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I watched her work, watched her pass out plates and take orders and joke around with her customers. Taking periodic sips of my coffee, I thought about how strange it was thatthiswas Annalise’s daughter. Sure, I hadn’t expected someone as refined and elegant as Annalise, but never in a million years would I have guessed that Ava would have turned intothis—some purple-haired vixen with the mouth of a sailor.
One question loomed large in my mind as I sat and watched her… What would her father say about all of this?
I continued watching her work, trying to figure out my next step, my next angle of trying to get to her. Perhaps my straightforward approach had been a foolish one. I supposed that I’d hoped I might appeal to some sense of duty in her, that the sight of someone like myself might stir a memory that would awaken something inside.
But then, she’d left Edoria as an infant, so she had no memory.
The lunch rush ended, and the lines in front of the trucks dwindled down until no one remained. When Ava had finished taking care of her last customer, I watched as she said something to the other woman working in the truck with her before shutting the window and putting up a sign that read “on break.”
My stomach tensed. Had I blown my chance? Surely, I couldn’t simply march back to the truck and bang on the back doors. With what I’d learned about Ava so far, that seemed like a good way to be greeted with a face full of mace.
I didn’t have much of a chance to think of a plan. The back doors of the truck opened, and Ava stepped out. She was dressed in skintight black jeans and white sneakers, a leather racing jacket over her T-shirt. She was sexy and stylish all in one. Right in the middle of checking her out, I noticed that those big, blue eyes of hers were locked right onto me.
I sat up, realizing that a confrontation was about to happen. Ava strode over toward me with total fearlessness, anger in her eyes.
“Yo, creep!”
“Creep?” I asked. “Excuse me?”
She stopped a good meter or so from the table. “Yeah, you heard me. Got another word I should use for some dude who’s been sitting and staring at me for the last hour?”
I checked my watch, a tinge of surprise running through me as I realized how much time had passed. Sure enough, it’d been nearly an hour.
I wasn’t in the mood to go back and forth with her. So far, I’d learned that coming at her head-on was a good way for her put up a tough front. It was time to try a different approach.
“I apologize for barging in like that. But you have to understand that the reason I’ve come to speak to you is of the utmost importance.”
My conciliatory tone seemed to have worked. Instead of firing back at me with all barrels, Ava instead regarded me with an expression of suspicion.
“Who the hell are you?” she asked. “And why are you talking to me like you know me?”
“I’d be more than happy to answer all of those questions, and any other ones you might have. Please, have a seat.” I gestured toward the open bench across from me.
The rain picked up, coming down in soft patters on the awning above. Ava continued to stare at me.
“Annalise, your mother, was an old friend of mine.”
Regarding me with even more intense suspicion, she shook her head.
“How the hell do you know my mom?”
Finally, an angle opened itself up. I rose.
The opportunity to speak with Ava had presented itself, however slight it might be. I realized that I needed to play it smart, and not get too eager. I opened my trench coat and reached inside to take out my wallet.
“Here.” I withdrew one of my business cards and handed it over. Ava regarded it with skepticism, as if it were some kind of trick. I placed the card on the table, and Ava flicked her blue eyes at me one more time before snatching it up.
“Luc Mortensen,” she said, reading my name from the card. “And there’s a phone number.” Ava looked up at me, impatience in her eyes. “Don’t business cards normally have, you know,businessnames on them? Who are you?”
“My name and number are all most people need to know and all that I’m comfortable giving out on my card. Now, I’m here in America to see you Ava, and I’d like to speak to you.” I turned, pointing up at one of the looming skyscrapers behind us. “See that building there? The tall one with the silver spire?”
“Yeah. What about it?”
“I’m staying on the top floor. There’s a lovely restaurant in the lobby. Call that number when you’re ready to talk; I’d be more than happy to tell you everything you’re curious about.”
With a slight smile, I nodded and started off.
Finally, when I was a dozen or so meters away, she yelled in my direction.
