2. Beck
BECK
“Hey, we’re here.”
“Are you excited?”
“Yeah, and a little nervous.”
With my phone still in hand, I glanced up at my rearview mirror, and my heart swelled at the sight of my precious daughter.
Her reddish-blonde hair was pulled back and looked more like a bird’s nest than a ponytail, and her lips were bright red from the juice she drank at our last pitstop.
Her wide, curious eyes were taking in everything around her.
My mother’s voice pulled me from my thoughts when she asked, “Nervous about what?”
“Ava... What if she doesn’t like it?”
“Ava is four. She’s going to love it because you love it.”
“I guess we will see soon enough.”
“You certainly will. Now, you two go on in and check things out. Your father and I’ll be over in a minute.”
“It’s just you guys, right? You’re not bringing anyone to help.”
“Nope. It’s just us.”
“Okay, good. I’ll see you in a few.”
I ended the call, then turned to Ava and asked, “You ready to go see our new house?”
“Hm-hmm.”
She really had no idea what I was talking about.
We’d lived in an apartment over four hours away from here, and it was the only home she’d ever really known.
It was my fault. I just couldn’t bring myself to come home to visit, but that had all changed.
I was done running from my past and wanted to give my precious daughter the home she deserved.
As soon as I got out of the car, I walked over and opened the back door.
I unbuckled Ava from her car seat and lifted her into my arms. Her eyes were wide with wonder as we made our way up to the front steps.
I still couldn’t believe it. It took five years of working and going to school part-time for me to scrape up enough money for a down payment.
My parents helped a great deal. They came up to visit and begged me numerous times to just come home, but I always refused.
I was studying to be a radiologist, and I was already going to the college closest to home.
So, I got a job on campus and used the money I made to pay for on-campus daycare.
It took some time and a lot of patience—for both me and my parents, but we got through it.
I could’ve just let Dad do what Dad does and let him take care of all the finances, but I couldn’t accept. Call it being stubborn or just plain prideful, but I needed to do it on my own. I pulled out my new key and unlocked the door, then lowered Ava’s feet to the floor and said, “Go check it out.”
She took off like a bolt of lightning, running to check out every room.
It wasn’t anything fancy, but it had two bedrooms with a fully updated kitchen and a cozy living room.
It also had a nice backyard with a fence and a wraparound porch that was to die for.
I absolutely loved it, and I hoped Ava would love it, too.
After a few minutes, Ava came rushing back into the kitchen and asked, “Dis’ really our house?”
“Yup,” I replied with a smile. “It’s all ours.”
“But what ‘bout my room?”
“I already explained that.” I knelt in front of her and took her hand in mine. “We moved here so we could be closer to GiGi and Pop.”
She nodded, and after taking a moment to let it all sink in, the questions started rolling in. “Do we have a swing?”
“No, but we can get one.”
“With a slide?”
“Maybe.”
She blinked, not seeming to mind either way. “Can we get a dog?”
“Let’s work on unpacking first,” I said, already imagining the chaos Ava and a dog could bring together.
“Can we...”
Before she could finish her thought, Dad honked his horn, signaling their arrival.
Ava and I rushed over to the front door and waited as Mom and Dad got out of the U-Haul.
Dad looked exhausted from the long drive, but Mom, on the other hand, looked raring to go.
Her hair was pulled up in a high ponytail, and she was wearing a pair of jeans with a white T-shirt tucked in tight.
And if that wasn’t enough, she was carrying a clipboard in her hand like she was some kind of project manager. “Hey, guys.”
“Hey there, you two.”
Dad started toward us, and Ava charged over to him. He scooped her up and gave her a bear hug before nodding toward the house. “You like the new house?”
Ava nodded. “We gettin’ a dog!”
“Sounds good to me.” Dad chuckled. “How ‘bout a pony, too?”
Ava’s eyes went wide, and I shot him a look. “Hooo, wait a minute. We have no place for a pony, and I never said we were getting a dog.”
“Might be good to have the extra security.”
“I think the security system you will put in will be plenty.”
Dad had a knack for all things technical, and that included security systems. Mom wasn’t too shabby with it either, but her focus wasn’t on our security. “Oh, honey. It’s just darling. I love everything about it... Are you still thinking about painting or changing the color of the siding?”
“Maybe. I thought I would move in and get settled first.”
“Well, your father and I picked up a few samples for you to look over.”
“Easy, Mom. I haven’t even moved in yet.”
“Oh, hush. You know I’m just excited for you.”
“I’m excited, too. I would be even more excited if all that furniture in that truck would miraculously move itself into the house.”
“Only one way that’s going to happen.” Dad lowered Ava to the ground. “Let’s get to it.”
I nodded, then followed him over to the truck. He slid open the back hatch, and when I saw all the boxes and furniture, I let out a groan. “I wish Davis was here.”
“You know he’d be here if he could.”
“I know.”
My dear brother had acquired my parents’ giftedness with computers and technology, and he’d been offered an unbelievable opportunity to work with the Navy and the nuclear program. He loved what he was doing, but he couldn’t come home very often. “I just hope we’ll get to see him over the holidays.”
“He’s working on it.”
Dad handed me the first box, and the rest of the afternoon became a blur of unloading.
Dad took charge of the ‘heavy lifting’ while Mom and I brought in the boxes.
Ava discovered the joy of bubble wrap, and by the time we unloaded the truck, she was wearing most of it like a suit of armor, popping her way through the house.
“Ava, be careful,” I warned.
“Oh, she’s fine.” Mom opened another box and started pulling out all the kitchen stuff she’d bought. “I got you a few things.”
“I see that.”
“It’s nothing much.” She held up some new Tupperware and a fancy charcuterie board. “Just a few things I thought you might’ve forgotten.”
“When am I ever going to use a charcuterie board?”
She winked at Ava. “You’ll need it once you start hosting.”
“What’s ho-sing?” Ava asked, sounding confused.
“Something you and Mommy aren’t going to be doing any time soon,” I muttered. “I think we’ll stick to mac and cheese for now.”
“I want some mac and cheese.”
“I’ll fix some in a bit. For now, why don’t you go to your room and take your toys out of the boxes.”
“Ah, man.”
“Go on and do what your momma said,” Mom pushed. “I’ll be in there in a few minutes to help.”
Ava did as she was asked and went to her room to unbox her things while Mom and I continued unpacking the dishes.
The sound of clattering plates almost drowned out the muffled conversation coming from the front yard.
I recognized Dad’s deep rumble, but it was the other voice that stopped me cold.
It was low, smooth, and unmistakably familiar.
I froze, and a shiver slipped up my spine.
I’d spent years training myself not to think about that voice, and now, it was at my front door.
I knew I would eventually see him.
I just wasn’t expecting it to be so soon.
“Hey, Beck!” Dad shouted, jolting me from my spiraling thoughts. “We’re bringing in the sofa.”
The words had barely left his mouth when they appeared. Dad was carrying one end of my worn-out sofa, and Torch was carrying the other. The sight of him brought a lump to my throat.
Torch adjusted his grip, eyes locking on mine for the briefest second. “Hey, Torch.”
He gave me a nod—just a nod, like I hadn’t spent my entire adolescence mooning over him and he hadn’t broken my heart when he completely blew me off.
“Thanks for helping.” It came out strangled and barely audible, so I forced myself to say, “I really appreciate it.”
“No problem.” His lips curved slightly—a flicker of something that might have been amusement or indifference, but I couldn’t tell which. “I could tell the ol’ man was struggling.”
“Just a bit,” Dad chuckled.
I hadn’t laid eyes on Torch since I left for college, and he was even more handsome than I remember. He was taller with broad shoulders, and he still had those piercing green eyes that always seemed to see right through you—or, in my case, not at all.
His hair was still dark but longer, falling just past his ears, and there was a scruff along his jawline that hadn’t been there before. The boy I once knew was gone, and a strong, confident, beautiful man had taken his place.
I leaned back against the counter, trying to steady my breath as Dad huffed his way through the doorway.
Concerned, Mom called out, “Oh, Mike! Be careful.”
“I got it. I got it.” Dad shook his head, and his voice was strained as he said, “We need to get you some better furniture, Kiddo.”
“My furniture is fine.”
I kept my eyes trained on Torch. I tried to look away, but I just couldn’t stop staring at him. It had been so long. I thought I’d moved on and put all the childhood theatrics behind me, but seeing him now made me realize how wrong I’d been.
They centered it against the main wall in the living room, then Torch lowered his end of the sofa and brushed his hands off on his jeans. He straightened once the sofa was in place, then glanced around at the half-unpacked boxes and bubble wrap. “Nice place.”
I swallowed hard, forcing a nod. “Thanks.”
“It’s been a while.”
“Yeah, it has.”
“Didn’t realize you were moving back.”
“It was a last-minute kind of thing.”