it on his plate. “I’m just saying, are you willing to do whatever she needs? Even at your own expense?”
Joseph hesitated. But he’d rather hurt himself a thousand times than see Ava get hurt once.
“Yes,” he said. “I’m willing.”
“Good.” Dad folded his hands. “Should we pray then?”
Joseph nodded, closing his eyes as Dad started the prayer. “Father in Heaven, you are the source of all love. As we show love for others, help us to always keep your love first in our hearts. Help Joseph to continue to show love for Ava, in whatever way she needs. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
“Amen.” Joseph sat back, staring at his plate. He couldn’t believe he might really have to give Ava up. But if that was what she needed, it was what he’d do.
“Don’t look so downhearted, son.” Dad passed the chicken. “I wouldn’t give up hope just yet.”
“But you just said―”
“I said, if it’s what she needs.” He took a bite of chicken. “But I wouldn’t be so sure it is.”
“How am I supposed to know?” Could this whole thing get any more confusing?
“Wait. Give her time. Be―”
“Patient, yeah.” Joseph jammed his fingers into his hair. “It’s hard.”
Dad’s laugh boomed around the room, and Joseph stared at him. “Glad you find this amusing.”
“Sorry.” But Dad was still chuckling. “Do you know how long I had to wait for your mother to agree to go out with me?”
&nbs
p; Joseph lifted his eyes to Dad’s face. His father had never shied away from talking about Mama since her death, but he rarely mentioned their younger years. “I don’t know―five minutes?”
His parents had been the type of couple who rarely spent time apart. Mama often helped Dad in his ministry, and Dad made time to go to the grocery store with her every week.
Dad guffawed harder. “Two years. It took me two years of asking and giving her space. Of showing her I was a friend and she could trust me. Of waiting.”
“Didn’t you go crazy?” He’d already waited eight years. Two more might kill him.
“Oh yeah.” Dad shook his head. “But it was worth it.”
Joseph believed that. He knew it would all be worth it if Ava said yes in the end. But― “What if she had said no?”
Dad sobered. “Do you believe God works all things to the good of those who love him?”
Joseph nodded.
“Well then. You just answered your own question. But I wouldn’t be too worried about that.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means―” Dad grinned at him. “I’ve seen the way Ava looks at you.”
Chapter 28
Ava tucked Joseph’s photos into an envelope. She sealed it, then stared at it. Should she walk it over to his office or drop it in the mail?
The thought of seeing him right now left her stomach in all kinds of tangles. Not to mention, if she went over there, it wasn’t only Joseph she’d see. Madison would be there too.
She’d tried hard all week to scrub the image of Joseph and Madison laughing together in his office from her brain. But instead, it had morphed into an image of them eating dinner together, raising children together, belonging together.
It wasn’t jealousy.
That wasn’t what she felt.
It was certainty.
Certainty that Madison was the kind of woman Joseph should be with. They looked right together. They made the perfect picture.
She let out a long, slow breath and addressed the envelope.
Someday he’d thank her.
She slid her chair back. She’d drop this at the post office on her way home.
But just as she stood, the studio door opened. Ava looked up, annoyed to have her mission interrupted.
Pieces of Forever: A Christian Romance (River Falls Book 1) Page 14
