CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Ava yawned as she checked the time. It was just a little after six in the evening. The drive to Aussie’s parent’s house took a lot longer than they expected it to. When they left yesterday, they had driven for about two hours when they found out that the major highway on their route was completely shut down due to a major multi-car accident, and it wasn’t expected to open back up for several hours. So, instead of sitting in standstill traffic, they decided to find a hotel and just hunker down for the night.
They got an early start in the morning, and after they had breakfast at the hotel, they were on the road by eight.
Ava sat quietly in the truck, her gaze drifting out the window as they neared Aussie’s parents’ house. The farmland that stretched for miles was dotted with weathered barns and grazing cattle. The golden light of the fading sun bathed the fields, giving the scene an almost ethereal glow. It was so peaceful, so untouched, that for a moment, Ava allowed herself to forget the chaos back in Virginia Beach. Here, it felt like time itself had slowed down, offering a rare glimpse of serenity.
“Here we are,” Aussie announced as he turned the truck on the main road and onto a driveway.
As the truck rumbled down the long gravel driveway, Ava stared out the window, her breath catching at the sight ahead. The farmhouse that stood there was massive, with pristine white siding, dark green shutters, and a wraparound porch decorated with twinkling Christmas lights. Garlands hung from the railings, and a towering Christmas tree glimmered through one of the large front windows. Beyond the house stretched acres of rolling land with barns and a large paddock where a few horses grazed peacefully.
Christian let out a low whistle from the back seat. “This place is huge.”
Ava couldn’t help but smile. “It’s beautiful,” she agreed, her eyes lingering on the snow-covered fields. The entire scene looked like something out of a holiday movie.
“You have horses?” Christian asked eagerly.
“Yup,” Aussie replied, pulling the truck to a stop in front of the porch. “Plenty of them. And yes, you can ride one.”
Christian grinned as if Aussie had just handed him the best Christmas present ever.
Ava’s gaze shifted to the couple waiting on the porch. Aussie’s parents stood side by side, bundled in warm coats. Their faces were lit with welcoming smiles. His mom was petite, with short-cropped gray hair. His dad was tall and broad-shouldered. His weathered features were softened by the warmth in his eyes.
As soon as Aussie killed the engine, they walked down the steps to meet them.
“Aussie!” his mom called, her voice brimming with joy. “It’s about time you got here!”
“Hey, Mom, Dad,” Aussie said, stepping out of the truck. He came around to open Ava’s door and help her down. He then gestured toward her and Christian. “This is Ava and Christian.”
Ava barely had time to extend her hand before Aussie’s mom pulled her into a hug. “It’s so good to meet you, Ava,” she said warmly. “Welcome to our home.”
“Thank you,” Ava replied, slightly startled but smiling.
Meanwhile, Aussie’s dad bent slightly to meet Christian’s eye level. “You must be Christian. I see you eyeing the horses. Do you like to ride?”
“I never rode before, but Aussie said I could ride one here,” Christian said, his voice laced with excitement.
“You sure can. We have plenty to pick from,” Aussie’s dad said. “How about tomorrow you and I go out for a ride?”
Christian’s eyes lit up. “Seriously?”
“Absolutely!”
Christian looked at Ava. “Is it okay if I go riding tomorrow?”
Ava smiled. “I don’t see why not.” She glanced at Aussie to see if he had any objections. But Aussie just grinned.
“I think it’s a great idea. My dad knows all the trails back in the woods. You’ll have a good time,” Aussie told Christian.
“Come on inside,” Aussie’s mom said, wrapping an arm around Ava as they walked toward the house. “You’ve had a long trip, and I’ve got some dinner on the stove.”
As Ava stepped inside, she was left speechless. The inside of the house was just as stunning as the outside. The living room boasted high ceilings with exposed wooden beams, a crackling stone fireplace, and cozy furniture adorned with plaid throws. A staircase wound its way up to the second floor, where Ava spotted several doors leading to what she assumed were the bedrooms. Not to mention, the whole house was decorated for Christmas with traditional décor of pine garlands and red bows that matched the red poinsettias placed all around the house.
“Why don’t you three go upstairs and get settled? Dinner should be ready in about twenty minutes.”
“Speaking of dinner. What are you making?” Aussie asked, his nose lifting into the air.
His mom smiled. “Your favorite.”
“Baked pork chops with that garlic rub?” He asked.
“Yep. And roasted potatoes and steamed cabbage.”
Aussie kissed his mom’s cheek. “You’re the best,” he told her, and she laughed.
Watching Aussie and his mom melted Ava’s heart. They looked so happy together.
“Alright, you three get going. Remember dinner in twenty.”
Aussie looked at Ava. “I’ll show you where you’ll be staying,” he said, picking up the bags and leading the way upstairs. Ava and Christian followed, their footsteps muffled by the plush runner on the stairs.
When they got to the second floor, they went left down the hallway. Aussie stopped in front of two doors. “Ava, this is your room,” he said, opening the door to reveal a cozy space with a queen-sized bed, a dresser, and a window overlooking the fields. He turned to Christian. “And you’re right across the hall. You each have your own bathrooms.”
Christian darted inside to explore his room, which was just as inviting, complete with a twin bed and a small desk by the window. Both rooms even had a fully decorated Christmas tree.
Ava looked at Aussie. “Where is your room?”
He grinned and pointed two doors down from hers. “I’m right there. Don’t worry, I’m close by.” He winked, and she felt herself blush. “Go and get settled. I’ll grab you guys in a few minutes.”
As Aussie headed to his room and went inside, Christian came out of his room and followed Ava into hers.
“This place is amazing,” Christian said.
Ava nodded in agreement. “It is.”
“I like Aussie’s parents already,” he told her, and Ava smiled.
“They do seem like wonderful people.”
Christian then turned toward Ava. “Are you really okay with spending Christmas here?” he asked her.
Ava cupped his face, her heart swelling at the concern in his eyes. “It doesn’t matter where we spend Christmas, Christian. What matters is that we spend it together.”
Christian nodded, his expression softening. “I really like Aussie,” he said after a moment.
Ava smiled. “I do, too.”
“I wish I could have a dad like him,” Christian said quietly. “And a mom like you.”
Ava’s chest tightened, her emotions tangling between heartbreak and hope. “Christian,” she began, but he was already pulling away and going back to his room.
His words lingered with her, though, sparking a thought. Could she adopt Christian on her own? Would Judge Holten think she had a chance? Maybe in a few days, she’d call and ask. For now, she wanted to focus on making sure Christian felt safe and loved.
A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. Aussie poked his head in. “You ready to head down?” he asked.
Christian shot out of his room and past Ava, already racing down the stairs. Ava smiled and walked to Aussie, who lingered in the doorway.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
“For what?”
“For everything. For bringing us here, for caring. For being you.”
Aussie stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her waist. Her hands went to his chest. “Ava, you don’t ever have to thank me for doing something for you or Christian. You both may not realize it yet, but in the short time that we’ve known each other, you two have come to mean a great deal to me.”
The sincerity in his voice made her chest ache in the best way. She nodded, not trusting herself to speak right at that moment. Instead, she lifted up on her tiptoes and kissed him softly.
“You mean the world to Christian and I, too,” she whispered against his lips.
He grinned, took her hand in his, and led her toward the stairs.
As they descended the staircase, the aroma of baked pork chops and freshly baked bread grew stronger with each step.
Ava trailed slightly behind Aussie, feeling an odd mix of nervousness and warmth. She wasn’t used to such cozy family dinners.
As they entered the kitchen, the sound of laughter greeted them. Christian was already seated at the table, leaning forward, talking with Aussie’s dad about their plans for the horseback riding trip they had scheduled for the next day.
Ava smiled as she and Aussie pulled out chairs at the table. She sat beside Christian, who gave her a quick grin before diving back into his conversation. The table was adorned with a hearty spread. There were seasoned pork chops, roasted potatoes, steamed cabbage, and a basket of freshly baked rolls.
“This looks amazing,” Ava said sincerely.
“Thank you, dear,” Aussie’s mom replied, beaming as everyone echoed Ava’s compliment.
As the meal began, Aussie turned to his mom. “When are Angie, Rachel, and Wren getting here?”
Aussie’s mom’s smile dimmed slightly. “They’re not coming this year, sweetheart. They’re spending the holiday with their spouses’ families.”
Aussie’s brow furrowed. “What? Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“I thought I did. That’s why I was so thrilled when you said you’d be here. Your sisters and I agreed to pick a weekend after the holiday for us all to get together. It’ll be like a second Christmas.”
Aussie leaned back in his chair, still processing, but nodded. “Alright, fair enough.”
Dinner moved on with lively conversation. The warmth in the room was palpable, and Ava found herself enjoying the easy dynamic of Aussie’s family. When Aussie’s mom brought the dessert to the table, Ava couldn’t help but marvel at it. It was a double fudge chocolate cake, and on the side, she had vanilla bean ice cream to go with it.
“This is incredible,” Ava said, savoring a bite.”
“Thank you, Ava. I’m so glad you like it.”
As the table settled into a post-dessert lull, Aussie’s mom turned her attention to Ava. “Ava, dear, tell me about your family. Do they live nearby?”
Ava barely had time to process the question before Aussie interjected, his voice firm but gentle. “Mom, that’s not really—”
“It’s okay,” Ava interrupted softly, placing her hand on Aussie’s arm. She gave him a small, reassuring smile. “I don’t mind.”
Aussie hesitated but nodded, his concern evident. Ava turned back to his parents. “I grew up in foster care. My childhood wasn’t the easiest. Most of my foster homes weren’t great, and I wasn’t treated well. But when I was seventeen, I met Evelyn. She’s the one who finally saw me for who I was. She took me in, gave me a home, and believed in me when no one else did.”
Aussie’s mom’s eyes glistened with emotion. “She sounds like an incredible woman.”
“She was,” Ava agreed, her voice filled with gratitude. “She’s the reason I got into social work. I wanted to help kids the way she helped me.”
“That’s admirable, Ava,” Aussie’s dad said. “Taking Christian in, too, shows just how much heart you have.”
Ava felt her cheeks warm under their praise. “Thank you.”
As the evening wound down, Ava found herself stealing glances at Aussie and his parents. Their easy banter, the genuine care they showed one another was a dynamic she’d never experienced firsthand but always longed for.
As they left the table, Ava couldn’t help but think how nice it would be to have a family like Aussie’s. A place where warmth and laughter were constants, and love wasn’t something you had to earn.