Her head spun. So much information so fast. Her chest expanded with a feeling of pride so intense it felt like her heart might burst. “Thank you, sir.”
“That’s all I have for now.” Judson bent to his desk again. She was dismissed.
Except she hadn’t gotten everything she’d come here for.
She cleared her throat. Judson looked up, a surprised expression on his face. “What?”
“This is great. I appreciate the opportunity. I had an idea for what I could work on before I leave for Albuquerque.” Judson glowered at her, so she rushed on. “I’d love a chance to do a feature on Zach Sullivan.” Perhaps she could redeem some of the damage she’d done all those years ago.
“That chef you worked with on Jonathon Island?”
“That’s the one.” If he wouldn’t answer her text messages, maybe he would at least read an article written by her.
“Fine. Have a preliminary to me in the morning. You can finish it up and have the copy by next week.” He made a shooing motion. “Shut the door on your way out.”
“Thank you, sir.”
He responded with a grunt.
Ava shut the door, then pumped her fist.
A remote job, a sweet little house, and a chance to show Zach how she felt? The desires of her heart indeed.
Time to make some dreams come true.
Zach cracked the knuckles on his left hand. Ava would be arriving soon. Mia had told Dani that Ava was coming to look at this house, and Dani, with a gleam in her eye, had mentioned it to him.
Over the past few days, he’d examined all the hurts he’d been harboring. Letting them go one by one had left him feeling light and free. Sure, he had a way to go, but he was trusting God to help him through. He’d typed and deleted a baker’s dozen text replies to Ava, but couldn’t bring himself to send any of them. Looking her in the eye as they talked things through would be so much better.
He looked around the room. Mia had promised to bring Ava to the bungalow and then make an excuse to leave. Everything was set up. The empty front room waited for her.
He heard chatter outside and then the front door opened.
“I’ll let you take a look around,” Mia said. “I’ll be just outside.”
Ava stopped in the doorway. “Zach?” She took a half step forward. Stopped again. She opened her mouth, then shut it again and shook her head. “What are you doing here?”
“I asked Mia if I could show you around,” Zach said. “I hope you don’t mind.”
“No. I mean, what are you doing on island? Shouldn’t you be back in Chicago?”
Zach ached to pull her into his arms. But he didn’t have that right. Not until he explained. Maybe not even then. “I did go back for a while, but Chef Louie let me go. They’re looking for achef to run the kitchen at the Grand, and I came to interview. I’m thinking about moving back here.”
Ava’s eyes widened but remained unreadable. “Zach, that’s amazing. It’s like your dream come true.”
“It really is.” Zach took a deep breath. “I’m still thinking about it. Praying about it, really. I’m trying to make decisions with God’s help these days.”
“I get that.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I couldn’t believe it when I found out you were moving here. All this time, I assumed you were finding a new place in Chicago.”
Ava laughed. “I guess I never told you I was looking here. It makes sense you assumed Chicago.”
“Is it okay that I’m here?” He held his breath.
“Yes. I’ve wanted to talk to you, but things got crazy after my articles were published.” Ava came into the room.
“I’ll just tell Mia that I can lock up.” He leaned out the door. Mia stood at the bottom of the porch steps. He gave her a salute.
