Acceptance



It took Nick all of a month to make his mind up to just go to Hawaii. He caught a redeye flight and as soon as he landed, he got a cab to James and Carol’s house.

Carol opened the door and a look of both excitement and worry formed on her face. She invited Nick and explained to him that Ava moved.

“Where to?”

“Well, it’s about half an hour from here. She’s closer to the college campus. It’s a nice little place that she shares with a young girl she works with.” Carol informed him.

“How do I get there. I have to talk to her.” Nick pressed.

“Well, she’s not there right now. She’s working at the library.” Carol gave Nick the directions to the library, and he got right back into the cab and told the driver where to go.

When the cab stopped in front of the large building, Nick gave him the money he owed and got out, carrying his duffel bag full of clothes with him. He ran up the library steps and into the building. Then he went up to the front desk and confronted an older Hawaiian woman who was checking books.

“Hi, um, is Ava Carey here?” The woman looked up and smiled.

“Yes. She’s right over there, in the science fiction section.” The woman answered, pointing toward her left and Nick’s right. Nick went to the area the woman pointed to, and there she was. She was on a ladder, putting books away on the top shelf. She saw Nick out of the corner of her eye, but she did not recognize him. She only acknowledged the fact that someone was behind her.

“I’ll be with you in just a second.” She said. And after she put away the last book, she slowly climbed down the ladder. She brushed her hands off on her skirt and pushed the rolling ladder to the end of the aisle.

Nick just looked at her in awe. She looked pretty much the same. She still had a pouch the baby had once been. And her hair was still extremely long. It was pulled back and clipped up. And a 50’s style pair of glasses made the librarian ensemble complete.

She finally turned toward Nick and almost fainted in her tracks.

“What are you doing here?” She asked.

“I came to see you. I know that you told me everything was over. But I can’t live with myself if I don’t make things right between us. I still love you, Ava. And we should give it another try.” Ava didn’t have the heart to turn him away again. She only told the head librarian in the front that she had to take off early and being that she was quite a hard worker, she was allowed to do so.

She drove Nick to her apartment. It was vacant at the time. Her roommate, who was off all day that day, had taken Ryan out with her as she ran some errands.

Ava went into the kitchen and got them both sodas. She had just given Nick his when he put it on the counter and held her face in his hands, pulling her closer to kiss her. The kiss was long and much needed.

“See... that fire between us is still there. It never died. Ava, Heather set us up. She did stay with me in California, that much is true. But as friends. I had forgiven her and taken her back as a friend, nothing more. I found out about the pictures from Myah. They were just pictures of us when we went to this carnival thing on the beach. I was stressed out about you and I wanted to clear my head, that’s why we went. I took her to Paris because she was always hanging around me anyway, and I felt stupid leaving her alone when she could come along. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you, there is no excuse for the fact that I became complacent with not calling you. I’m truly sorry, Ava. But please, let’s move past all of that.” Ava couldn’t find the words to express herself, but she ultimately wanted all the same things that he did, so she nodded.

They kissed again, both giving into the emotions that flowed between them. At that moment, Ava let forgave Nick for all he had done, and all that he hadn’t. For her love for him far exceeded the animosity she had built up against him.

~*~*~*~*~*~


Ava heard the front door and she knew that her roommate was home with Ryan. She slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Nick. Then she put her robe on and went to meet her roommate, Ánela.

“Shhh--- be quiet.” Ava whispered.

“Why?” Ánela whispered back.

“Nick’s here. And you know the story concerning him and Ryan. He doesn’t know yet.” Ánela took the hint and as soon as she put the groceries in the kitchen, she went back out to give Ava and Nick time to discuss things. Ava then took Ryan, who was half asleep, into the nursery.

Now awake, Nick got out of bed and pulled his jeans back on. He went into the hallway and heard noise coming from a room right next to Ava’s. He pushed the door open and saw her standing over a crib. As he neared her, it dawned on him that the baby in the crib had to be his.

“Ava...” He gasped. She spun around, startled.

“There’s something I need to tell you.” She stammered, knowing well enough that it was far too late to tell Nick that she had chosen to raise their child.

“I can’t believe you never said anything earlier. Ava, you should have talked to me. Why’d you keep this to yourself?” Nick asked, panicking and backing away from the crib. Not yet wanting to believe it was real.

“I didn’t think you’d ever come back. I thought things were over with us. And I couldn’t give my baby up. Not after we were one for so long. I have to devote myself to him. He’s my son, Nick. I can’t just part with my son.” Ava stressed. Nick looked up at her with a softer expression.

“A son? What’d you name him?” She picked the baby up from the crib and brought him closer to Nick.

“Ryan Nickolas Carey. I would have made him a Carter. But I didn’t want it to get exploited. Some of your fans do still recognize me sometimes.” She explained.

“May I?” Nick asked. Ava complied and gave Ryan to his father. At first, Ryan looked at Nick with bright eyes. Then he closed them and rested his hand on Nick’s chest.

Nick started to walk around the room holding his tiny son in his arms. Swaying and humming a song that Ava couldn’t identify. It was beautiful, nonetheless. Just seeing them together that way melted Ava’s heart and she found herself on the edge of tears.

“I don’t think I could part with this little angel either.” Nick confessed, kissing Ryan on his tender forehead.


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