Page 42 of Destiny

I’m not angry with Ava so much as frustrated. I get that she wants answers. That she wants to figure out why her grandmother came to her. What I don’t get is why she won’t let me help her.

I head back to the bar and up to my place. I still have another hour before I need to get everything open. I think about Ava and the dinner we enjoyed last night at Fortnight. The dinner cost me a fortune, but I was glad to pay for it because she’s my lady—at least I hope she still is—and she deserves the best.

Perhaps she’s just not ready for a proposal of marriage.

Indeed, it wasn’t my intention to propose today. My God, that lovemaking was so amazing. We were together in a way we haven’t been before. Maybe that’s because of everything going on in Ava’s life as well. She’s finding herself. Not that she didn’t know who she was before, but now she’s been forced to recognize the fact that things were never what they seemed, and she’s finding herself within.

In the back of my mind, though, a sliver of fear erupts.

Ava is somehow connected to Wendy Madigan, and I’m not just talking about her genetics.

She’s right. There’s a reason why Wendy chose her, and it frightens me—not why Wendy chose Ava, but how it’s affecting her.

My phone buzzes.

My insurance company. Now what the hell do they want?

“Yeah, this is Brendan Murphy,” I say into the phone.

“Hey, Mr. Murphy. This is Nigel Wilson from Silverthorne Insurance. How are you today?”

I hate when businesspeople start the call with small talk. I don’t care how he is, and he doesn’t care how I am. We both have things to do, so isn’t it better to get right to the point?

Yeah, I’m in a mood.

“Fine. Could you tell me what this call is regarding, please?”

“Sure. I just want to apologize for the delay in processing your claim.”

“Delay?”

“Yeah, there were some clerical problems. It just got onto my desk this morning.”

“But…the claim is already processed. You made a payment already.”

A slight pause. “Are we talking about two different claims here?”

“No. I’ve had only one claim. For the vandalism of my apartment over my bar.”

“Yes, that’s what I’m looking at right here. You have a deductible of two grand, correct?”

“Which you guys waived,” I say.

A longer pause. “Sir, we never waive deductibles. I don’t have the authority to do that.”

“Then there must be some mistake. Check with your supervisor or something. You must’ve received a duplicate claim. I’ve already been paid.”

I hear tapping on the computer from the other end of the line.

“I’m showing that this claim is still outstanding. Let me do some checking, Mr. Murphy. I’m sorry I bothered you.”

“Not a problem.” I end the call and throw my phone down on the table.

I need to go down and get the bar ready for opening. But damn, I could use a drink myself right now.

If only Ava had said yes to my proposal. Talk about shitty timing. What was I thinking?

I believe she loves me. I believe she loves me as much as I love her.

---