Page 20 of Unexpected Love

She nods, taking a sip of her beer. “Yeah, I did both my undergrad and law school at Harvard. Both my parents went there, and Declan; it wasn’t really an option for me to go anywhere else.”

I’m about to ask her more when Walt appears behind her at the end of the table. “All right, I can appreciate the good time you three are having, but it’s time to close up. I want to go home.”

I see Dad lift his wrist, checking the time on his watch out of the corner of my eye. “Sorry, Walt. We lost track of time.” He slides out of the booth, picking up the remaining empty glasses. “Let me close the tab and we’ll get out of here.”

“Oh, let me—” Ava tries to slide out of the booth to follow.

“Nope, my treat. I haven’t had this much fun at my son’s expense since he was in high school.” Dad’s still laughing at his joke as he walks away.

I’m shaking my head and chuckling when Ava turns back to me, the look on her face cutting my laugh short.

“You okay?” I ask, concern evident in my tone.

Ava shakes her head, her eyes watering. “It’s silly.” She reaches up, swiping at the tear that slips free. “You have a really good relationship with your dad.”

I have a feeling Ava doesn’t cry often, and the fact that I’ve seen it twice tonight does something to my insides I’ve never experienced before. It’s like there’s a shift inside me, everythingrearranging itself to make room for something. What that something is, I don’t know, but I’m pulled to her.

It’s almost like I can’t help myself from quietly saying the next words out of my mouth. “It wasn’t always the way it is now. It took a lot of work to get where we are. There were a few years there that we barely spoke. I probably would have cut him out of my life entirely if it weren't for my brothers.” I look over Ava’s shoulder at my dad at the bar, watching him talk with Walt as he finishes cleaning up.

I don’t talk about it often—the period after my parents divorced. But it wasn’t a great time for me. And it’s not that either one of them did anything wrong. If a kid had to have divorced parents, they were the best you could ask for. They didn’t fight in front of me, put me in the middle, or use me as leverage against the other person. I never heard a negative word from either of them about the other. They never made me choose between them, and they were both part of every aspect of my life. Honestly, they were practically best friends, still getting together without me just to hang out. I could tell they still cared for one another, just not in the same way a husband and wife should love one another.

It wasn’t their divorce that was the problem for me. It was my dad’s two following marriages and the subsequent divorces that were my problem. At the time, it felt like he brought these women into my life without regard for the impact it would have on me. In the beginning, it was difficult to accept anyone but my mom. But I became close with them, only to have them disappear from my life after their divorce from my dad. As a teenager, still trying to figure out life and the world, the constant change was scary.

Of course, in hindsight, while my dad dated quite a few women, he only ever introduced me to the women he either married or seriously thought he would marry. And, when theyended, he always took the time to explain why things didn't work out, making me feel important—ensuring I always felt like a priority to him. Even with the new wives and the new children, he was always there, never missing a moment. Even the things I didn’t want him to witness, he was around for.

I bring my eyes back to her. “But that says more about me than it does him. He isn’t a perfect father, but he always tries his best.”

“It’s clear how much he loves you and your brothers. You can hear it in the way he talks about you and the glint in his eye when he looks at you.” Ava looks down at the table, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, a nervous habit I’ve seen from her a few times this evening. “I’ve only ever seen that from your dad and Scott.” She says that last part so quietly I’m not sure she meant for me to hear it.

“Ava—”

“No, can we forget I said that last part?” Before I can say anything, she’s sliding out of the booth and slipping into her coat. “I had a really good time this evening. Thank you for distracting me from everything else going on. Tell your dad thanks for dinner.” She turns, offering a wave in Walt and my dad’s direction before heading out the door.

I slide out of the booth, grabbing my coat and following her out the door. “I’ll see you both later!” I say, throwing a quick wave over my shoulder as a goodbye.

I’m shoving my arms into my sleeves as I step outside, looking all around for Ava. It only takes me a second to find her across the street, making her way through the center of town.

I jog across the street to catch up to her. “Did you walk here?” I ask a few strides behind her, not wanting to scare her.

She glances over her shoulder at me, stopping when she sees me jogging to catch up. “Yeah, Declan picked me up from the airport so I don’t have a car.”

“Let me give you a ride home,” I offer when I stop in front of her.

It's late, and the only places open are The Diner and Murphy's, making the streets relatively dark and quiet. It's also late November and pretty cold this evening. Something inside me doesn’t want Ava walking home in either of these conditions, even if it’s only a short walk away.

As if reading my mind, she says, “No, it’s okay. Declan’s house isn’t far.”

“I know, but it’s late and it’s cold. Ashford Falls may be a small town, and you might be safer here than most places in the country, but you still shouldn’t be walking alone.” I can tell she’s going to argue with me some more, so I continue before she can. “Declan’s house is just a few houses down from mine. It’s really not a problem for me to give you a ride.”

Sometimes I wonder if living in a small town is a good thing or not, but it does mean you know where most people live. And right now, I'm feeling pretty lucky this knowledge is in my favor.

“Okay. Thank you.”

“I thought you were going to make it harder than that.” I place my hand on the small of her back, guiding her back toward Murphy’s where my Jeep is parked.

“If it wasn’t so cold, I might have.”

We’re quiet on the walk to my Jeep and the drive to Declan’s. It’s not uncomfortable. More contemplative than anything else. I don’t know what Ava is thinking about, but I know I’m trying to figure out how to make sure I can see her again. This night went nothing like I thought it would, but it might have been one of the best nights I’ve had in a long time.

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