Chapter 21 #2
Eleanor nods, smiling. “Yes. Your mother so wanted to be around to see you all grow up, Marius. I’ve always felt it was incredibly cruel to let her see you five get so far and then rob her of watching you grow into men.
When it came to you, she made me promise that I’d make sure you didn’t get lost in the shuffle.
You were always the one who kept so much to yourself, and in a group of five, that can mean being forgotten.
Your mother knew what that was like because she was like that. ”
Hearing that stuns me. In my memories, my mother is always sweet and kind and completely open.
“I don’t remember that.”
“That’s because you only saw her as she had to be.
Elizabeth King had to play a lot of roles as the mother of five boys.
Guidance counselor, nurse, referee, and those were just the ones she fulfilled on a daily basis.
She put aside her nature to make sure you boys had a mother who was there for you. ”
For a moment, Eleanor stops and then she lets out a heavy sigh.
“I wish she had lived long enough for you boys to know her as adults. You would have seen that she was very much like you. She opened up for her children because she knew that’s what you needed, but your mother, like you, preferred to play her cards close to the vest. In fact, I think that’s what made your father fall in love with her.
She wasn’t like other women he knew. That mystery was very appealing. You know how that is.”
I smile at her compliment. “I wish she was around now. I know Ronan needed her this year.”
“He’s thankfully going to be fine. Now all we have to worry about is you,” Eleanor says with more than a hint of apprehension in her voice.
Waving away any concern she has, I say, “It’ll work out. I know it will.”
Just as Eleanor begins to ask exactly how I’m going to make things work out with Eden, the kitchen door opens and Ava walks in. Her arms are filled with grocery bags, and she barely makes it to the counter to drop them off.
“What is this? I told the store we’d be getting things delivered for the next few months while I’m not going shopping,” Eleanor says as she hurries across the room to where Ava has dropped off the overfilled plastic bags.
“Matthias told me we’re going to need a lot more food for the next couple days, so I stopped at the store to get some things.”
I look over at the ten bags she set on the counter and then at Ava. “Is the fifth army coming to stay?”
My sister-in-law doesn’t respond, which could mean she didn’t hear me or she’s still upset with me. I’m hoping it’s the former since I need to talk to her, and if I can’t convince her to help me with my plan, I might be shit out of luck.
As the two of them start to put the haul away, I clear my throat and say, “Ava, can we talk?”
While she puts three gallons of milk in the refrigerator, she glances over at me. “I’m pretty busy.”
Okay, she’s still pissed at me.
“It’s important.”
Ava doesn’t respond, so I add, “It has to do with Eden.”
Just as I thought, she stops what she’s doing and turns to face me. “Okay. Give me a minute.”
“Do you want my help?”
Eleanor smiles at me, but Ava shuts me down. “We’re fine.”
I can’t remember Ava ever being this icy with me. I didn’t think she had it in her. Guess I was wrong.
Five minutes later, she and Eleanor finish putting away what looks like eight hundred dollars’ worth of groceries, and Ava finally walks over to where I’m sitting. “Do you want to talk here or somewhere else?”
Suddenly, the thought of having this discussion around Eleanor seems like a bad idea. The last thing she needs is to see the two of us fighting, and I have a feeling Ava might not be a huge fan of my plan.
“How about we go outside?” I suggest.
“Back to the scene of the crime? Okay.”
She marches out of the kitchen, and as I walk behind her, I look back and see Eleanor give me the crossed fingers sign. I have the sense I’m going to need more than luck in the next few minutes.
I follow Ava out to the patio, and when she sits down at the table, I take a seat across from her. She folds her arms across her chest, a distinctly bad sign. I don’t have a choice, so I ignore her body language and launch into what I have to say.
“You’re still angry with me, and I get that, but I need your help to get Eden back.”
That seems like a good start, doesn’t it? You’d think so, but the stony look on Ava’s face says no.
When she doesn’t say anything, I continue. “I’d like you to have a party here tomorrow night. Just the family. Matthias told me he thinks Kellen and Ronan are free, and you guys are always here, so?—”
That’s as far as I get.
Sitting up straight in her chair, she glares at me as she says, “What would make you think I want to help you get my best friend back?”
Damn. I wasn’t expecting that response. I don’t exactly know what to say to that.
Ava doesn’t wait for me to answer before she adds, “I spent hours with her, and I’ll tell you what. I don’t like seeing my friend sad, hiding under the covers, and watching that show she loves just hoping to see a guy she has to have a crush on since her husband isn’t taking care of business.”
Ouch.
My first instinct is to defend myself, but I get the feeling that would only irritate Ava more, so I focus on what’s important for the moment.
“I want to make things up to her. I promise. I hate the idea that Eden is sad and I’m the reason for it. I swear, Ava, I’m going to make things right. I love her. I can’t imagine my life without her.”
Those aren’t merely nice words, but my sister-in-law isn’t impressed. Her arms still crossed, she says, “If you loved her so much, why did you hide her like someone you’re ashamed of for two years?”
Okay, that’s harsh. True, but harsh.
“I know I was wrong for what I did, Ava. I didn’t want to hide Eden or anything like that, and I wasn’t ashamed of her. I just loved having her to myself. I didn’t have to share her with anyone, and you have no idea after being one of five all my life how great that was.”
“So you got what you wanted while she was left sneaking around like some mistress nobody can know about. Do you have any idea what that must have felt like for her?”
Hanging my head, I nod. “I didn’t, but I know now.” I look up at her and add, “That’s why I want to make things right.”
Ava doesn’t say anything to that, but I see by the serious look on her face that she’s thinking of how she wants to respond. I know what I did was shitty. All I want to do is fix it.
“I remember Theo telling me that you did something like this to that Maia girl you were dating. He couldn’t figure out why you pushed her away when she was so crazy about you. Have you considered the idea this is a problem you have, Marius?”
She could have mentioned anyone else’s opinion, and I’d be fine, but that brother’s? No fucking way.
Before I can stop myself, I snap, “Oh, Theo told you that? Did he happen to tell you that he knew I was still in love with her and he made a point of sleeping with her? Probably not. That would have ruined your opinion that he was perfect. Well, he wasn’t.
Maybe the problem I have is the last time I thought I was in love, one of my damn brothers thought it would be a good idea to fucking sleep with her, even though he knew I still was crazy about her. ”
All those words come out like some kind of manic train of thought, and when I finish talking, all I see is a look of horror on Ava’s face. Fucking terrific. I guess I’m going to need a plan B.
Slowly, she slumps in her chair, shaking her head. “He wouldn’t do that.”
The words coming out of her mouth should sound defiant as she defends him, but there’s doubt in her voice. Maybe Ava does know that her best friend Theo wasn’t the person she thought he was.
“Yes, he would. You know it. You don’t want to admit it, but Theo was always like that.”
Sadness fills her expression, making me wish I didn’t say anything. I just couldn’t stand her thinking that the reason I did what I did is because of a reason so meaningless like I just want my freedom.
Ava stays silent for a long time, but finally in a low voice like she doesn’t want anyone to hear her admit it, she says, “I had no idea, Marius. Theo never told me anything about going with Maia. When did that happen?”
“Less than two weeks after we had our fight and broke up. He knew I was still crazy about her. That’s what hurt the most.”
“But he’s gone. Matthias, Kellen, and Ronan would never do anything like Theo did.”
I have to smile at how she doesn’t understand. I’m not even sure I do. All I know is the first thing I thought about when Eden and I got together was how I needed to make sure to keep her to myself.
“He’s gone, but the memory of how that felt isn’t.” I pause, and even though I know I shouldn’t say what’s on my mind, I don’t stop myself. “Your buddy Theo wasn’t the person he made himself out to be.”
Ava blows the air out of her lungs and nods. “I know more than you think. Remember, I was the one he refused to talk to after he left. He never answered any of my texts or my calls. You have no idea how devastated I was that he could cut me out like that.”
It’s been years since that happened with Matthias, Theo, and Ava, and still she tears up talking about him. He never did deserve Ava.
“Probably about as devastated as when I found out he slept with the girl I loved. There’s no deep answer to why he did what he did to you and me. It’s simple. Theo was selfish.”
Again she nods. After another minute or so of silence, she smiles and says, “Well, I wasn’t expecting this today. I guess we better start talking about that party you want us to have.”
My mind races with all the ideas I have for getting Eden back, but before I start asking Ava to help with them, I say, “Thank you for being in my corner on this. I know it isn’t easy, but I only want to make sure Eden knows how much I love her. I hope you believe that.”
Ava reaches across the table and tenderly touches my hand. “She loves you. I know that. I want her to be happy, so whatever it takes, let’s do it!”
I rub my hands together as I start telling her what I want to do. This is going to work. I know it.
This plan has to work.