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“She’s a pleasure to take care of.” His eyes meet mine and make my stomach flip.
“Come on.” Mum takes my hand and leads me toward the open door.
I look back at Jet. “I’ll call you, Ava. Have fun with your mum.”
“I will.” I grin. “Speak to you later.”
“I’ll call you,” he repeats.
Chapter 24
Ava
Jet’s version of ‘I’llcall’ and mine are wildly different.
It’s been three days and I’ve heard nothing from him, except a curt reply to a text I sent him yesterday checking if he was still alive. He replied at 2AM, so I imagine he’s been pulling some late nights. Besides, I’ve been having too much fun with Mum to have much time to think about anything else.
I giggle as she spins in her kitchen, then dances her way over to me and takes my hands. I slide off the breakfast bar stool and the two of us spend the rest of “We are family” by Sister Sledge dancing around like a couple of lunatics before collapsing onto side-by-side stools as the song ends.
“Darling.” Mum places a palm over her chest as she catches her breath. “Why haven’t we done this sooner?” She looks at me, her eyes bright. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
“I know.” I smile. “I wish I could have come years ago, but… getting on a plane after—”
She places her hand over mine, her eyes shining. “I know. I miss him, too.”
“You do?”
She brushes a strand of hair from my cheek. “Your father was my first love, Ava. I’ll always miss him and wonder what might have been.” Her brow creases before she composes herself, forcing a bright smile. “Your grandfather has done a wonderful job. You’ve grown into such a special young woman. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to see it.”
My heart seizes at the sight of water lining Mum’s lower lashes before she blinks it away.
“You were grieving, too. You wanted me to move here with you. I’m the one who was too scared to do it after the crash. I’ve been…” I take a deep breath then blow it out. “I’ve been writing about it. It’s silly, but—”
“It doesn’t sound silly.”
“I just…” I screw my eyes shut before opening them again. “It started as a way to process it. I should have done it years ago, but I was living in denial, I guess. Not wanting to remember it. But writing has felt good, it’s felt…” I swallow, my voice coming out as a whisper. “I’m wondering if I’ll be ready to tell it soon. Finally.”
“Oh, Ava.” Mum pulls me into a hug, stroking my back. “My darling girl, you’ve always been the strong one.”
“I’m not strong, Mum.”
“You are. So strong.” She hugs me harder, then lets go, a pained smile on her face. “I knew you’d be okay without me. But I’m your mother, and I struggled everyday living so far away from you. Those early days here… I wouldn’t have been able to support you, no matter how much I wished I could. I owe so much to William for making sure you had everything you needed. I remember how pleased he was when he got you into that school, despite how much it cost him in fees. He spent months fighting to get you a place there.”
“School?”
Mum gets up and goes to the refrigerator, bringing back two glasses.
“You like mango juice, don’t you?” She places the glass in front of me, and I curl my hands around its cool sides.
“Sure.”
I stare at the vivid orange as a million thoughts run through my head. I always thought Mum had paid for my private school. Gramps couldn’t have afforded it. After my father died, he sold his house and downsized. I assumed the memories were too much for him, living in the house where Dad grew up and Nana once lived with him. The two of us moved to a pretty two-bedroom cottage near my school instead. Close enough that he would walk to meet me at the end of the day, bringing ice creams in the summer, and a flask of hot chocolate in the winter.
“You okay? You look sick.”
“Just thinking about Gramps.” I force a smile. “I miss him. I might go and give him a call.”
“Say hello from me,” Mum says. “Then when you’re done, I want to take you to lunch to meet Mitch.”
