A Promised Fate (33 page)

“I’ll do that. Thank you, Ari.”

“You are most welcome.” I looked back down at Ava’s
note and the phone rang at the reception desk.

“Thank you for calling
baio
!...”

I had just shut the door to my office when Lirik’s
disembodied voice echoed from my desk phone, announcing the call,
“Ari, your mother is holding on line one.”

The little red light on the phone flashed until I sat
at my chair, leaned back and picked up the receiver.

“Hey, Ma.”

“Hi, Kiddo!”

My head gave an exasperated shake at her term of
endearment. “What’s up?”

“I never heard from you about the new security
system. How’d it go? Do you feel a little safer now?”

No
.

“Uh, it’s a pretty nice system…”

“That’s a good thing, right?”

“Sure, Ma.”

“I was with Ava today, she was in a much lighter
mood, I think she feels better with the added security.”

“You and Ava were together all week, what were you
doing together again today?”

“I gave her a hand with your anniversary gift.”

“Oh, so this why you called me. Do you really think
you need to remind me of my own anniversary?”

“I just want to make sure you haven’t forgotten…It’s
on Sunday. This Sunday, the fourth.”

“Ma, trust me, I know.”

“You are doing the traditional route right?”

My annoyance carried through the phone in a heavy
breath.

“Year one is paper – the gift should be paper, Ari.
Have you gotten her a gift yet? Because if not, I have a few ideas.
What about…”

Opening my desk drawer, I ignored her page-long list
of awful ideas and pulled out a narrow envelope containing Ava’s
gift. I tucked it safely into my inner breast pocket, reached
across the desk to shut down my computer and packed some papers
away for the weekend. “Yes, I have a gift, yes it is fairly
traditional and that is all you need to know.”

She huffed in disappointment. Obviously she had been
hoping I would let her in on the details surrounding my anniversary
present to Ava. “Fine then, I have to get going. Your father will
be home shortly and I have to get ready. We're taking Max out
tonight for pizza and a movie.”

“Oh? This is news to me.”

“He’s had a hard week, and Andy and I thought some
time away from the house might do Max some good. He perks up every
time that robot movie trailer is on TV, so I think we wants to see
it. We'll be gone only a few hours. Max will be home before
bedtime. Ava said that tonight would work best.”

“Ok, well then, I guess tonight will work best.
Please be safe.”

“We will. What are you two going to do tonight?”

“Oh, you know it's Friday so probably just the usual
– sit on the couch and watch bad reality TV while we shout at all
the people and tell them they are idiots.”

My mom laughed into the phone. “Sounds like my kind
of evening. Hope you aren’t disappointed. Do you have any plans to
take Ava out? Maybe a romantic dinner? We can keep Max for the
weekend if you want to get away…”

“Give it up already, would you? I am not telling you
what I got her and no need for a babysitter. Max is included in my
plans but thank you for your offer. We'll be at your place on
Sunday.”

“Really? You're still planning on coming over to our
house on your anniversary?”

“Uhhh... I was planning on it. Are we not
invited?”

“No! I mean yes! I mean, I just figured you wouldn’t
want to hang out with the whole family on your anniversary
day.”

“I love hanging out with my family.”

“Don’t you want a special weekend with your girl?”
She pressed.

“Ma, your idea of special and our idea of special are
just different. We like to keep things low key and near the
house.”

“Maybe Ava would like a little romance.”

“I do okay in the romance department… I think.”

She snickered, “Ok, kiddo, whatever you say. Treat
her like a princess, Ari.”

“I always do. I thought you said you had to go.”

“I do.”

“Good. Me too. Bye.” I hung up before she could add
anything further to the conversation and hold me up from leaving
work early.

“Have a nice weekend, Lirik.” My knuckles rapped at
her desktop.

“Happy anniversary.”

****

The back hall leading from the garage was dark aside
from the glow of the new security system. The alarm beeped until I
accessed the device and then spoke the code into the speaker.

“Baby? I’m home.” Ava’s music hummed and carried down
from the sound system. The music quality was clear again with no
static interrupting every few beats. “Babe? Ave?” My keys jingled
against the glass bowl, I kicked my loafers off at the mat and
removed my tie, tossing it on the countertop.

“
Holy God
,
”
I finally turned around and
saw her.
“I am one lucky man.”

Our home held the soft light of a hundred or more
candles. Small dancing flames licked at the air and flickered
elegantly, sending light through the house, bouncing off the glass
from the windows and back again.

“Happy anniversary.” Ava smiled at me from across the
room; her long soft waves flowed past the bend of her spine and
across the front of her chest. I sauntered to her like an animal on
the prowl and tugged at the girly pink and dainty strap of her
lingerie. “What did I do to deserve you?” My nose nuzzled through
her hair and my lips pressed to the seashell curve of her ear. “You
are beautiful, you know?” Her face warmed and heat radiated from
her cheeks as I trailed my lips and tongue down the smooth skin of
her slender neck. “But our anniversary isn’t until Sunday.”

“I couldn’t wait any longer.”

“Mmm…” I breathed in her midnight smelling skin. “I
am happy you didn’t wait. You look so sexy, I couldn’t ask for a
more perfect anniversary present than you.”

Ava shrugged out of my arms and I blinked at her,
confused at the quick change of her mood.

“What did I say?”

“Open your eyes. I am not your gift. This,” she
smoothed the lacy fabric, “is just for a little fun after your
present.”

“My eyes are open; I can’t take them off you.”

“Try.”

“It’s impossible. You are the prettiest thing in the
room. You are the prettiest thing in any room. Why would I want to
look at anything else?”

“If you look away, I promise you will still see
me.”

My brow pulled into a knit. Tearing my gaze away from
her smile and sparkling eyes, I looked around the room.

“What, Babe?”

“Really?” She stomped her foot in a cute pout.

“The house is clean. That’s nice.”

“Oh, my God!” She stomped again and crossed her hands
over the top of her baby bump.

“
Oh! My! God!
” I breathed when I saw the
photos. No more cold, bare walls. Our smiles were warm and happy
again. “Oh, wow, Ava.”

“Paper. Happy anniversary.”

“Paper. The pictures. All of them. Did you replace
all of them?”

“Yeah, every single one. Your mom let me loose in her
studio all week. I ordered copies of every picture that was damaged
during the break-in. She helped me hang the new frames this
afternoon while you were in your meeting at work so you wouldn’t be
able to access the security cameras and ruin the surprise and then
she called you when you got back to the office to keep you from
checking in on us. Lirik helped us keep track of you all day. She’s
very nice. I offered her a ticket to the fundraiser, I hope you
don’t mind.”

“You clever girl.”

“No one is going to tear us apart. Not ever again.
You are mine, Ari. And I am yours forever.”

“Forever.” I nodded and smiled at my home and my
wife. Ava had put us back together again and it felt so right.
“God, I love you.” My mouth pushed firmly against hers. A breath of
surprise pushed past her lips before she could kiss me back. “Thank
you. You are exactly what I need.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Can I play with this now?” My finger slid between
the garter belt and the warm skin of her thigh.

She giggled, “I’m all yours.”

“Yes you are.” In true caveman fashion, I lugged Ava
off to the candlelit bedroom. I was rewarded with the sounds of her
moans, the taste of her skin and the sight of her exquisitely
curved body.

****

“
Jesus Christ!”
My limbs flung forward,
jolting me awake. The sensation of falling joined the terror of my
recurring nightmare. The press of Ava’s body on top of me gave me
peace. The sight of her in my tee shirt and boxers gave me comfort.
Pieces of Ava’s pink lace and garters were shredded and shoved
between the sheets and under pillows. A rusty, dull flavor lingered
in my mouth from the blood drawn by her bite to my lip. My palm
cupped her belly and Ava’s eyelashes tickled my chest as she woke.
“Hey,” she rasped, “morning.”

“Morning. Sleep well?”

She nodded and the baby bumped just under my
hand.

“Whoa.” I pulled back, still surprised by the
feeling. “I think Cal is hungry.”

“Yes, and so is Ava,” she said just as Max stormed
down the hall in a speedy pursuit to find us. “And so is Max.”

“I’ll make something quick to help pacify the mob.
Meet you in kitchen?”

“I’ll be down in five.”

Catching Max by the baby’s room, I scooped him up and
tossed him over my shoulder, recruiting him for breakfast duty.
Going on five days, and still no talking. He relied solely on hand
gestures, head nods, smiles and frowns. His doctor and speech
therapist both suggested a return of the slight voluntary mutism he
had experienced before. It had been caused by a traumatic
experience then …and now, too, the doctors believed...in this case,
finding his cat bloody, cut up and barely alive. That was enough to
make any child struggle to find a coping mechanism. They were
optimistic since his earlier episode had lasted only three days,
and believed he would give up after a while and begin talking
again. We were told to wait things out, give him time, comfort and
support. It was hard not to let him see our worry. It was even
harder not to beg him for one tiny word.

Ava eased into a chair at the table five minutes
later and spooned cold cereal into her mouth.

“How was the movie?” I asked and Max gave me a thumbs
up – still no talking.

“Did Papus fall asleep in the theater?”

He nodded.

“Did Yaya get mad at him?”

Max nodded and smiled.

“I bet she did. He always did that when I was a kid,
too. Listen, I got you two a present. It’s for our
anniversary.”

“Our anniversary isn’t until tomorrow.” Ava crunched
a sugary fruit loop.

“I know but you gave me your gift early and I need
you to have mine now – it's time sensitive.”

Ava scowled at me. “Ari, you get me too many things.
I know it's our anniversary and all, but you have already gone
way
overboard this year. Remember? We talked about this…as
long as I have you, I’m happy.”

“I remember. It’s just paper, Ava. This present is
fun – not the least bit over the top or extravagant. I promise you
will love this.”

She scrunched her nose.

“I’ll tell you what, take the gift, open it, and if
you think it is too much or out of line or whatever – I will just
throw it away and you can pretend that I didn’t give you anything.
No feelings hurt. You have to at least open it and see what it is
first. And like I said, the gift is for Max, too.”

She eyed me and I slid the narrow, thin envelope
across the table to her. Her fingers strummed the tabletop until
she finally gave up and took the envelope.

Peeking inside, Ava’s lips pulled upwards into a
happy smile. “Baseball tickets?”

“Angels versus the Texas Rangers, noon game today in
Anaheim. What do you say, Ava? It’s just a silly baseball game, not
even any teams we like. Will you go with me? Max?”

“Yes! Best present
ever
!” Ava cheered.

Exasperated, I pointed across the kitchen at her
watch that had sat untouched for days. “That is
Harry
Winston
, Ava!”

“Whoever the heck that is,” she teased me.

****

I tugged at the end of Ava’s long ponytail that was
pulled through the back of a baseball cap. “Good seats, huh?”

“Great seats! We're so close to the field. This is
perfect for Max’s first major league game.”

“I hope you aren’t disappointed, but these tickets
are all I got for you. I thought we’d just stay low key tomorrow,
hang around the house and stop by my parent’s place for some family
time.”

Ava leaned her head down on my shoulder and I kissed
the rim of her hat. She knew why I wanted to stay home. The
anniversary of our marriage will always be marred by the dark days
that had followed – a reminder of the week that she was missing.
Our home and our peace had now been violated twice again and I was
determined to keep both Ava and Max safe and at my side as much as
I could. Nervous energy was balled up inside me. I kept waiting for
some kind of ball to drop. Doomsday was approaching. I could feel
it in my bones. Something was going to happen. I was going to fail
them.

“Ari, this weekend is great. All I ever want is you.
You know that. But, will you do me a favor?” She lifted her head
from my shoulder and looked up at me with puppy dog eyes.

“You know I'm going to say yes to whatever you want
so just spit it out.”

“Grab Max and me a hotdog? Pretty please.” She batted
her lashes playfully.

Glancing up at the long and steadily growing
concession stand line, I hid my grimace. “I’ll be back in a little
bit.”

“Thanks, Ari.”

“You betcha, Baby.”

From the line, I could see our seats. My eyes stayed
focused on Ava and Max. They were both engrossed with the action on
the field. Occasionally, Max switched from his own chair to Ava’s
lap and then back again. Removing my cell from my pocket, I hit
Julia’s number and called her again for the hundredth time or maybe
more. “Julia, hi… me again. I would really like to talk with you.
It’s important. Anyway, love ya.”