Page 38 of Fighter
“I plan to stay here through the summer,” I said to dismiss those thoughts. “I'll probably leave before the snow, so I'd like to smooth things over with Talmage. We're bound to run into each other here, and I'd like to be able to support him. Within reasonable, safe means.”
Her hand tightened over my knee momentarily. “You're a good sister, but don't push your boundaries. Talmage has to earn your support.”
I leaned my head on her shoulder and melted into her warmth. Sunlight glinted off sparkling drops of water while Ava's giggle floated across the water, and the only thing that could have made the moment better was Benjamin.
Maybe Dagny was right.
Maybe Icouldn'tkeep Benjamin at a distance.
12
Benjamin
Ava didn't stop talking about Serafina's family the whole way up the canyon, from Pineville to Jackson City, the next day.
I didn't often leave the small mountain town to do more intensive shopping in Jackson City, but Serafina's invasion of my cupboards made my lack of food plainly embarrassing. Serafina had left me a detailed list—plastic leftover containersandkid-friendly kitchen cupsandhot pads for the oven—included. Her requests had me lost in the Bed and Bath store for far too long. These were simple things, so why were thereso manyoptions?
“Then,” Ava cried in a voice so animated I didn't have the heart to ask her to leave me in silence for just one minute, “when we were in the river, Gary threw me in. I wasn't even scared and I swam back to him and I'm a good swimmer, Dad. Janeen said so.”
My stomach clenched thinking about her in the cold river water, but I let it pass. Apparently, I needed to get this girl out more. Her joy was evident. I'd wrongfully assumed she'd hate the cold water.
Star Dad, over here.
Gary, I assumed, was Serafina's father. My curiosity was piqued. For having just met Ava, she'd had quite a fun time with him.
Once we finally finished the shopping, I avoided a group of people that looked at me with a familiar, questioning gaze. I could practically feel their question from here.Is that Benjamin Mercedy?
Ava skipped through the parking lot as we stepped into her favorite restaurant, an old-time place with wagon wheel chandeliers and flickering, fake candlelight. The waitresses wore 1850's style dresses with boots and sometimes a bonnet. They served kids drinks out of mason jars and a banjo played in the background. Before I could even get inside the restaurant, she'd dashed in ahead of me.
Seconds later, a happy scream followed.
“Sera! Gary!”
My daughter became a blur of hair as she darted across the restaurant and threw herself into the startled—but waiting—arms of Serafina. Sera grimaced as Ava plowed right into her injured rib, but she didn’t push her away. She sat on the outside of a booth next to a woman I presumed to be her mother. A middle-aged man with graying hair and a lean build sat across from Sera. Gary, likely. And there, right next to Gary and luckily by the window so I didn't punch him out, was the bastard brother Talmage. Every muscle in my body clenched.
Sera recovered from her pain, gently pulled Ava into her arms with a bright smile, and a quick, “Hello! How are you today? I've missed you.”
Ava chattered like a squirrel to both Serafina and her mother while I approached. A wary smile lived on Sera's face as I arrived. When her eyes darted to her brother for half of a second and then back to me, I knew why. I intentionally ignored him, but felt an edge of pleasure when he squirmed.
“Hey,” Serafina said, and her bright smile was forced. She wore her hair down today in wild curls that, somehow, seemed more tamed than usual. Everything about her was easy and casual, from her jean shorts to her flip-flops and the sunglasses holding her hair back. Behind it, however, was a hint of something that seemed almost ready to break.
“I didn't know you were coming up to Jackson City,” she said, adjusting Ava on her lap when Ava laughed at a figurine that Jeanette made out of a napkin. “We were just grabbing stuff for the loft.”
I gave her a quick, warm smile. “There was a very specific list waiting for me.”
True pleasure stole over her hesitation, and her grin widened. “You should get better help, then.”
I smiled more broadly, surprised to be so happy to see her, and her grin slowly dropped. She blinked, then looked away. With an uplifted hand, she motioned to the man across from her.
“This is my father, Gary. Everyone, this is Benjamin. He's the guy that helped me find a place and he's the amazing Ava's father, as you know. This is my Mom and my brother,” she added quickly.
Gary held out a hand, and I returned his firm handshake. He eyed me but I didn't sense any wariness in him. Talmage looked at his plate but mumbled something I ignored. He was a surprisingly thick guy. Broad shoulders, rough face. Thick hands. He looked like the cowboys and farmhands that roamed through Pineville in the summer. A few of them had come to me for classes, interested in heavyweight fighting. Looking at Talmage, I couldn't believe Sera had escaped.
“Much appreciated for helping my daughter,” Gary said and pulled me from my thoughts.
“I'll always be here.” My gaze lingered on Talmage and I couldn't help the hard edge in my tone. “If she ever needs anything at all.”
Gary grinned at Ava when she tried to shoot the wrapper off a straw, no doubt ignoring the sudden tension in the booth. Talmage still hadn't met my gaze, but I spared him the humiliation and ruffled Ava's hair.
