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“Spaghetti and meatballs,” they answered in unison.
Jillian giggled and leaned in towards him. Afterward, she turned her head and glanced at me. “So, how was the big race?”
Reaching in the cabinet for a plate, I cleared my throat. “Good. It was good.”
Without saying a word, she arched an eyebrow at me. Simon didn’t notice but instead kept his head down, eating in blissful ignorance.
“What happened?” Jillian mouthed.
Refusing to answer, I shook my head and pointed towards my nephew. “Later,” I said in silent response.
Not long after, I joined them at the dinner table. Leaving out the part that might have upset Simon, I recounted the rest of the day’s events to both of them as we ate.
Once we’d finished, I looked at Jillian.
“I need to talk to Simon for a few minutes. If you can wait, I’ll help you clean up.”
Jillian waved at me with a dismissive flick. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it. You two go ahead.”
I smiled and thanked her, helping Simon up from his chair before heading towards his bedroom. After entering, I closed the door behind me while Simon lay down on his mattress. I spent the next minute or so making small talk with my nephew, gauging his state of mind.
Clamminess crept to the palms of my hands.
What I had to tell him was unlike anything we ever talked about before. For someone so young, Simon was surprisingly levelheaded. It was a shocking trait when I considered his parents. As much as I loved my sister, even-tempered was not the word I would ever have used to describe her. I helped him get underneath the covers, and once he’d snuggled in, I sat down on the bed next to him.
“I’m really sorry you couldn’t go to the race today. Dyson and Marco both asked about you.”
A smile came to his tiny cheeks. “Why didn’t Dyson win?”
I shook my head. “No one wins every race. There’s no shame in finishing second.”
Simon’s lower lip curled into a pout. “Dyson told me second place was the first loser.”
I chuckled. That absolutely sounded like something Dyson would say.
“Well, I guess that makes him first loser today, doesn’t it?”
Simon pulled his sheets high, closing them around his neck and shoulders. After he did, I reached down and rubbed his chest with my palm.
“Simon, honey,” I began, exhaling at the same time. “I need to talk about something very important with you. Okay?”
He looked up at me, his small brown eyes filled with the beginnings of doubt.
“It’s nothing to worry about, I promise,” I said, leaning over and kissing him on the forehead for emphasis. “It’s a good thing.”
Not long after, I leaned away, sitting up straight and began.
“I’m going to be going away for a while, sweetie,” I began. “With Dyson, Marco and the rest of the racing team.”
Simon looked up at me in silence. His expression remained unchanged.
“But it’s only temporary. Okay? Just a few months. And I’ll still have free time to come home and see you.”
Simon’s small hands tightened around the top of his blanket. He tugged it closer to his chin. “But why though?”
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for both of us. They are going to pay me very well and we could really use the money right now. It will mean a better life for both of us. After all, you want to become a doctor someday don’t you?”
He nodded at me. “Just like you, Aunt Ava.”
I smiled at him. “Everything will work out. You trust me, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Good,” I began, leaning over and kissing him on the forehead before leaning away once again.
“Now I need to go and talk to Aunt Jillian for a few minutes. Are you sure you’re okay?”
Simon nodded. I reached down and touched my fingertips to the side of his cheek.
“Good night, Simon, sweetheart. I love you.”
Simon looked up at me and smiled. “Good night, Aunt Ava. I love you too.”
After getting up and turning off the lights in his bedroom, I exited and made my way towards the kitchen. I came around the corner and noticed Jillian putting away dishes.
She turned her head in my direction. “How’s he feeling?”
I leaned against the kitchen counter, pressing my palm flat on the surface. “He seems to be doing a little better, but he’s still tired.”
Jillian smiled at me before bending over and grabbing a clean plate from the dishwasher. There was no easy way to talk to her about the offer I’d received, so I just decided to do it.
I cleared my throat, pausing for just a moment before I spoke. “I need to talk to you about something.”
Jillian reached up and slid the plate into the cupboard before turning to face me. “Okay, what’s up?”
Removing my hand from the countertop, I crossed my arms and nibbled on my lower lip.
“Uh oh,” she began. “This is serious, isn’t it?”
“Mmm hmm.”
She turned and faced me. “All right, come on. Out with it.”
I spent the next several minutes telling her about the offer I’d received from Dieter to travel with the team, including how much I was going to be paid and how long I’d probably be gone.
A huge smile came to her face. “That’s such great news! You must be thrilled.”
“I am,” I grumbled. “Sort of.”
“What do you mean? Why wouldn’t you be excited? With that kind of money, you can take care of Simon and maybe even get yourself back into school, and…”
I nodded, interrupting her. “I know, but I can’t do it alone.”
“What are you saying?” she asked, pausing for just a moment. “Oooh, you mean Simon? You don’t have to worry about that, Ava. I don’t mind taking care of him. Not one bit.”
I felt a lump gather in my throat. While I looked at my best friend, my vision blurred with the beginnings of tears.
“Oh honey,” she began, moving towards me for a hug. “Please don’t do that. You’re going to make me cry also.”
I nodded, wrapping my arms around her and embracing her. “I don’t know how to thank you.”
We hugged for a few more moments before separating.
“You don’t need to thank me for anything, Ava. I love Simon like he was my own family. And of course, you know I love you too.”
Even though I tried my best, several streaks of tears escaped from my eyes. Over the next minute or so, I managed to get myself under control. After I did, Jillian congratulated me once more before returning to finish with the dishes.
“So I suppose you’ll be spending more time with Dyson, won’t you?”
Dyson…
I furrowed my brow at the mention of his name. Taking notice of my silence, Jillian glanced at me. “What’s wrong? Did something happen with Dyson?”
I shook my head. “I’m not sure, but something he said made me feel uneasy.”
“That doesn’t sound good. What happened?”
“Well, after the race ended, we saw each other, and he asked me if I was going to accept the position.”
Jillian shrugged, frowning at the same time “So. What’s wrong with that?”
“I hadn’t told him about it yet. It was like he knew about it beforehand.”
Jillian’s head drifted backward. Her mouth opened a fraction. The realization dawned on her. “Ah, I see. What did you say to him?”
“You mean, did I confront him about it?”
“Yeah.”
“No. I didn’t.”
My friend leaned against the counter, pinching her chin between her thumb and forefinger. “Do you really think he was behind the whole thing?”
“Where Dyson is concerned,” I began, shaking my head. “Anything is possible.”
Jillian looked at me in silence for a moment or so. “Well, I suppose all you can do is keep your guard up. This opportunity is too important for you. You can handle Dyson Vix. You have no choice.”
Staring into her eyes, I nodded my head in agreement.
AVA
I hadn’t slept well.
Although I really had no choice but to accept the offer, I still struggled with the notion Dyson was somehow manipulating the situation to his benefit. Even so, I had to find a way to deal with him and not risk losing the money I’d receive from the job.
I moved through my work day that Monday mindlessly. With the deadline for my decision looming, I had to first tell Dr. Wilcox what I’d decided to do.
And so it was later that afternoon I knocked on the door to his office. He sat there behind his oversized oak desk, flanked on either side by stacks of patient paperwork.
Glancing up at me, he smiled.
“Ava, please come in.”
I smiled in return and walked inside his office. “Thank you.”
He watched me while I approached until I took a seat in a chair across from his desk. Dr. Wilcox had been in medicine for more than twenty years by the time I came to work for him. If there was ever someone I wanted to be like, emulate, should I ever actually graduate from medical school, it would be him. The wall and credenza behind him were filled with awards and plaques, all recognizing his exceptional ability. Equally important, if not more so though, he was a genuinely caring person.
I eased into the leather chair, crossing my legs at the knee.
Dr. Wilcox placed his pen down on top of his desk and looked at me. “I assume you’re here to tell me what you decided to do?”
