Ava swats my thigh. “I’ll show you sass!”
I chortle. “Oh, sweetheart, I pray you do.” My hand curls around her neck, and I draw her in. The kiss is hard and filled with promises for later. “Now, are you ready to meet Mom?”
Her glazed eyes meet mine. “That wasn’t fair, but yes.”
When we check in, we learn Mom’s having a good day. We decide to have her come down to the visiting area where we wait for her arrival.
“Jason!” she calls out, and I remove my arm from around Ava and stand.
“Hi, Mom!” I hug her and soak up her warm embrace. Our last visit had been rough and a reminder to appreciate the good ones. Stepping back, I pull Ava into my side. “I’d like you to meet Ava, my girlfriend.”
Mom smiles and looks between us. Her hands come to her mouth, and her eyes brim with tears. My stomach rolls, but before I can react, she says, “I didn’t think the day would ever come.”
“What day?” I ask.
“The day you’d fall in love,” she says and pulls Ava out of my side and into her arms.
My heart stutters, and I look at Ava who hugs Mom back. She’s not running, which is a great sign. Stepping back, she searches my face and smiles.
“I’ve heard so much about you, Mrs. Zmudosky!” Ava says, returning her attention to my mom’s smiling face.
“Oh no, Mrs. Zmudosky was my mother-in-law. Please call me Carm, dear.”
“Carm,” Ava repeats with a nod. “This is a beautiful place.”
Mom’s mood dims a moment. “I miss my house…”
I usher her to the couch and settle her on one side and Ava between us. “What did they cook today?” I ask, hoping to divert her attention to the present.
“Tomato soup and grilled-cheese sandwich. Not as good as mine, but it will do.”
“No one cooks like you do,” I say, and Ava gives my thigh a squeeze. Glancing at her, I find a sweet expression telling me she approves.
Mom clucks her tongue. “Hogwash. You’re too sweet, my boy.”
***
“I don’t even know how you do it,” Ava whispers later that night.
“Well, first I lick your—”
“JASON!”
I chuckle and roll her over. Putting my weight on my elbow, I stare at her. “Do what, sweetheart?”
“Your mom. Day in and day out…”
I sigh. “Ignoring the fact you brought her up after I just made you scream my name… I don’t do it. This is one of the hardest things I’ve done in my life. Sometimes the woman who raised me is not even there. It hurts to have her look at me and not know who I am.”
Ava cradles my face and rubs her lips against mine. “I’m so sorry. That’s awful.”
I nod and filter through memories of the worst moments so far.
“Hey, come back to me,” Ava whispers, and I wonder how long I disappeared into my head.
“Nowhere else I’d rather be.”
