Chapter Two

Gavin

Damn, she's beautiful.

I've repeated that phrase over and over since I found Ava Rutledge stranded on the side of the road. I tried to keep myself in check, remaining as respectful as humanly possible, but it was difficult with her wearing that black dress and boots. She looked positively breathtaking.

Always does.

I've known Ava for quite some time, but as more of an acquaintance. Someone who grew up in the same town, attended the same school. She is three years older than me, a senior in my freshman year of high school when I caught my first glimpse of her. I was too young for her and way out of her league, but that didn't stop my teenage brain from fantasizing about her.

Of course, I was just a kid with a crush, but I spent that entire school year secretly watching her and wishing she were mine. She had the sexiest freckles on her cheeks and wore wire-rimmed glasses. After she graduated and went off to college, I'd catch sight of her every now and again when she'd come home for break, and while I dated my share of girls in high school, I was always sweet on Ava Rutledge.

Crushes are brutal like that.

Over the years, we've occasionally been at the same place at the same time, and while I don't consider it a crush anymore—just recognition of a beautiful woman—I have a deep respect for her. She attended college and returned to her hometown to teach at the very school we all walked the halls in as kids and has done well with her life, despite the fiasco of that terrible college photo resurfacing a few years back.

I, on the other hand, have had my fair share of ups and downs. A failed marriage, bitter custody battle that took forever to settle, and a credit score that doesn't seem to go anywhere, thanks to my ex and her ability to trash everything with my name attached to it. But the best thing to come from even the worst day in my life is my daughter, Annabelle. She's simply the best piece of me, and I refuse to let her mother dampen that.

She's the most inquisitive little girl I've ever met, always has been. Even as a young child, she asked the dreaded question…why? She wanted to know how everything worked, and from the moment she was able to read, she read everything with words on it. Okay, not everything, but she always has a book or will go online to research something that fascinates her.

I wasn't kidding when I told Ava I didn't know where she got it from. I was a C student, and sometimes barely even that. I didn't like school, especially reading, and from what I've learned about my ex-wife over the years, she wasn't exactly a stellar student either. She got by, mostly by using her looks when she could.

I have tons of stories, but now isn't the time. No one wants to hear about how Julia used any and all means possible to get a leg up in life.

And I definitely won't get into anything involving her legs right now, but I will say they were usually spread.

When I reach Eldridge Road once more, instead of turning left and continuing my drive through the countryside, I opt to turn right. I'm curious as to whether Marcus is there yet to retrieve Ava's car. It's only a few miles up the road, and thanks to the falling snow, there isn't any traffic out right now.

The road is somewhat flat, but there is a big bend coming up. As soon as I drive around it, the lights of Pine Village come into view. They're off in the distance, but there, nonetheless. I can also see the blinking orange lights of Ava's disabled Kia. Decelerating, I slowly approach her vehicle, noting how perfect and fitting it is for her. It's a small, sporty SUV with all-wheel drive. I've seen her scoot around town and on snowy country roads with ease and love how comfortable she looks in it.

Just as I prepare to pull over and make sure no one fucks with her car—despite having yet to pass another vehicle—I see the flashing lights of Marcus's tow truck up ahead. He's on his way, which means there's really no reason for me to hang around. It's not like he needs my help or anything. Marcus has been working on automobiles since he was old enough to walk, cutting his teeth on oil changes and brake lines. His grandpa owned the original shop, and as he grew up, raised by his grandparents, that's where he spent all his time.

He learned from the best and, about five or six years ago, purchased the shop.

I give him plenty of room as I pass, watching in my rearview mirror as he pulls the flatbed truck in front of Ava's disabled vehicle. Knowing there's nothing I can do but head home, I continue forward, reaching the city limits of Pine Village fairly quickly. I move through the streets, recalling how I'd walk them or ride my bike as a kid. I grew up not too far from where I'm at, so I head in the direction of the house my parents still live in after forty years of marriage.

I'm the youngest of three, and the only one to stay in our hometown. I love the small-town vibe, while my older brother and sister thrive more in the city. Both live in St. Paul, Minnesota, just a short thirty-minutes on the opposite side of the Wisconsin/Minnesota border, so they're still close enough to check on our parents and get together for birthdays and holidays.

When I turn onto Grinnell Drive, I spot the familiar light in front of the living room window on, and I can practically see my parents sitting in their respective recliners, watching late-night television. You would think it was the news, but it's not. They're huge Jimmy Fallon fans, watching it faithfully with a bowl of popcorn and a bottle of beer.

My parents are cool like that.

I always thought I'd be just like them when I grew up. As the youngest, I sort of got away with everything by the time I was in high school, but even though I was an ornery shit, I always longed for the relationship my parents seemed to have. Oh, it wasn't perfect. They argued and, at times, told each other where to go, but at the end of the day, they talked it out and vowed to do better.

My marriage to Julia was nothing like that.

Not even close.

I pass my parents' house, wanting to stop but not at this hour. Not that it's late, but I'm sure my mom worked hard to prepare for tomorrow. We'll be gathering at their place for Christmas Eve dinner. Since it falls on a Saturday, it was easy to plan around my siblings' schedules and when I have Annabelle. I get her all day tomorrow, and while the thought of not seeing her on Christmas morning kills me, that's the way the holiday schedule falls.

Julia and I split the time fifty-fifty, and while it was a huge fight and long court process to get to that point, I don't regret it. Having my daughter with me as much as I can was my goal, and thanks to a very expensive lawyer, we were able to get shared custody, despite how difficult Julia made it. The major holidays are rotated, so while Annabelle is with me Christmas Eve and her mom Christmas Day this year, next year will be the opposite. I make the best out of it, making sure my grievances with Julia don't touch our daughter.

As I worm my way through the city streets, taking in the houses decorated with Christmas lights, my mind returns to Ava. I don't think she's dating anyone, which surprises me. She's smart, beautiful, and has a good head on her shoulders. I've never understood why some guy hasn't scooped her up yet. But you never hear of her dating anyone, and believe me, in this town, you'd hear. Everyone makes your business their own.

Eventually, I drive home, pulling into my attached garage and parking. I use these drives to help relax me, but I feel like after finding Ava stranded on the side of the road, I'm anything but. I'm tense, and my mind is consumed by her. As much as I try not to think about my daughter's gorgeous teacher, I can't stop.

This is definitely going to be a long night.

"Ready?" I ask Annabelle as I pick her up on Christmas Eve morning. It's exactly eight o'clock, and my daughter is full of smiles and excitement.

"Yes," she informs me, making sure her coat is zipped and her gloves in place. "I'm so happy it snowed last night. Now it feels like Christmas."

I take her overnight bag, which contains what little bit of stuff she doesn't already have at my house. "We're leaving, Julia," I holler at my ex, who, surprisingly, hasn't graced me with her appearance at the door.

"She's still sleeping," Annabelle states, making sure the door is locked behind her as she closes it.

We walk toward my truck, and when she climbs in the passenger seat and I have her bag placed on the floorboard, I ask, "Did she work last night?" I know full well she didn't. It's not harvest season, and even then, Julia rarely works evenings because of our daughter.

"No, just up late, I guess. I woke her up when I was getting ready and told her I was leaving."

I nod before closing her door and heading for the driver's side.

Julia works at her dad's grain elevator in Hudson, about ten minutes away from Pine Village. She takes care of a lot of the office side of the business, and in fact, that's how we met. I was driving a truck for a farmer, hauling grain to the elevator one harvest, and bam, there she was.

Gorgeous.

We hit it off right away, and the next thing I knew, we were talking about marriage. Like three months after we met. I was twenty; Julia barely twenty-one. Got married, had a kid two years later, and battled until the day we finally acknowledged it was over.

It wasn't all bad, don't get me wrong, but we learned pretty early on that we weren't right for each other. Yet, we still tried for the sake of our daughter. However, in the end, divorce was our only option, especially after I suspected she wasn't faithful. She never confirmed it, but my gut tells me the rumors were accurate, especially since the guy she was supposedly screwing was my former employee—who quit the moment his name was mentioned as being linked to her.

But all that is in my rearview mirror.

I'm happy and healthy, raising my daughter, working as the local contractor, which I love, and doing my thing.

"When are we going to Grandma and Grandpa's?" Annabelle asks.

"Three. We'll do presents and eat dinner. Great-Grandma Pierson is going to come over for a bit too after church. I think Grandma wants to do games."

Annabelle smirks. "I hope it's Scrabble. Remember last year when Fletcher threw the board across the room when I beat him?"

I chuckle, heading toward the diner. Fletcher is my brother's oldest. He's eighteen and competitive as hell, especially in the classroom. So to lose to his younger cousin was a blow to his ego. "I'm guessing the Scrabble board will be put away this year," I tell her, finding a parking spot right on the street in front of the diner. Turning off the truck, I spin my attention her way. "Even though it accidentally went flying from the table."

My eleven-year-old daughter giggles the sweetest sound. "Yeah, ‘accidentally, '" she repeats, using her fingers to make air quotes.

"Come on. Let's go have breakfast, and then you can help me get a few last-minute gifts," I state, grabbing my keys and slipping from my truck.

"Can we go to the bookstore?" she asks, her brown eyes full of hope and excitement.

I pause on the sidewalk outside the diner. "It's Christmas Eve."

"I know," she sings. "What better time to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior than with a new book?" she asks, fluttering her eyelashes and offering me a big grin.

Laughing, I open the door and follow her inside. "We'll see. We have to get something else for Bethany," I tell her, referring to my sister's youngest daughter.

"I know just the thing! At Thanksgiving, she was talking about the Star Friends books! We can get her some of those. They're really good," she says as Ellie walks over to where we stand.

"Hey, guys. Have a seat wherever," Ellie states with a friendly smile. "Chocolate milk?" she asks Annabelle, who eagerly nods. When Ellie glances my way, she adds, "Coffee and water?"

"You're the best, Ellie," I tell her, following behind Annabelle as she heads for one of the available booths.

Frannie's Diner is a local staple, serving the best home-cooked meals around. Fran still works, but not nearly as much as she used to. Ellie Dexter has been managing this place for years, starting here in high school. When she got pregnant at seventeen, it was Fran who took her in, giving her a job and a place to stay when her parents kicked her out. She married TD, the local police officer and football coach, last summer, and they seem pretty happy.

Annabelle and I just got our coats off and placed on the booth seat beside us when Ellie returns with our drinks. "Are you ready for Christmas, Annabelle?"

"Yes," my daughter proclaims. "I get two whole days of Christmases. Today with my dad and tomorrow with my mom."

"Well, that sounds like a lot of fun. And a lot of gifts," she adds with a chuckle. "Are you having the French toast or the pancakes today?"

"French toast," my daughter replies.

"Whipped cream and strawberries?"

"Of course!"

Smiling, Ellie turns her attention my way. "The usual for you?" she asks, remembering every detail of my usual order without making one note.

"Please," I reply, tearing open two sugar packets and dropping the contents into my coffee.

"Coming right up!" she proclaims, spinning around to put our orders in with the kitchen.

The bell over the door chimes, and as usual, everyone turns to see who's arriving. Since it's so close to Christmas, we don't have a lot of tourists in town right now, which means the newcomers are most likely local. I turn, spotting TD and Ellie's son, Brody, entering the diner.

TD gives me a wave in greeting, but his attention is drawn quickly to his wife. They share a smile, and as if two magnets drawn to each other, they both move and meet in the middle of the diner. "Hello, wife," he mutters right before pressing a chaste kiss to her lips.

"Husband," she murmurs, practically singing that one word. Then, she quickly turns her attention to Brody. "Good morning."

"Morning, Mom," he mumbles, his hair slightly askew and his eyes heavy.

She chuckles. "Booth or table?"

"Counter," TD states, slapping Brody on the back of the shoulder and guiding him toward the far end of the room, where the long counter is situated.

"I'll be up in a few," she chimes in behind them, making a few stops to refill cups of coffee.

"Brody looks a little tired," I say when she reaches our table.

She smiles widely, glancing to where her husband and son sit, talking. "He was up pretty late last night, hanging out with some friends all home from college, and I haven't confirmed it yet, but I think there might have been a little alcohol involved," she says, shaking her head.

I nod. "Nothing we didn't do at that age, right?" I reason, recalling how my friends and I would sneak beer out of our parents' refrigerators and share it at someone's house. The unspoken rule was no one leaves if alcohol was ever involved, something we stuck to even when our dumb, teenage brains wanted to challenge us.

"Well, I wouldn't know," she replies with a chuckle, reminding me of how her life was different than her classmates, thanks to a teenage pregnancy. "But he stayed put at his friend's, and that's all I ask. You either call me or TD or you don't leave."

I nod. "Good rule."

She sighs. "They're technically adults, but it's hard not to still view them as kids. As long as they're smart about it, we have to let them make their own decisions, right or wrong."

"He's got a good head on his shoulders, Ellie."

"I know," she replies proudly.

"Hey, I know it's early, but if Brody's looking for summer work when he gets out of school, I'm always searching. I could definitely keep him busy for the months he's home on break."

She grins widely. "Wow, really? I'll mention it to him, thanks."

"Just have him give me a call or stop by this spring if he's interested. Or if he has a friend who might be." Summer is always crazy busy with construction projects, and having an extra pair of hands comes in very handy, especially since Annabelle is also out of school and I try to spend extra time with her.

"Thanks, Gavin," she replies, hearing the ringing of the bell at the kitchen window. "That's probably your order. I'll be right back."

I turn my attention back to Annabelle and give her a smile. She's the perfect combination of her mom and me, with her mom's round face and brown eyes, but my brown hair and full lips. She catches me watching her and gives me a wide grin. Her front teeth are slightly crooked, an indication she's probably going to need braces someday soon, and her eyes are twinkling with both mischief and anticipation.

"So, about the bookstore…"