She is both intelligent and talented, and there are moments when I question how I am deserving of her. But she is undoubtedly the one for me. She loves me for who I am, and I reciprocate that love in a way that no one else can. Because of this, I believe we are deserving of each other.
I clear breadcrumbs off my fingertips, then move on to take my first bite of the steak. I dip it in the thick, creamy sauce. Damn! It’s cracking. “This is delicious!” I exclaim, a proud smile forming on her face. I know she has skills in the kitchen, but I also appreciate the love and effort she put intomaking this meal. I almost clean my plate with my tongue, savoring every last bit.
Ava notices my enthusiasm. “Didn’t I make enough?”
“Oh, you made plenty,” I praise. “It was just so good.”
After we finish eating, I try to stop her from helping me with the dishes, but she insists since Quinton is already in bed. Watching her diligently wipe the plates and glasses, I wonder how much Willem truly appreciated her when they were together.
She catches my expression. “You seem far away.”
Her encouraging face gives me the confidence to start, “I’ve been wondering about you and Willem.”
She picks up another plate, drying it with a kitchen towel, and teases, “You want to know if it was love at first sight?”
I chuckle. “Maybe.”
“Apart from you, love at first sight had never been part of my history,” she quips. “I met Willem while on an assignment in Sacramento. I worked for CBS at the time. You know, court artists aren’t actually affiliated with the justice system. The media hire us to cover trials where cameras aren’t allowed. W-Bot had just won a contract with California DOJ. We met through my manager at CBS. He and I became friends, but I never felt any romantic connection. He tried, but I kept my distance.”
Ava places the stack of dried plates on the shelf, and I decide to abandon the rest of the cleaning. I guide her to the living room, ready to continue our conversation. Sitting beside me on the sofa, she puts her feet up and leans against me.
“Everything changed when I fell ill,” she goes on.
“Your leukemia?”
“Yes, the most aggressive kind. It was almost a death sentence, even with the right treatment.”
Uncomfortable heat sprawls at my back, hearing the word ‘death’ associated with her. It reminds me of the two kinds of danger there are in this world—the kind you can protect your loved ones from, and the kind that will win no matter what you do.
I tighten my hold on her. “You’re clear now, though, right?”
She smiles, telling me not to worry. “I’ve been cancer-free for three years now.”
I nuzzle at her neck, inhaling her scent. “So Willem helped you?”
Letting out a sigh of frustration, she takes hold of each of my fingers as if using them as a visual aid to help convey her explanation. “He did. And to make matters worse, my father’s taxi business went under, leaving us with no way to afford my medical expenses. He made sure I had access to the best doctors and paid for everything without questions. I never asked him to do it. I was grateful for his help, but at the same time, I didn’t want it.”
I can picture Willem acting that way, barging into her life without considering her opinions. But the truth is, I can’t deny that he saved Ava’s life.
She continues. “I beat the cancer, but it wasn’t easy for me to rebuild my career. I was just an intern, so after being absent for months, I had to start from scratch. Besides, the demand for courtroom sketches had dwindled. Willem, with his connections in high places, managed to help me secure a permanent position as a graphic artist with CBS while still working in court on an assignment basis.
“With a steady income, I could afford to send money regularly to my parents. But my parents… they have no shame! They kept accepting Willem’s money to get things they didn’t need—it was all for prestige. But I had never seen my parents so happy, and at the same time, I became stronger and got back on my feet, all thanks to Willem. So I gave in.”
She sighs deeply, pressing her lips in regret.
“Hey, don’t blame yourself,” I say, rubbing her shoulder.
“You probably think I’m gutless.”
“No, you’re not! I would have done the same thing,” I assure her.
“No, you wouldn’t,” she insists.
“I would. I was an orphan after being kidnapped, so I can’t understand your situation with your parents. Well, my father is still around, but it’s not the same when you met him for the first time as an adult.”
Her head nods a little.
I interlock my fingers with hers, saying, “But I know I would have done what I could to make my family happy. And I would have felt indebted to Willem for what he had done. I hate that man. God, I really do! But if it weren’t for him, you wouldn’t be here. In your shoes, I would have done the same, Ava.”