CHAPTER TWELVE
The following day, Aussie took Christian to the shooting range. Aussie stood beside Christian, nodding as he examined the teen’s posture as he got into position, aiming the rifle downrange.
They’d been there for a while, and Christian was a fast learner, picking up on Aussie’s instructions with the determination of someone who wanted to do well. But Aussie knew the kid had a ways to go before he was truly comfortable with the weapon.
“Alright,” Aussie said, moving closer and resting his hand lightly on Christian’s shoulder. “Remember, keep your feet shoulder-width apart. You want a solid stance, or that recoil’s gonna mess with your aim.” He gave a short, approving nod as Christian followed his direction. “Good. Now, keep that grip firm, but don’t choke it. Nice and steady, yeah?”
Christian nodded, adjusting his grip and aiming down the sights with concentration. He fired a few rounds, and Aussie could see he was improving, the shots landing closer to the center.
“Much better,” Aussie said, a hint of pride in his tone. “You’ve got good instincts. Just a little more practice, and you’ll be grouping shots like a pro.”
Christian smiled, clearly pleased with the compliment, but his expression shifted as he lowered the weapon and glanced over at Aussie. “Do you like Ava?” he asked, trying to keep his tone casual.
The question caught Aussie a bit off guard, but took it in stride, smiling slightly. “Of course, I like her. Who wouldn’t? he replied.”
Christian looked thoughtful. “No. I mean, really like her.”
Aussie felt his chest tighten a bit, wondering where Christian was going with the line of questioning.
Yeah,” he admitted, his voice low and sincere. “I do. Ava has got something rare about her. She’s strong, smart, and she’s got this heart that doesn’t quit.” He paused, feeling his words. “I’d like to get to know her more. I think she’s someone that anyone would be lucky to have in their life, you know?”
Christian looked down, the toe of his shoe scuffing against the ground as he absorbed Aussie’s words. “I do know,” he murmured, and there was a soft vulnerability in his tone that didn’t go unnoticed.
Aussie noticed Christian’s gaze drift toward the target as he hesitated before speaking again. “I know she’s good to you,” Aussie said quietly. “You care about her, don’t you?”
Christian shrugged, his face betraying emotions he was trying to suppress. “Yeah. I guess more than anyone else I’ve known.” He hesitated, then continued, “She’s the first grown-up who actually believes in me. Listens to me, you know? Not just to tell me what I’m doing wrong but to really hear me.”
Aussie’s heart ached as he listened. He’d suspected Christian’s life hadn’t been easy, but hearing him talk about Ava like that made it clear just how much she meant to him. He kept his tone gentle as he spoke. “Sounds like she’s made a big difference for you.”
“Yeah,” Christian said, his voice barely above a whisper. “But she’s just keeping me for the holidays, Aussie. After that, I’ll be put back in the system. I don’t even know where I’ll end up. I care for Ava so much. She’s like my real parent. But I’m scared to get attached, knowing that in a few weeks, it will all be gone.”
Aussie watched him, seeing the fear and uncertainty in his eyes, and he felt a pang of protectiveness for the kid. “That’s tough. And it makes sense to feel that way. But don’t sell yourself short. Ava wouldn’t have taken you in if she didn’t care about you, and she’s the kind of person who sticks with people she cares about.”
Christian took a deep breath, glancing over at Aussie. “I just… I just wish I could stay with her. It’s like, for the first time, I feel like someone’s giving me a shot. Like she sees something in me that no one else bothered to look for.”
Aussie’s heart felt heavier with each word Christian said, understanding how deeply he was affected by the fear of losing the one steady, caring presence he’d known. He reached over, resting a reassuring hand on Christian’s shoulder. “Ava sees a lot in you, Christian. And from where I’m standing, you’re someone worth sticking around for.”
Christian looked at him, searching his face for something that reassured him, something that made him feel less alone.
Aussie’s phone buzzed, and he pulled it from his pocket to see a message from Ava.
Ava: Hey, what time are you bringing Christian home? There’s no rush. I just need to run a few errands and wanted to make sure I’d be back when you got here.
He smiled, typing back.
Aussie: We’ll be about two more hours.
Putting his phone away, he turned back to Christian with a warm smile. “No hurry to head back just yet. How about we put in a bit more practice, yeah?”
Christian’s face lit up, and he nodded, lifting the gun again as Aussie continued guiding him. As they went through the movements, Aussie felt a deep respect for the kid’s resilience, and he knew he’d do everything in his power to help Christian find the stability he deserved.
◆◆◆
Ava stepped back from the living room, her hands on her hips as she admired her work. She had just finished setting up a beautiful artificial Christmas tree, strung with lots of twinkling lights, and was now just waiting for ornaments.
Piles of other decorations sat nearby—garlands, stockings, and all the festive touches she’d planned for weeks. She’d even found some small, battery-operated snow globes for Christian to place around the house. This was going to be his best Christmas ever, and she was determined to make every moment count.
She thought back to earlier when she’d gone to put Christian’s laundry away in his room. She had stumbled upon a crumpled piece of notebook paper lying on his nightstand. Curious, she had picked it up and smoothed it out, only to find the title “What I Want for Christmas” scrawled at the top. Her heart twisted as she read the first item on the list: a family to love me like Ava does . She’d sat on his bed, clutching that piece of paper, feeling the weight of what that simple line meant. She would give anything to adopt him, but she knew the courts were hesitant to approve single parents. Not that it hasn’t happened. It’s just hard.
The list had a few other items, mostly essentials: clothes, some new shoes, and school supplies. A laptop was on the list, too. Just thinking about how much she cared for him, Ava felt a surge of protectiveness. This holiday was going to be perfect for Christian, no matter what.
About an hour later, she was stirring a pot on the stove when she heard the front door open, and her heart skipped a beat as Aussie and Christian walked in.
Dinner was nearly ready. She’d prepared lemon rosemary chicken, buttery mashed potatoes, and roasted asparagus. She glanced up just as Aussie walked over, his eyes lighting up at the sight of her, and to her surprise, he leaned in, kissing her cheek.
Ava’s cheeks warmed, but she quickly smiled, noticing Christian watching them with a huge grin. “So, how was the range?” she asked, her voice slightly higher than usual.
Christian launched into a lively explanation, describing everything from how Aussie had taught him to adjust his stance to how he’d hit a bullseye near the end of practice. Ava listened, joy filling her at seeing him so happy. When he finally paused, she glanced over at Aussie, feeling a quiet gratitude.
“Dinner smells amazing,” Aussie commented, and before she could second-guess herself, she invited him to stay.
“Are you sure?” he asked, his eyes meeting hers with a warm glint.
“Yes, of course. I’d love for you to stay,” she said, and Christian’s eyes lit up with excitement.
As they all sat down to eat, Ava could hardly contain her excitement for what she had planned next. As they finished the meal, she got up and motioned toward the living room. “Christian, I have a little surprise for you,” she said.
Christian looked over, his mouth falling open when he saw the tree and all the decorations. “You got a tree?” he asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
Ava chuckled. “I did.”
“Can we decorate it tonight?” he asked, moving toward all the shopping bags filled with ornaments.
“Of course, we’re going to decorate it tonight.”
He grinned from ear to ear and then turned to Aussie. “Will you stay and help?”
Ava’s heart raced as Aussie looked from Christian to her. She gave him an encouraging smile, silently hoping he’d say yes.
“Absolutely,” Aussie replied, his face breaking into a smile. “I’d love to.”
◆◆◆
Aussie couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so relaxed and at home. Sitting down for dinner with Ava and Christian, a warm meal on the table, and laughter filling the air made Aussie feel like he’d walked into a moment he hadn’t known he’d been missing.
Watching Christian’s animated grin as he talked about the shooting range and Ava’s gentle smile as she listened, Aussie found himself thinking about the future, about the possibility of something more permanent with them. He couldn’t imagine his life without Christian or Ava. Somehow, those two had woven themselves into his heart. He knew it wasn’t exactly wise to get attached, but he was already too far gone.
“Will you stay and help us decorate?” Christian asked, his face bright with hope as he glanced from Aussie to Ava.
Aussie’s heart did a little flip. “Absolutely. I’d love to,” he said, unable to stop the grin that spread across his face. “I don’t get to decorate much anymore.”
For the next two hours, they transformed Ava’s house into a holiday wonderland. The tree sparkled with strings of multi-colored lights, and Aussie found himself placing ornaments on the tree with Christian, letting him take the lead in deciding where everything should go.
Ava joined in, laughing as she hung garlands over doorways. Every so often, Aussie and Ava would catch each other’s eye across the room, a shared look that said more than words could. His heart felt lighter with every stolen glance, every moment they shared.
Christian, meanwhile, was having the time of his life. Aussie watched him carefully position every ornament, making sure each one was just right. He’d never seen the kid so happy.
Ava had given him the freedom to take charge of the decorations, and Christian took that responsibility to heart, beaming with every choice he made. Watching him filled Aussie’s heart with both joy and a pang of sadness. He wanted Christian to have the stability of a real home and family. And he knew the perfect person who could provide that for him—Ava.
Eventually, the decorations were finished, and the room glowed with the lights from the tree. The house looked warm and welcoming, a perfect holiday scene. As they stood back, admiring their work, Christian’s phone buzzed. He glanced down, his eyes lighting up.
“It’s Katy,” he murmured, then disappeared into his room, phone pressed to his ear.
Aussie smirked, remembering the little tidbits Christian had mentioned about Katy. “Think she might be his girlfriend?” he said aloud, glancing at Ava.
Ava chuckled softly. “He says they’re just friends, but who knows with teenagers?” She turned her warm gaze on him. “Thank you for staying tonight. It meant a lot to him. And to me.”
Aussie’s chest tightened as he followed her to the door, then out to his truck, feeling the chill of the evening air. She looked up at him, her eyes reflecting the twinkling lights from the house. “Thank you for inviting me,” he said, his voice sincere. “I had a lot of fun. And I enjoyed spending time with Christian earlier at the range. He’s a great kid, Ava. You’ve done so much for him already.”
Ava’s face softened a hint of sadness in her expression. “I’m just trying to take it day by day, to make this the best holiday he’s had. I know he’s worried about what happens after Christmas.”
Aussie’s heart clenched at the thought. “He told me that earlier,” he admitted. “He’s afraid of losing this…of losing you. I can tell how much you care about him, too. It’s not just him who’s worried, is it?”
Ava looked away for a moment, gathering herself. “I’d love to adopt him and be his mom for good. But I know how the courts can be. It’s hard for single parents to get approval.” She paused, her voice catching. “But I want him to feel loved, even if it’s only for now.”
He reached for her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “If there’s anything I can do, Ava, anything at all, I’m here. I want to see both of you happy. You and Christian mean a lot to me.”
Ava’s eyes met his, filled with gratitude and something more. He took a step forward and pulled her into a warm hug, feeling the way she relaxed in his arms. After a moment, he gently pulled back, his hands lingering on her shoulders. “I really care about you, Ava. I don’t want to rush anything, but how do you feel about us?”
Her cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn’t look away. “I like you, Aussie,” she admitted softly. “And I’d like to see where things could go between us.”
A warm smile spread across his face, and he slowly leaned in, brushing his lips over hers. It was a gentle, unhurried kiss, tender and full of promise as if they had all the time in the world. When they finally pulled apart, Aussie took a deep breath, a soft smile lingering on his lips.
“I’ll talk to you soon,” he said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze before climbing into his truck.
As he drove away, he glanced in the rearview mirror, watching her standing there until she was just a figure silhouetted by the light from her porch. He felt a surge of hope that maybe Ava could be the one to make him settle down.