Page 44 of Doctor Everything

“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.”

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