Chapter 14
1439 Words
Sunday morning began with the smell of cinnamon rolls baking in the oven.
Ava stood in front of her closet for the third time in twenty minutes, holding two sweaters in front of herself.
“The blue one.”
Chloe didn’t even look up from her book.
“You didn’t even see the other option.”
“I don’t have to.”
Ava sighed dramatically.
“You always pick the blue one.”
“Because Mason’s mom always tells you blue brings out your eyes.”
Ava smiled.
“She does, doesn’t she?”
“Every single time.”
She slipped on the soft blue sweater, paired it with dark jeans, and looked at herself in the mirror.
Nothing fancy.
Just comfortable.
She brushed her hair one last time before applying a little mascara.
Chloe walked over and studied her.
“You look nice.”
“I hope so.”
“You always do.”
Ava laughed.
“I wasn’t fishing for compliments.”
“I know.”
Chloe smiled.
“I’m just giving one.”
The doorbell rang.
“That’s him.”
Ava grabbed her purse.
“You’ll be okay.”
Chloe hugged her quickly.
“I know.”
As Ava opened the apartment door, Mason smiled immediately.
“There she is.”
He stepped forward and kissed her forehead.
“You look beautiful.”
Her cheeks warmed.
“Thank you.”
“You ready?”
“I’ve been ready for twenty minutes.”
“I believe that.”
He laughed as they walked toward his car.
For the first few minutes of the drive, they talked about ordinary things.
School.
Work.
The weather.
The conversation felt easy again.
Ava found herself relaxing.
Maybe she’d worried too much these past couple of weeks.
Maybe this really was just an adjustment period while Mason settled into his internship.
“I’ve missed this,” she admitted.
“What?”
“Just… talking.”
He glanced at her before returning his eyes to the road.
“Me too.”
“I’m sorry I’ve been distracted.”
“It’s okay.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“It’s not.”
He sighed.
“I don’t want you thinking you aren’t important.”
Ava looked out the window.
“I know I’m important.”
He reached across the center console and squeezed her hand.
“You are.”
She smiled softly.
“I know.”
⸻
Mason’s parents lived in a quiet neighborhood on the edge of Willow Creek.
Before the car had even stopped completely, the front door opened.
His mother hurried outside wearing an apron dusted with flour.
“Ava!”
She wrapped her in a hug before Ava had both feet on the driveway.
“Oh, sweetheart.”
“It’s so good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you too.”
His father followed more slowly, carrying a glass of iced tea.
“There she is.”
He smiled warmly.
“I was beginning to think Mason imagined you.”
“Dad.”
“I’m kidding.”
He pulled Ava into a quick hug.
“Come inside.”
“The lasagna’s almost ready.”
The house smelled exactly as Ava remembered.
Garlic.
Fresh bread.
Tomatoes.
Home.
Mrs. Carter immediately insisted she taste the sauce.
“Tell me if it needs anything.”
Ava smiled after one bite.
“It’s perfect.”
“I knew I liked this girl.”
Mason laughed.
“You like everyone.”
“I do not.”
His mother pointed the wooden spoon toward him.
“I tolerate most people.”
Everyone laughed.
Dinner was loud.
His parents filled every quiet moment with stories.
Mr. Carter talked about accidentally locking himself out of the garage.
Mrs. Carter complained about squirrels stealing tomatoes from her garden.
Mason rolled his eyes so dramatically that Ava nearly laughed herself out of her chair.
It felt…
Normal.
Comfortable.
Like she’d stepped into another family.
As dessert was served, Mrs. Carter reached across the table.
“So…”
Ava smiled.
“So?”
“Graduation is only a few months away.”
“It is.”
“You must be excited.”
“I am.”
“Nervous too.”
Mr. Carter nodded.
“That’s normal.”
Mason smiled proudly.
“She’ll be an amazing nurse.”
Ava looked at him.
“Thanks.”
Mrs. Carter nodded enthusiastically.
“I’ve been saying that for years.”
“You have.”
“I have.”
She smiled.
“You’ve always taken care of people.”
The compliment warmed Ava’s heart.
Then Mrs. Carter turned toward Mason.
“And you.”
He looked up.
“What?”
“You’ve been working too much.”
“I know.”
“You can’t build a career if you forget to live.”
Ava glanced down at her plate.
The words sounded strangely familiar.
Love should make your world bigger.
Never make someone beg for your time.
Now…
You can’t build a career if you forget to live.
She wondered if everyone had been gently trying to tell her something.
Or if she was simply paying more attention now.
⸻
After dinner, Mason and his father stepped outside to move patio furniture before the evening rain arrived.
Mrs. Carter poured coffee while Ava helped clear the table.
“You’ve lost weight.”
Ava looked up in surprise.
“A little.”
“Not much.”
Mrs. Carter smiled kindly.
“I only noticed because your face looks thinner.”
Ava laughed.
“I’ve been walking more.”
“Good.”
She paused.
“But don’t forget…”
Ava looked over.
“You’re beautiful exactly as you are.”
Emotion caught unexpectedly in Ava’s throat.
“Thank you.”
Mrs. Carter reached over and squeezed her hand.
“I mean it.”
“Don’t ever think you have to change yourself to deserve love.”
For a brief second, Ava couldn’t speak.
Something about those words…
The sincerity behind them…
Made her eyes sting.
She blinked quickly before anyone noticed.
“I won’t.”
Mrs. Carter smiled.
“Good.”
⸻
The drive home was quieter.
Not uncomfortable.
Just peaceful.
“I think my mom likes you more than me.”
Ava laughed.
“That’s impossible.”
“I don’t know.”
“She sent leftovers home with you.”
“I’ve known her longer.”
“You have.”
She smiled out the window as the first drops of rain began hitting the windshield.
“I always like coming here.”
“My parents love having you.”
“I love them too.”
He smiled.
“They’ll be happy to hear that.”
They stopped at a red light.
Mason looked over.
“I’ve been thinking.”
“About?”
“After graduation.”
Her heart skipped.
“What about it?”
He hesitated.
“I’ve been offered the chance to stay with the company.”
“That’s amazing.”
“It is.”
“But…”
He sighed.
“It might mean relocating.”
Ava felt something tighten in her chest.
“Where?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
“They haven’t decided.”
“Oh.”
The light turned green.
Neither of them spoke for almost a minute.
Finally, Mason broke the silence.
“It’s just a possibility.”
“I know.”
“I wanted you to hear it from me.”
She nodded.
“Thank you.”
He reached for her hand again.
“We’ll figure it out.”
She smiled.
“We always do.”
But as the windshield wipers swept away the rain, Ava couldn’t shake the feeling that this conversation had quietly changed something.
Not because either of them had done anything wrong.
Because, for the first time, their futures didn’t automatically look like the same road.
⸻
Later that night, Ava sat on her bed editing the photographs she’d taken downtown.
She paused on one picture.
It was the elderly man tying his granddaughter’s shoe.
Such a simple moment.
Such a loving one.
She opened a blank document and typed beneath the image.
Love is found in the little things people choose to do every day.
She stared at the sentence.
Then saved the file before closing her laptop.
Outside, rain continued to fall over Willow Creek.
Inside her apartment, Ava drifted to sleep believing that love could survive any challenge as long as two people kept choosing each other.
She had no way of knowing that sometimes, people didn’t stop loving each other all at once.
Sometimes…
They simply started walking toward different futures, one small step at a time.
- Writer
