Strength After Him

Chapter 16 - She Wants Him

“It is clear you are,” I insisted, my voice firm. “Why won’t a man your age be married?”

Charles leaned back in his chair, rubbing his palm against his chin as if weighing his words. “I understand why you’d think that,” he said quietly. “But, Ava… I am not married. Yes, I have a daughter, but my wife is late. I am a widower. She died from health complications.”

I narrowed my eyes, searching his face for a sign of dishonesty. He didn’t flinch, didn’t look away. It seemed he was telling the truth, and I didn’t even realize when my tone softened. I leaned forward slightly, my voice gentler. “How do you cope then, taking care of your daughter single-handedly?”

A faint smile tugged at his lips, though his eyes carried something heavier. “That’s why I pay people to do the job for me,” he admitted. “Nannies, tutors… I make sure she has everything she needs.”

I felt a pang of sympathy, imagining Ivy growing up without me around and in the care of strangers.

Charles leaned back, his voice steady but low. “I’ve told you a little about myself. Don’t you think it’s time you told me about you? It’s clear Ivy grew up without knowing her dad.”

I hesitated, then slowly nodded. The words tumbled out as I began to explain what I went through in the hands of George. The memories I had buried for years pressed too hard, and before I knew it, warm tears slipped down my cheeks. It wasn’t until I felt Charles’s hand resting gently on my shoulder that I realized I had let myself break. I quickly straightened, wiping my face. Ava, brace up, I whispered to myself. You’re a strong woman. You don’t have to show your weakness. I quickly wiped my tears away and forced a smile. “It’s okay, Charles,” I said softly.

He gave me a long look, as if he wanted to say more, but instead he nodded and slowly went back to his seat. He looked at me steadily. “Ava, I know you’ve been through a lot in the past, but I am willing to make you happy. Take your time to heal… but just allow me into your daughter’s life. I want her to experience that love she didn’t know.” Those words hit me, and I just stared at him, speechless.

I needed to talk to someone about what was happening, so I called my mom and explained everything. From the sound of her voice, I could hear her excitement. “Ava, you have to let go of the past. Or do you want to be like your mother, who remained single?” she asked.

I knew immediately that wasn’t what I wanted for myself. I want to build a family, I thought. “Are you with me?” she asked gently, her voice warm. “Give him a try,” Mom continued. “You just have to be careful.”

I nodded. “I’ll try… Let's see if it will work,” I told her.

She asked about Ivy, and they chatted for a while. Eventually, Ivy handed the phone over to me. Between giggles, she told me that my dad had visited them and wanted to talk with me, but she wasn’t sure if I was ready.

“Does it mean I’m angry with my daddy?” I whispered to myself. I shouldn’t be. Mom always said it wasn’t his fault. I leaned back in the chair, letting out a slow breath. The thought of knowing my father again brought a small smile to my face. I couldn’t wait to behold his face. Mom had always said I looked like him. The thought alone tugged a smile from my lips.

Before going home, I stopped by Maria’s store, needing her opinion about Charles. I told her everything that had happened and confessed the fear in me about giving love a second chance.

Maria listened quietly, then broke into a smile. “But why would you assume he’s married just because he has a child?” she asked.

She pointed a finger at me, her expression firm. “You have a child, right? Are you married?”

That question hit deep. I lowered my gaze before answering softly, “No.”

“Exactly,” she said, nodding. “So don’t assume all single fathers are married. You’re a single mother, and you’re not married.”

Maria moved closer to me, her voice soft but serious. “If you don’t want to consider a relationship with him, that’s totally fine. But, Ava, why not at least allow Charles to be a father to Ivy? From all you’ve told me, it seems the two of them are cool together. And the joy Ivy feels knowing there’s a father figure in her life can’t be overemphasized.”

She turned her gaze toward Ivy, who was sitting on the floor, cuddling her doll and smiling occasionally. “Look at her,” Maria said quietly. “Your daughter is happy. Why not make her joy complete by giving Charles a chance?”

I was still listening as Maria kept talking, her voice low but firm. “Ava,” she called, her face carrying a sad look, “I don’t want you to make the same mistakes I made when I was younger. Remember, not all men are the same. The fact that George hurt you doesn’t mean Charles will too.”

She sighed, her eyes dropping for a moment. “I used to think like you, holding onto this ideology about men. But over time, I realized I had made the worst mistake. Now look at me, at my age, I can’t even get a man to marry me, let alone a serious relationship.” She shook her head slightly, her tone heavy with regret. “Don’t end up like me, Ava. You may never get this chance again.”

I began to wonder if this was exactly what my mom had said, and now Maria was saying the same thing. I bit my lip, my head slightly bowed as thoughts ran wild. Maria noticed my gesture and asked what the problem was, but I couldn’t bring myself to answer.

After a while, I finally spoke, my voice low. “I think I’ll have to think about it… probably give him a try, at least to fill the gap with Ivy not having a father figure around.”

Maria nodded, a soft smile on her face, like I had just made the best decision ever.

When I got home, I couldn’t stop thinking about Charles. The thought of him kept sneaking into my mind, and it almost felt like I was beginning to fall for him. But no, quickly shook it off. Love was the last thing I wanted to start thinking about right now. “Yes, I know you’re still hurt by what George did to you,” I whispered to myself, “but you have to let it go, Ava. Keep your mind steady. Keep your peace.”

Lost in my thoughts, Ivy came up to me. “Mom, when will I get to see Uncle Charles again?” she asked, her eyes wide with excitement. “I have so much to tell him!” I froze at what Ivy had just said. Why would she ask me that? This girl was asking too much, what could she possibly have to tell Charles? My mind was clouded with a jumble of thoughts.

Ivy reached up and gently touched my face, pulling me back to reality, and repeated softly, “Mom… when will I see Uncle Charles again?”