Chapter Ten
Jason
“Have you told her yet?” Greta asks.
It’s been a week since I took Ava on my office floor. Each morning I come in, usually after crawling out of Ava’s bed or kissing her good-bye at her car when she leaves my place, Greta asks the same question.
“No.” I don’t bother looking up from the calendar on my computer.
“Why not, Jason?”
I sigh. “Greta, we’ve been over this. If I tell her when she’s not ready to hear it, she’ll run.”
Greta snorts. “She is a bit skittish.”
Gorgeous, funny, sweet, kind, fuckable, and yes, skittish are many of the words I’d use to describe my Ava. Each moment I spend with her, I fall deeper in love, and there’s no way I’m going to scare her off by telling her too soon.
For a new practice, we aren’t short on patients and my day flies by. I hurry home and clean up before swinging by Ava’s on my way to Mom’s. My sweet Ava has picked up a bouquet I’m sure Mom will love. The one simple gesture has my chest on the verge of bursting open.
“Really, it’s nothing, honey,” she says as we walk up hand in hand. Ava’s misinterpreted my reaction, but again, I’m afraid to let her in on the truth.
“She’ll love them,” I tell her, hoping it’s enough to get her to let it go.
I’m pretty sure this moment isn’t the right time to tell her how I feel. I can’t imagine anyone would find it very romantic in the parking lot of a senior living facility.
“I hope so,” she whispers, and I pull her into my side.
“She’s been having an off day today,” the nurse warns us when we check in.
I nod and avoid Ava’s eyes when she peers up at me. “Thanks for the heads-up.” An off day can mean various things for Mom. I’m second-guessing bringing Ava when she pulls me to a stop.
“Hey! Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“You’re wondering if you should have brought me. I want to be here, Jason. Your mother is your world, and you’re part of mine, so I want to be here.” Her kiss is soft and warm, and her sweetness washes over me.
I give her a firm nod, and we walk to the recreational room. Mom’s in a corner, putting a puzzle together.
I smile. “Hi, Mom! Have room for two more?”
She looks up at us, and my heart stutters. I can see immediately she doesn’t recognize me, and I’m overwhelmed with the need to cry.
“Sorry?”
“I’ve brought you flowers, Carm,” Ava says with a smile for Mom and squeezes my hand. “Would you mind if Jason and I join you?”
“Jason?” she asks, a faraway look in her eye. “My son’s named Jason. Such a sweet boy. I don’t know how I got so lucky.”
Ava places the flowers in Mom’s hands and pulls out a chair. Once she’s seated, my feet finally move, and I sit opposite of Mom. We sit silently, working on the puzzle with her. Every few minutes, Mom tosses out little tidbits about my childhood, still unaware it’s me she’s speaking with.
These moments are becoming more frequent, and each time it feels like someone’s shoved their hand in my chest cavity and squeezed my heart. No one should ever have to experience this, and yet here we are. My own personal hell.
“What did you say your name was, dear?” Mom asks Ava.
Her smile is kind. “Ava, Ava King.”
“My son Jason is in love with an Ava. What a small world,” she mutters to herself
