Chapter 17 #2
Over the past few days, he’d examined all the hurts he’d been harboring.
Letting them go one by one had left him feeling light and free.
Sure, he had a way to go, but he was trusting God to help him through.
He’d typed and deleted a baker’s dozen text replies to Ava, but couldn’t bring himself to send any of them.
Looking her in the eye as they talked things through would be so much better.
He looked around the room. Mia had promised to bring Ava to the bungalow and then make an excuse to leave. Everything was set up. The empty front room waited for her.
He heard chatter outside and then the front door opened.
“I’ll let you take a look around,” Mia said. “I’ll be just outside.”
Ava stopped in the doorway. “Zach?” She took a half step forward. Stopped again. She opened her mouth, then shut it again and shook her head. “What are you doing here?”
“I asked Mia if I could show you around,” Zach said. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“No. I mean, what are you doing on island? Shouldn’t you be back in Chicago?”
Zach ached to pull her into his arms. But he didn’t have that right. Not until he explained. Maybe not even then. “I did go back for a while, but Chef Louie let me go. They’re looking for a chef to run the kitchen at the Grand, and I came to interview. I’m thinking about moving back here.”
Ava’s eyes widened but remained unreadable. “Zach, that’s amazing. It’s like your dream come true.”
“It really is.” Zach took a deep breath. “I’m still thinking about it. Praying about it, really. I’m trying to make decisions with God’s help these days.”
“I get that.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I couldn’t believe it when I found out you were moving here. All this time, I assumed you were finding a new place in Chicago.”
Ava laughed. “I guess I never told you I was looking here. It makes sense you assumed Chicago.”
“Is it okay that I’m here?” He held his breath.
“Yes. I’ve wanted to talk to you, but things got crazy after my articles were published.” Ava came into the room.
“I’ll just tell Mia that I can lock up.” He leaned out the door. Mia stood at the bottom of the porch steps. He gave her a salute.
“I’ll take off,” she said. “Good luck.”
Ava cooed over several details of the house. “Everything looks even better in person than it did in the emails Mia sent me.”
“Here’s the best part.” He led her into the airy kitchen at the back of the house.
A long counter ran along the back wall with a large window over the sink facing out to the backyard.
The wood flooring warmed the room. White cabinets and gray slate countertops lent an air of modern charm to the space.
The homeowners had installed an oversized range featuring six burners and a double oven, one of which was a convection oven.
“There’s a big pantry behind the door over there. ”
“It smells good in here.”
The twin scents of garlic and oregano filled the air.
A timer beeped on the stove. He went to it and pulled out a pan of lasagna.
He placed it on the stovetop to rest. “I’ll just put the garlic bread in.
We can eat in a few minutes.” He slid the loaf of bread wrapped in tinfoil into the oven.
“I thought maybe you’d be hungry after your trip over here. ”
She put one hand on her hip. “Did you just bake something in someone else’s oven?”
“Small town, remember? I grew up with the kid who used to live here. His mom came to my cooking class last week, so I called in a favor.” He lifted a shoulder. “I’m learning to embrace that small-town life.”
He opened the pantry and took out a basket he’d tucked in there on his arrival. “Plates and silverware.”
“Zach. What is going on?” A small crease showed between her eyebrows. “What is all this?”
“I know we got started on the wrong foot. Maybe several wrong feet. Our whole relationship was lumpy.” He swallowed against a sudden dryness in his throat.
What if she didn’t want to forgive him? “I’m so sorry for the way I’ve acted.
” He met her gaze. “I should never have accused you. I’ve been learning a lot about myself these past few weeks.
Like how I blame other people for my problems instead of acknowledging my own faults. ”
“I’ve been learning a lot too. I let you down at the competition, something that was important to you.
I put my own goals first.” She walked over to him.
“I’m sorry for reacting instead of listening.
” She took a deep breath and then released it slowly.
“I forgive you. We both messed up, but I wanted to find you and try to start again.” Ava put a hand on his chest. She turned her face up to him, a vulnerability shining from her eyes.
“To see if there really is a chance for us.”
“Can we start over?” He put a hand over hers. “I think we have the right ingredients to make this thing between us work. Maybe we can bake something more.”
“A recipe for forever?” She smiled, her face lighting with pleasure. “I’d like that. Even if those were some of the cheesiest lines I’ve ever heard.”
He extended his arms toward her, and she, without hesitation, moved closer into his embrace. Holding Ava felt natural, a comforting warmth spreading through him, a sense of belonging he’d never known before.
“Good thing I like cheese,” she murmured into his chest.
He laughed as she nestled closer to him.
She tipped her head up to look at him. His heart rate ramped up several notches.
Rising up on her toes, she pressed her lips to his.
Kissing Ava felt like coming home. It didn’t matter where he lived or what he did, he wanted this woman in his life for all of it.
His eyes slid closed.
“Zach.” Her lips moved against his.
“Hmm.” He slid his hand up to her neck, not willing to break contact.
“I think you’re burning my house down.”
He pulled abruptly away, heart crashing to his knees. Smoke billowed from the oven.
Ava ran to open a window, and he waved a towel at the oven. He pulled out the smoldering loaf of garlic bread, dashed to the back door, and threw the whole thing on the patio.
The fire alarm began blaring. Ava waved at it until it stopped, then they collapsed into laughter on the floor. Ava tucked her head onto his chest.
“I’m afraid you’re going to be bad for my reputation as a chef,” he said into her hair. “I seem to burn everything when you’re around.”
“We still have the lasagna.”
“I hope you like floor picnics.” Zach stood. “My influence didn’t extend to them leaving a kitchen table behind.”
“I’ll eat lasagna anywhere.” Ava stood and took a forkful of lasagna straight from the pan. “This is amazing.” She nudged his shoulder with hers. “Too bad there’s no garlic bread.”
“Watch it, woman.” He dug in his pocket and brought out a wrinkled piece of paper. “I wrote something for you.”
Ava straightened. “For me?”
“It’s a review.”
She reached for the paper, but he held it out of her reach.
“I’ll read it to you.” He cleared his throat. “‘Ava Harper is new to the Jonathon Island scene. Some readers may remember her from the cooking fiasco she participated in with Island golden boy, Zachary Sullivan.’”
“I don’t think I like where this is going,” Ava said.
“Just give it a minute, it gets better.” Zach pretended to look for his spot on the page.
“Here. ‘Turns out, losing that contest was in no way Ava’s fault. In fact, none of the things Zach accused her of were true. This reporter spoke to Zach, and he says he regrets his actions from that day and others. In this reporter’s opinion, Ava Harper would make an A-plus resident of Jonathon Island.
She is smart, funny, kind, and beautiful.
Five out of five stars. Completely recommend. ’”
Ava laughed. “Thank you for the review. You’ll have to expand on what you mean about it not being my fault, but first, I wanted to say that I want to have you in my life.”
“I want you too.” He pulled her closer.
In that moment, it became clear what he should do. He would move back home to Jonathon Island. A place where all his dreams could come true.