Page 16 of Ava
“Don’t be, if you want to know something ask. I’m sure you’re used to keeping your questions close to the vest, and you will have to again, but when it comes to family, ask.”
“Thank you.”
They started passing dishes, but Justin held up his hand. “Before we begin, I’d like to formally apologize to Ava for my actions earlier. I was in a hurry to get to town before the store closed for lunch, and I didn’t pay attention as I came out of the site, and onto the road. She was right when she said I almost took her out.” He paused and looked around the table. “She was on a Harley, and it would have been disastrous if she hadn’t already slowed down for the clumps of mud in the road from the trucks going in and out. I know that’s not an excuse, but I’m sorry.”
“Forgiven,” Ava said, and left it at that. The dishes were passed, and Ava hadn’t realized just how hungry she was, until the food was in front of her. She took a little of everything offered, and ended up going back for seconds. It had been a long, long time since she’d eaten as much as she did. Afterward, she laughed as she pushed her plate away. “I’m going to have to run twenty miles in the morning to wear all the stuff I ate off.”
“You run?” Justin asked.
“I do, do you?”
“Not really, but I do use the gym in the basement for the weights.” He frowned, then looked over at Morgan. “You coming to the job site tomorrow?”
“Yes, I need to go over things with Ava. How’s it coming?”
“Good,” John said. “The inspector came out today and inspected all the wiring and plumbing. He passed everything, so tomorrow we’ll start putting in the insulation and putting up the drywall. Everything should go smoothly after that. We were only waiting for the inspector to come out to approve the work. Luckily we were only down for two days, but with the crew we have, it shouldn’t take long to catch up.”
“Good, not that I’m pressuring you or anything, but I’d like to work in my own office soon.”
“Two weeks,” Chuck said as he pushed his own plate away. “If all goes as planned, it should be ready in two weeks. As John said, tomorrow we’ll start putting up the drywall. I plan on having it all hung, mudded, and sanded by the end of this week, then we can start to paint next week. Did you get the colors picked out yet?”
“Not yet, when do you need my final decision by?”
“Thursday. I can go order it on Friday, and we can have it here by Monday.”
“Okay, I’ll let you know.” Morgan nodded, and Ava was shocked when the men stood and began cleaning the table. When she rose to help, Justin looked at her and shook his head. “No, whoever didn’t cook, cleans up.”
“But, I didn’t cook.”
“But, you helped put it on the table, I saw you. Besides, you’re a guest for tonight.” His tone brooked no arguments, so Ava sat back down and looked at the other women in wonder. All the men cleared the table, and while some put the food away, some loaded the dishwasher, while still others did up a sink full of water, and washed, dried and put away the old-fashioned way. While they did that, Morgan invited Ava further into the house.
“I want you to know that any book from this section is up for grabs. This chair here in this nook is my favorite place to read. If there’s a book open on the arm of the chair, that’s the one I’m currently reading, and not up for grabs.”
“Okay, I can’t remember when the last time was that I sat down and read a book.” Ava sighed, then looked all around and leaned in. “Hell, I don’t think my mind rests long enough to concentrate on trying to read.”
“I understand. I was like that for a few years after I got out. I know I read it in your file, but how long have you been out?”
“Out how?” At Morgan’s frown, she sighed and scrubbed her face with both hands. “Two years ago next week will be the anniversary of when my last mission went south. The one where I was kidnapped or tortured. I was in the hospital for three weeks, then after healing, the PT, and the psych evaluations, I’ve been officially out of the service for ten months.”
“I understand.” Morgan nodded. Neither of them had seen Justin as he’d started to enter the living room, but paused when he’d heard them talking. After hearing what Ava said, he turned on his heel and hurried out of the house. Dillon had been right behind him and had heard what was said, but no one else had. He walked over to his wife and said he’d be back, then followed the other man outside.
CHAPTER8
Justin hurriedout of the main house and walked several yards away from the light from the windows. When he heard someone come up from behind him, he whipped around and breathed easier when he realized who it was.
“You okay?” Dillon asked the other man.
“I don’t know. Did you hear what Ava said?”
“I did, want to talk about it?”
“I don’t know.” Justin shook his head and started to walk toward the bunkhouse where his camper was, but he whipped back around, and asked. “How do you know she’s telling the truth?”
Dillon sighed, and pointed to the cluster of chairs around a firepit several more yards away from the house. The shadows gave them privacy. After they settled in chairs, Dillon looked at Justin and made a decision. “What I’m about to tell you is in strict confidence.”
“Okay.”
“I mean it, Justin, you can’t tell another living soul what I’m about to tell you.”
