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Chapter 34
That afternoonthey had lunch with Xander’s parents. Peter and Gabby wanted to congratulate the happy couple. Ava wasn’t sure what they were going to say to them, but she hoped it was nothing negative. They sat down, and Peter ordered a bottle of champagne. After the waiter brought the bottle and poured each one a glass, Peter made a toast.
“To my son and his beautiful bride-to-be. We wish you all the best.”
He reached into his suit jacket and handed Ava an envelope. She opened it and slipped the card out handing it to Xander. He opened it, and he raised his eyebrows. He handed the card back to Ava. Peter and Gabby had gifted Xander and Ava the Lake George house as a wedding present.
Ava gasped, “This is too much. The home is fantastic, but it’s just…too much.” She tried to push back the tears, but they started to sting her eyes.
“Mom and Dad, we can’t accept this. You love that home.”
Gabby placed her hand over Ava’s and reached across the table to grasp Xander’s.
“We don’t enjoy the place without you children there. It’s time for it to pass to someone else in the family. We hope you will one day fill the bedrooms with the next generation.”
Xander shot Ava look. He knew that those words would affect her deeply since she wasn’t able to have children of her own. He reached under the table and found her hand to hold. He hoped she wouldn’t break down anymore than she already had.
Ava was able to find her voice, “Thank you, Gabby and Peter. It’s a wonderful gift, and we will cherish it.”
After hugs were passed around, they bent their heads to look at their menus. This gave Xander a chance to look at Ava. He saw the tortured look on her face and knew that his mother’s remark was tearing her apart. His heart hurt for her.
She didn’t eat much during lunch. He watched her and worried that she would lose more weight. She knew he was watching her, but she didn’t care. Her stomach was hurting, and she was afraid if she ate too much she would vomit.
In the cab on the way home, she leaned against Xander and let silent tears fall.
“Mom didn’t mean anything by what she said. She is well aware that you can’t have children. But she knows there are other ways we can have them. Please don’t be upset. We have a busy night ahead of us.”
They needed to get home and change for rehearsal of Sam and Robert’s wedding. She was the maid of honor and Xander was one of the groomsman. She tried to pull herself together, but she knew that the emotional rollercoaster wasn’t over. They quickly changed and left for the church.
Most of her family was there including David, who was sitting in one of the pews ignoring her as he played with his phone. Twice she looked up during the rehearsal to see him looking at her, his intense stare burning into her. She knew they were going to have to have a conversation. It was obvious that he was upset. She didn’t know what she could do.
The rehearsal went well, and they reconvened an hour later for dinner at a large Greek restaurant owned by Sam’s uncle in midtown Manhattan. They were ushered to a large private room where all types of Greek and American appetizers were laid out. Ava’s appetite was piqued when she saw that there were stuffed grape leaves, one of her favorites. Sam had introduced her to them several years ago. She piled several on her plate and sat down next to Xander who was enjoying a plate of shrimp in Latholemono sauce.
It had taken her several minutes before she realized that David was again staring at her from his table across the room. She had enough and excused herself to talk to him. He avoided her eyes and kept his head bent as she asked him to speak privately. Luckily, her stepmother, Felice was engaged in conversation with Sam’s brother, Stavros, or she would have asked what was going on between them.
Ava led him to small banquet room and sat down at a table.
“What is your problem, David?”
“My problem? Like you care.”
“So this is it? Aren't you going to talk to me? I miss you.”
His face brightened, and he looked up at her face.
“You miss me? Not enough to not be with him,” he said sarcastically.
“He has a name, and I love him. You know that.”
“You know I remember comforting you in a room much like this when he was with that other woman. You loved me then.”
“You did comfort me, but I never loved you the way you want me to.”
“Can you say you don’t feel anything for me?”
“David, I love you like a brother.”
“I want you to kiss me.”
