Page 71 of Maid in Heaven

“Vampires!” Ava curled her index fingers by her face like giant vampire fangs.

Starla tried to fight the smile. “I don’t like vampires.”

“Oh.” Ava heard the front door slam aggressively.

“I likewerewolves!”

“Werewolves?!”

Sarah’s frantic screams bellowed outside, finally stopping, followed by the slam of a car door. Starla looked out her window toward the rattling car engine as the vehicle peeled out. Finally, she looked back at Ava.

“Yeah, like theWolfmanmovie I saw.” Starla howled. “Awwoooooooo!”

In tandem, Ava and Starla howled together like wolves.

Will openedthe doorand leaned against the frame, managing a smile.“What the world is going on in here?”

“I’m theWolfman!Awwooooooooo,” Starla shouted.

“Yeah, we’re werewolves, can’t you tell?” Ava winked.

“I see.” His expression softened.

“Is that lady sick,”Starla inquired.

Willsighed and looked at the plush carpet. “Sort of.”

“I hope she gets better.”

“I do,too,” Will mumbled. “C’mon. Dinner should be ready in a minute. Come get washed up, kiddo.”

“Okay!” Starla scurried off.

Ava rose and looked at Will. “Are you okay?”

He stared at the ground, shrugging gently. His eyes seemed so pained. Ava’s heart ached at the sight of it. She caressed his cheek with her hand, and his eyes finally lifted to hers.

“I’m sorry you had to see that.”

She smiled and shrugged. “Life is messy.”

“Yes, it is.” Will snickered and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

He pulled back and held out a hand. She took it.

“Come on. Let’s eat,” he said. “I don’t know about you, but I need a glass of that wine.”

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“Do you still havefeelings for her?”

Willshook his head.“No. Not even a little.”

“My Dad,” Ava’s eyes turned cold, “was addicted to opiates. After he hadback surgerywhen I was a kid, he started taking them one at a time, as prescribed,at first. Then,he started taking two at a time, chasin’‘em down with a beer…orthree. He started asking my family fortheirsif they had procedures. Once that fizzled out, he straight-up found a dealer. He made his choices, too, just like Sarah. Even when we called him out aboutit, he never changed. We tried to get him help. He wanted none of it. The last time I saw himalive,he was passed out in his car at my wedding reception, a bottle of pills in his lap.”

Will’s eyes trained on her face.

Her expression was placid.“He died of an overdose a few years later.”

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