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“Well, why did you come to Hannibal? No offense, I love my hometown, but compared to New York, this is backwoods as backwoods can be.”
“Really? You think that? New York is a dense hub. Everyone is always rushing and hustling from one place to the next. I like how laid-back and quiet Hannibal is.”
Her eyes watched me carefully, hanging onto every word. Usually, people were telling me about their ailments and problems. But seeing her interested in what I had to say, genuinely interested, kept me talking.
“The air is clean here. People here are nice.”
“Like me?” She teased.
A laugh worked up my throat. “Yeah, of course.”
Her giggle carried on the wind. “That may be one of the reasons I like Hannibal, too.”
“Because you’re nice?”
“What? No.” She laughed.
I felt my lips stretch in a smile. “But you just said—”
“Stop.” She pointed her fork at me, still trembling with laughter. “I meant I like Hannibal because of the ambiance and the people. They’re great. It’s a nice place to live.”
I thought back to the picture of her during the charity dog wash. She was one of those great people of Hannibal. If I brought it up, I had no doubt she’d downplay it.
Instead, I asked, “So you’ve never thought of leaving?”
She looked up at the darkening sky, like it held all the answers. “Well, I did once. But it was only a passing thought. I was mad at my dad, and I told him the moment I turned eighteen, I was leaving.”
“What?”
“Yeah, I kinda wasn’t the most pleasant teenager.”
I pictured a younger Ava fuming with rage.
“What? Why are you smiling?” She eyed me.
“You must have been adorable, declaring your quest for freedom.”
Her cheeks flamed. “I wasn’t adorable. I was mad at my dad.”
“Why?”
“He tossed out my favorite boy band poster.”
My eyes narrowed.
“That’s all?”
“I was a teenager!”
I chuckled. “You’re so adorable when you’re mad.”
“Ugh, and you’re annoying.” But a reluctant smile covered her face. “It’s no laughing matter.”
"I know." I pressed my lips together, barely containing my laughter. "Serious, life-changing stuff."
She sighed. “Yeah, well, I never left. As you can see.”
She shrugged. “I love being here. My life is here. Everything I care about. All the people I love. It’s home.”
