Page 14 of Unexpected Love

Walt has been running Murphy’s on his own for almost twenty years—ever since Walter’s father gave it to him when he retired. The stress of running his own business isn’t new to Walt. Murphy’s is also a well-established bar in a small town—it practically runs itself at this point.

There’s something else going on, and I just wish I knew what it was. I’ve asked Walt, and he continues to tell me nothing is wrong, which I’m sure is what he’s telling Jude, too. If I could contact Jude and tell him about my concerns, I would, but when Jude cut everyone out, he made it very hard for anyone to find him.

“Oh, stop looking at me like that. You and your father worry too much. I’m fine.” Walt turns to walk away before I can respond. Which is probably a good thing, because I have no ideahowto respond.

Before I can simmer on those thoughts much longer, a cool breeze blows in from the open door. I turn to see who's holding the door open long enough for the air to reach me in the middle of the bar, and there stands Ava. It seems fitting that the only person who can take my mind off the worry I’m feeling for Walt is standing in the open doorway of Murphy's.

I fight the urge to get up and greet her. Instead I stay where I am and watch as she studies her surroundings, clearly deciding if this is where she wants to stay. I would have thought Declan would be with her, but as she continues standing there, the door still held open, it’s obvious he isn’t.

“Can I help you, miss?” Walt asks, standing at the end of the bar closest to the door. “You’re letting in the chilly Novemberair.” His voice is kind as he speaks to her, but her entire body still goes taut as she steps further into the bar, letting the door fall closed behind her.

“Oh! Sorry. I didn’t—I didn’t mean to.” Her voice sounds hesitant, and I’m instantly on edge. She may have been guarded when I met her, but she wasn’t hesitant. She’d been strong, ready to stand her ground against anything.

“It’s all right.” He offers her a soft smile. “You’re Declan’s sister, right?”

“How do you—never mind.” She steps forward, sitting at the end of the bar in front of Walt. “Small towns, right?”

“Afraid so. But also, your brother speaks very highly of you. I’ve seen your picture plenty, and it’s in your eyes. You and your brother share the same eyes.”

As I watch Walt and Ava interact, I see her start to relax, a soft smile forming on her lips. It’s strange howmybody starts to relax as I see the tension slowly leave her body.

Walt has always had that effect on people. Looking at him, you would think people would be afraid, but it’s his easy manner and welcoming nature that quickly win people over. He’s a tall and well-built man. The type of build that comes from hard work, not a gym. And when his sleeves are rolled up like they are now, you can see the tattoos covering his arms. His hair is still mostly dark, though salt and pepper is starting to show on the sides. But I know it’s the smile that really takes the cake. Even behind his full beard, the dimples are hard to miss.

I find myself smiling right along with Walt when a soft laugh breaks free from Ava. I know I’m being the biggest creep—watching them as closely as I am—but even knowing that, I can’t look away.

“I’ll go put that order in for you.” Walt offers Ava another smile as he pats the bar in front of her before turning away. He catches my eye as he passes me, giving me a knowing look, and Ican’t find the energy to care about the shit he’s going to give me later.

I stand from my seat, grab my beer, and make my way toward Ava.

seven

AVA

I madethe mistake of answering the phone. I knew it the second I hit accept, but I just wanted them to stop. Ineededthem to stop. The notifications from missed phone calls and text messages I refused to answer were driving me crazy.

I don’t know what I thought I would accomplish by answering, but I should have known it would be absolutely nothing. I think I hoped that in a one-on-one conversation with my mother, she would finally hear me and offer me the shoulder I needed. I held out hope that, at least as a woman, she would believe and support me.

Unfortunately, nothing about her opinions or attitude has changed since that first conversation in their living room. She demanded to know where I was and what I was doing, and I refused to tell her anything.

I’m done following the road they laid out for me and caring about the way they view me. I’m taking a page from my brother's book and doing what makes me happy.

I have no idea what makes me happy anymore, but I’m determined to figure it out. I’ve spent too long focused on the school and career they guided me to, and I lost myself along the way. I don’t have hobbies or friends anymore, and I miss those things. I want to be able to pick up the phone and just word-vomit all my thoughts on someone, and right now it feels like there’s no one.

I know Declan would be that person for me in a heartbeat, but if I had called him that night he would have been on the next flight. He would have been breaking down doors and probably would’ve ended up in jail. I can’t be the person taking Declan away from the life he’s building here. He deserves everything that’s happening with Quinn. Seeing their interactions at breakfast and lunch earlier this week makes me so happy. If there’s anyone who deserves to find their person, it’s Declan. He’s always putting those he loves first and going out of his way for them, and I love seeing him have someone there supporting him.

Sitting around this empty house, stewing in the words my mother threw at me, is making all of it so much worse. Without really thinking about it I bundle myself up and make my way into town.

At this point, I’ve been to Ashford Falls a few times, but more often than not, it was only for a weekend, and Declan and I spent our time hanging out at his place or with the Marks family. While we’ve driven through town and eaten at The Diner, I never really paid attention to the shops or anything else on those trips.

It’s just after five as I leave the house, the sun barely peeking over the horizon on its daily descent. I’ve never minded how the days get shorter this time of year. And in a place like Ashford Falls—surrounded by farmland—the shorter days and longer nights mean you have more time to enjoy the evening sky.

I have no idea where I’m going, but I need to move and the town square isn’t far from Declan’s house. The only thing I’m sure of when I walk out that door is that I can’t go to The Diner. Not if I want to avoid Declan.

Thursday nights have become a quasi-date night for him and Quinn at The Diner after his pick-up soccer game. And I know if he saw my face, he would push me for all the information I have yet to give him.

While he’s still respecting my wishes to let me figure it out before I tell him everything, I see the look in his eyes every time he looks at me and he’s worried. Declan has always been a fixer, and by not giving him all the information, I’m keeping him from fixing everything.

It takes me a little over thirty minutes to reach the center of town, but when I get there I still have no idea where to go or what to do with my evening.

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