Chapter 7
7
On Monday morning, I woke up early, rested, and ready to start my day. Jitters filled my stomach at the thought of beginning my new job in less than three hours. Yesterday, I’d been conditioning myself to show a little excitement at the idea in between my talking with Iris over video chat and driving around town. When I passed the lake, I was tempted to make a detour to see if the stranger was there, but then my conscience made a comeback, and I abandoned the idea before making a fool of myself. Or risking another unwanted confrontation.
In front of the full-length standing mirror in the corner of my room, I examined my outfit. After I changed twice, I decided on a yellow empire summer dress with a jeans jacket in case the office was too cold. I tied my hair into a high sleek ponytail and added a coat of mascara and my favorite cherry-flavored pink lip gloss.
There. I looked professional enough.
Aunt Melinda made a sound of approval when I walked into the kitchen. “Up early, you. Sleep well?”
I grabbed the mug of coffee waiting for me on the island, fidgeting with the handle. “I think so.”
“Anxious about today?” she asked.
Uncle Mason walked in at the same time, pressing his hands on her shoulders from behind and kissing her cheek. “Ava, don’t be nervous,” he said, picking a raspberry scone from the basket. “You’ll see, it will go on smoothly. I promise. The last thing I want is for you to stress over this job.”
I appreciated his making an effort to not rush me into this. He turned to face his wife. “Big day at the office?” he asked.
She sighed. My aunt worked as a PR for the Red Wolves, the professional hockey team. “I fear it will be. With the stunt Saxon pulled last week, I’m sure the press will still be all over it. Gosh, I hate it when grown-up men turn into idiots. He shouldn’t have presented Eddie McGillis, football superstar, to the world as his partner only to cheat on him the next day with some basketball college recruit. Now the quarterback is on a self-sabotaging mission, thanks to Sax. And his coach and the organization are getting involved after the contract he just signed. It’s a clusterfuck with a capital C.”
“I’m sorry you have to deal with all this. At least they make your job interesting.” He planted a kiss on her nose, and her arms wrapped around his neck.
Like my own parents, my aunt and uncle were disgustingly in love. I blamed the Pierce genes for the lovesickness. After all, Uncle Mason and Dad were brothers.
I sat on a stool, and Aunt Melinda pushed the basket full of scones in front of me. “Take one, Ava. You can’t go to work on an empty stomach.”
I breathed out and indulged, my insides so tight that I wondered how I’d even get a bite in.
Uncle Mason neared the kitchen door. “Ava, meet me when you’re ready. You don’t have to come to work until nine. Take the time to relax. This summer internship should be fun, not something to develop a rash over.”
I nodded, taking small bites to avoid my stomach churning.
“Love your dress, by the way,” Aunt Melinda said as she sat next to me. “I have a benefit later this summer. If you’re interested, we could go shopping together. I need a new gown. And if you’d like to come, you’re more than welcome. You’ll need a gown too. And I’m the one inviting, so it will be my treat.”
“You don’t have to.”
She shook her head with vigor. “I insist. I wanna do this. It makes me happy. If Celeste… Anyway, if you’re free and would love a five-course dinner prepared by some of the most distinguished chefs in the country, live music, and getting pampered, let me know. The invite isn’t going anywhere. The Red Wolves organization never do anything half-ass.”
I cupped my heart with one hand. “Wow. That’s very generous of you. I’d like that. I’ve always wondered how it must feel to transform into a princess for a night.”
“Deal. We’ll talk about it later. I gotta run.” She put her empty dish in the sink and pivoted to look at me. “And Ava? Just breathe. And have fun today.”
I nodded. She left, and my appetite returned. Aunt Melinda always had a way to make me feel comfortable. We used to see each other often. She and my parents and Uncle Mason all grew up together. In the small town of Elk River, Michigan. Mom and Craig were supposed to attend college together and live happily ever after, but he broke her heart by keeping information from her. They ended their relationship, and she left alone for college. For years, they avoided each other. During her junior year, she met my biological dad—or bio-dad as I often called him. They fell in love, and Mom got pregnant with me five years later. Bio-dad was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of colon cancer, and he died two months later. Heartbroken, Mom returned to her hometown to pick up the pieces of her life. She and Aunt Melinda rekindled their friendship, and since Craig and Uncle Mason were brothers and my aunt was dating him by then, they all saw each other almost every day. Craig helped Mom out when she moved into her own apartment. He gave her a hand when she was confined to bed rest at thirty weeks and couldn’t run errands or set up the nursery. He slept on the sofa in case she had a craving or needed something in the middle of the night. Slowly, they learned to be in each other’s lives all over again and realized there was still love between them. Craig proposed one night, so they got married in the hospital’s little chapel mere hours before I was born. I took on his last name, and he’s been my father ever since.
When I was younger and Collin was still little, I used to spend a lot of my free time with Uncle Mason and Aunt Melinda until they had to move when she received a job offer she couldn’t turn down. Then tragedy hit their lives, and for quite some time, they didn’t visit anymore. I was aware a lot had to do with me and my health. For almost four years, we only talked over the phone on rare occasions. Now that things were running smoother for all of us, I was thankful we finally reconnected.
Taking my time on my way to work, I grabbed a box of pastries from the bakery on Main Street. The parting words from my aunt and the small detour helped settle my nerves.
Uncle Mason welcomed me the moment I parked my truck.
“How is she doing?” he asked. “Giving you any trouble?”
“Nah. She’s perfect. I love her.”
“Glad to hear it.” He took the box from my hands. “You shouldn’t have, but I’m sure the guys will appreciate the gesture. Ready?”
I firmed my back and lifted my chin. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Let’s go then.”
I spent the morning familiarizing myself with the garage, meeting some of the mechanics on duty today and one of the salespersons, and getting accustomed to the basics of the accounting system.
Uncle Mason took his time to explain everything in detail and answer all my questions. He gave me a minute to take notes so I wouldn’t forget all the steps as quickly as I learned them.
At lunch, we walked to a small Mexican eatery two blocks from the garage. As we sauntered back, a man stopped and asked him something about a carburetor he’d ordered. “Go ahead, Ava. I’ll meet you in a bit. Will you be all right to manage on your own for now?”
I nodded. “Sure.”
“If you have questions, ask for Ride. He should be there by now.”
“Ride. Oh, okay.”
I walked the last block, the sunrays grazing my skin. Two girls about my age walked past me and waved. I returned the gesture. My earlier jitters had receded, and working at the garage and living in Feather Lake all summer didn’t sound so bad anymore.
When the printer announced it was short of paper, I headed toward the supply room at the back where I knew all the extra office materials were stacked.
When I turned the corner, I bumped into a wall. One made of muscles and bones. Towering over me by a few inches. Hooded aquamarine-green eyes locked on mine. And stole my ability to talk.
I blinked, and all the air left my lungs as if someone had punched me in the stomach. I blinked again, now quite sure it was a mistake. Some hallucination.
My blood iced in my veins, and I swallowed my uneasiness.
No, it wasn’t a dream. He stood there, pressed against me, the heat from him radiating down my body.
Straightening my back, I braced myself for the words that would leave his mouth.