Page 23 of The Charming Checklist
And in her family, one was never too young for anything, unless it involved being free to make your own decisions.
There was, of course, no cake or dessert. Not with two cardiologists at the dinner table. No singing, either, because that might call too much attention to them. It was also considered rather vulgar in her family. They did have the annual champagne toast to Ava.
Afterward, Ava got pulled into a rare hug from Mom as they all waited for their respective cars by the valet. “Honey, he’s wonderful. Andsohandsome.”
When the valet parked Max’s convertible, silver with a black top, it drew admiring glances from the men. All doctors, they really loved their cars, and they were often clean enough to perform surgery on the seats. Well, she was exaggerating. A little.
“She’s a beauty,” Dad said, admiring Max’s car. “Ava, how’s the Beamer running these days?”
Max flashed her a look, half confusion, and half curiosity. He knew that she drove around town in an economical sedan. Her father had gifted Ava the BMW on her birthday two years ago, worried about her safety in anything below rigid German standards. At least, that’s what she told herself, and not that he wanted her to drive a status symbol.
“Great...just great.” She blew a kiss to her father as Max held the passenger door open for her and she slipped inside.
A moment later, Max joined her, buckling his seat belt and sliding her a smirk. “BMW?”
“Don’t ask.”
Max wasgoingto ask. There were a few things disturbing him about tonight’s dinner and the BMW was the least of them, but a good place for him to start. He took off, cruising easily onto the road, and stopping at a red light where he could give her his full attention.
“Where’s the Beamer, Ava?”
“How do you know I’m not storing it in a garage somewhere?”
“And driving a Honda instead? What’s the point?”
She sat next to him, hands folded on her lap, looking as un-Ava-like as he’d ever seen her. It killed him. The dress she’d worn tonight, gorgeous though it made her look, was understated. A little plain for Ava, who loved bright colors and sometimes wore every one of them at the same time.
“Max, you have to understand. My father cares about me, and the only way he can express that is to make sure that I’m driving a reliable car.”
“Okay, that makes sense. And whydon’tyou drive it?”
She sighed. “It’s a very expensive car.”
“I’m aware.” The light changed and he shifted gears. “And where is it?”
“What’s the fascination with my car?”
He didn’t know, exactly, but realized he’d rubbed on a raw and exposed nerve and wanted to understand. Normally, he’d write this off as unimportant. Insignificant. But all night, he’d been tuned in to Ava. Supporting, understanding. Playing the part of the dutiful boyfriend, and quite well if he said so himself. Now he wanted a few answers.
“Fine! I sold it. Traded it in for something reliable but inexpensive. The extra money went into my business slush fund.”
“You’ve been saving.”
He admired that. Most children of well-to-do families didn’t know how to save since they’d never had to be frugal.
“For years. I mean this, Max. I want to be an entrepreneur. I want to call the shots, make my own way. When I work hard, which I always do, I want the results to be mine. My baby. I want the pride of knowing I did this all myself and I want to give back to the community, too. I’ve never wanted to work for anybody else.”
It sounded a lot like his own beginning.
But several things had bothered him tonight. He’d never been to dinner with a family so unlike his own loud, large, demonstrative one. But rather than the relief he wanted to feel, the whole evening left him feeling a little cold inside. He couldn’t imagine what it had done to Ava to get what he assumed werechecksfor her birthday. It made him want to run out and get her a sentimental gift.
It had also made him wonder if this was what he had to look forward to in his own future. Because families shouldn’t be the place where one crowed about achievements. It was one thing to celebrate milestones but quite another to make love conditional on them. And he couldn’t shake the feeling that Ava had never really been loved the way she should have been. Unconditionally and without expectations.
This was one area where his own large family had truly excelled. Max’s achievements weren’t accomplished to gain the love and acceptance of his family. He’d worked hard all his life to make sure the rest of the world saw him the same way that his family did.
“What are you doing the rest of the evening?”
“You can just take me home.” She turned to him, the hint of a smile on her full pink lips. “And thank you. I know you probably don’t realize it, but you really impressed my family tonight. The criticism, believe it or not, was minimal for a change. They were distracted by you.”
