CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Aussie lay on his back in bed, staring at the ceiling as the clock ticked past one in the morning. Sleep was a distant hope as his mind was a relentless jumble of thoughts.
He couldn’t stop wondering about what was happening back home and whether the FBI had made any progress on tracking down Barrett or Chase. The uncertainty of that whole situation gnawed at him.
His thoughts then shifted to Ava and Christian, which was a welcome distraction. He smiled faintly, recalling how the three of them, along with his parents, had crowded around the living room, munching on Ava’s sugar cookies and sipping hot chocolate while sharing stories. They had ended the night watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas. For the first time in what felt like forever, he’d felt at peace.
But now, the silence of the night was deafening. He sighed as he tossed the covers back. If sleep wasn’t coming, he might as well get up. Padding softly down the hallway, he decided a cold glass of milk and a few of Ava’s cookies might help clear his restless mind.
He made his way downstairs, careful not to wake anyone. As he approached the kitchen, he noticed a strange soft glow coming from the back porch. Curious, he walked over to the sliding glass door and peered out.
He was shocked to see Ava sitting out there with her laptop open on the small table in front of her. The light from the screen illuminated her face.She seemed lost inthought as her eyes focused on the screen. He could see she had tension in her body, and his heart ached for her. He knew she was carrying so much weight on her shoulders. Bracing himself for the cold, he slid open the door and stepped outside. But instead of the chill he expected, he was greeted by a blast of heat coming from the outdoor heater.
Ava looked up, and when she saw him, a soft smile spread across her face. “Hey,” she said quietly, her voice breaking the silence of the night.
“Hey,” Aussie replied, his own smile mirroring hers. She looked comfortable in her flannel pajamas, thick socks, and her hair pulled back into a high ponytail. She looked perfect, and a fleeting image of them snuggled up on the outdoor couch flashed through his mind.
“Mind if I join you?” he asked, gesturing toward the empty chair beside her.
“Not at all,” Ava said, her smile widening as she closed her laptop. “Couldn’t sleep?”
He grinned, shaking his head. “Nope. My mind won’t shut off. You?”
She shrugged, her eyes darting back to the laptop for a moment. “Same. I figured catching up on some work might tire me out, but…” She trailed off, her expression softening as she looked at him. “It’s not really working.”
Aussie could see the exhaustion in her eyes, but he could also tell that something was bothering her. After a moment of silence, he decided to ask. “Everything okay?” he asked gently, his tone filled with concern.
Ava sighed. “My boss, Clint, is still being an ass.”
Aussie leaned back in the chair. “What did he do now?”
“He is blowing up my email and phone with text messages, asking about things. I mean, Jesus, it’s not like I’m the only person who works there.”
Aussie reached over and took her hand in his. “I’m sorry. I can beat him up for you when we get back,” he teased.
Ava chuckled. “I wish it was that easy. I just don’t understand the man. One day, he acts like he hates his job and doesn’t want to be there. But then the next day, he’s up everyone’s asses micromanaging them.”
Aussie wasn’t sure what to say. “Well, don’t let him get you down. I’m not familiar with how the foster system works, but are there other agencies you could look into to work for?”
She shook her head. “No. Not unless I go out of the area.”
Well, he didn’t want her to do that.
“Well, I just hate seeing your beautiful smile disappear.”
She blushed, and Aussie couldn’t help but smile at how adorable she looked.
Ava turned her gaze to the snow-covered fields and woods beyond the porch. “It’s beautiful out here,” she said softly.
He followed her gaze, taking in the serene winter landscape. “Yeah, it is,” he agreed, then added, “My sisters and I used to play out in those woods when we were younger. We’d spend hours out there, especially after a fresh snowfall like this.”
Ava smiled, her eyes still on the woods. “That must’ve been nice, growing up in a big family.”
Aussie knew she didn’t have the best childhood, having been an orphan since birth. She had nobody, and he understood why she went on to be a social worker, helping others who were in the same position she was in back then. He admired her for that more than she probably realized.
She seemed lost in thought for a moment before she spoke again, her voice quiet. “When I was younger, during Christmas, I used to sneak out of my foster family’s home late at night to walk into town and see all the Christmas lights. There was something magical about it, you know? No traffic, no people, just me and the lights.” She smiled wistfully. “I’d walk up and down Main Street, then sit on the bench in the town square, taking it all in and wishing I had a family to share it with. After a few hours, I’d sneak back home and crawl into bed, hoping no one noticed I was gone.”
Aussie listened intently, feeling a pang of sadness for the little girl she had been walking alone through the town, yearning for something as simple as a family. But as she spoke, an idea began to form in his mind. Without saying a word, he stood up and extended his hand to her.
“Come with me,” he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Ava looked surprised, but after a moment’s hesitation, she took his hand, leaving her laptop behind. He led her inside, through the house, and into the garage. She followed silently, but he could tell by the look on her face that she was confused and maybe a little intrigued. He grabbed his truck keys off the key hook in the kitchen. Once they were in the garage, he handed her her winter coat and duck boots.
Now she was really giving him a strange look, and Aussie couldn’t help but chuckle. “Trust me,” he said with a grin.
She nodded, slipping on her coat and boots, though the curiosity in her eyes didn’t fade. He grabbed a sweatshirt he saw on the washing machine and threw it on before slipping into his coat and boots. Once they were both bundled up, he led her outside to his truck.
He helped her up into the truck before hurrying around the driver's side. Once inside, he started up the truck and turned the heat on to a full blast.
“Where are we going?” She asked, giving him an amused look.
“It’s a surprise,” he replied as he looked for something he could use to blindfold her.
He smiled when he spotted a pack of bandanas that he had bought the other day. He reached into the back and got one.
Aussie held up a black bandana with a mischievous grin. “Alright, put this on. And no peeking.”
Ava raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. “Blindfolds, huh? This feels very Fifty Shades , Aussie.”
He chuckled, shaking his head. “Trust me, if I were going for that vibe, we wouldn’t be leaving the house. I’d be taking you to the basement.”
Her cheeks flushed, and she swatted his arm. “You’re impossible.”
He winked, leaning closer. “Relax, it’s just a surprise. I promise it isn’t anything bad.”
She sighed softly. “Alright,” she grumbled. But Aussie could see the faint smile on her lips.
Once she was blindfolded, Aussie put the truck in gear and drove towards town.
The short drive was done in a comfortable silence. When he reached the downtown area of their town, he pulled into a parking spot.
“Don’t take it off yet,” he told her as he got out of the truck and walked around to her side.
He opened the door and then carefully helped her down. He took her hand and started guiding her down the sidewalk.
“Aussie, where are we?” she asked.
“We’re almost there,” he told her. God, he hoped she liked this.
Once he had her in the spot he wanted her in, he untied the blindfold and let it fall.
When he heard her gasp, he knew she loved it.
Aussie glanced over at her and saw tears welling up in her eyes as she stared at the town’s little Main Street, all decorated and lit up, with not a soul in sight. It was exactly how she had described it. It was magical, quiet, and beautiful.
He chuckled softly, leading her down to the town square, where a few benches were scattered around. They sat down, and Ava took it all in, her eyes wide with wonder. “It’s amazing,” she whispered. “It feels just like it did all those years ago, except this time, I’m not alone. I have someone to share it with.”
She looked at him, her eyes shining with gratitude, and Aussie felt his heart swell. “Thank you,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. She leaned in and pecked his lips.
When she pulled back, she was smiling, and he couldn’t help but smile back.
“Can I tell you my whole story, especially about the woman who saved me?”
Aussie felt his chest tightened. He knew that Ava kept her personal life very close to herself. She shared a few things from her past, but she never went into detail. And he never tried to pry. He knew that when she was ready to tell him, then she would.
He smiled as he brushed a strand of hair from her face. “I love to hear it.”
For the next two hours, they sat on the bench, snuggled together, watching the lights twinkle in the night as Ava told him her story. It was a moment that he would cherish and never forget.