Heartache and Hope (Heartache Duet #1) - Jay McLean Page 0,63
stands between the kitchen and the living room. “I’m just starting on dinner. You’re welcome to stay if you’d like.”
Ava does her best not to let her shock show, but I see it even if Dad doesn’t. “I appreciate the invitation, but I have to get back home.”
“Oh.” Dad drops his gaze, his shoulders. “Okay, sure.”
“It’s just…” Ava starts, sensing Dad’s disappointment. “I can’t really leave my mom, so…”
Dad tilts his head. “Isn’t your stepbrother home with her?”
Ava nods, her grip on my hand tightening. “Yeah, he is, but he’s really only there for when things with her get uh…” She glances up at me, and I try to offer an encouraging smile. If this is Dad’s attempt at getting to know her, then we have to try. “Sometimes she gets physical and he—he has to restrain her.” I can hear her voice weaken with every word, so I release her hand, place mine on the back of her head and bring her to my chest, her ear to my heart. Ava exhales slowly, her eyes drifting shut. When she opens them again, she says, “I have to be there, because I’m the only one who can really talk her through whatever she’s experiencing.”
It takes a moment for Dad to respond. “Right. And… Trevor’s father? Where is he?”
I speak up. “Dad, what’s with the twenty questions?”
Dad shakes his head as if clearing the fog. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s okay,” Ava says. “He left a while back.”
“So, it’s just you kids taking care of her and the house and all the bills?”
Ava nods, then shakes her head. “No, we have a caregiver stay with her when Trevor’s at work and I’m at school. But yeah, on the evenings and weekends it’s just us.”
“Oh, good,” Dad says. “I assume that’s all done through your health insurance?”
“I wish, but no. Insurance doesn’t cover nearly enough of it. The military only really covered her physical injuries, and even though we still get her full benefits it’s not even close to…” Ava pulls away. Just a tad. “I sound like I’m complaining, but I’m not. I promise. Things could be a lot worse,” she says, looking up at me. She faces my dad again, a frown on her lips. “At least she’s alive, and we can be a family. And I’m sure you and I can both agree that there’s nothing more important in this world than family. That’s why we sacrifice the things we do and protect the people we love.”
Dad sucks in a sharp breath, exhales slowly. “You’re absolutely right, Ava.”
Ava smiles at him, then, on her toes, she kisses me once. “Stay,” she tells me. “Have dinner with your dad. I’ll call you later.”
“Ava,” Dad calls again. “If you or your brother or your mom… if you need anything that I can help with, please…” he trails off, nodding, before disappearing into the kitchen.
“Jeez, Connor. I had no idea how bad things were for her,” Dad says, setting the table for us. “I feel horrible for the things—”
“I appreciate it,” I tell him. “But I’m not the one you should be saying this to.”
With a nod, he sits opposite me at the table, his hands clasped under his chin. “I’m going to make a few calls in the morning, see what I can find out about getting her some financial help for her mother’s care.”
My brow lifts. “Yeah?”
“It’s the least I can do.”
I sit back in my chair, watching him closely. “What’s with you?”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s like you’ve done a complete 180. Your attitude’s changed, and now you’re acting… I don’t know.”
Dad’s chest lifts with his inhale. “I reconnected with an old friend today, and they gave me a little perspective. That’s all.”
“Anyone I know?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “No.”
Chapter 36
Ava
Connor says, downing last night’s pasta as he sits on the bench in front of me, “It sucks that our paper’s done. Now we don’t have an excuse to whisper dirty things in each other’s ears during class.”
My eyes narrow. “You’ve never whispered dirty things in my ear.”
He chuckles while chewing. “Shit. Different class. Different girl.”
“Hmm. Now I’m really glad I put cyanide in your food.”
He eyes me a moment, then slowly lowers the container next to him.
“I’m kidding,” I laugh out.
Shaking his head, he says, “I’m not willing to risk it.”
“Speaking of murders…”
“It’s such a turn-on when your girlfriend talks about killing people.” I push on his shoulder with my foot and regret it the moment he grabs