Authors: Karen Pokras
Ava rubbed her temples. “No, they didn’t say a word.”
“Oh well, everyone was just concerned that’s all. They probably didn’t want to get you even more upset. But now that Thomas is—” She stopped mid-sentence.
“It’s okay, Carly. You can say the word dead. I've stopped feeling guilty over the fact that I’m relieved he is dead days ago. Although the way he went was pretty gruesome.”
“If you asked me, he should have been strung up by his—”
“Carly!” Ava yelled. “Stop. Let’s just move on. You were saying? Now that Thomas is dead?”
“Well, I was just going to say that you can be a little more relaxed now, and maybe you won’t be so bummed out all the time.”
“Yeah,” Ava said, going back over to her suitcase. She pulled out clothes and transferred them into her dresser. Sure. Why should she be bummed out? The love of her life was across town, preparing to move three thousand miles away in a matter of days. Life was just grand.
“I mean, I know you’re going to miss Max and all, but you still have me!” Carly walked over to Ava and put an arm around her shoulder.
“Thanks,” she said. She knew Carly meant well, and she appreciated the effort. It wasn’t Carly’s fault Max was leaving. It wasn’t anyone’s fault.
“Hey, did you get a chance to pick up your schedule yet?” Carly asked. “I thought maybe we could go into town together to get our art supplies for class and then stop at The Spot for some lunch. What do you say?”
Ava picked up her phone; nothing from Max. He said he was going to text her when he was ready to go get a bite to eat. As much as she wanted to see Max, she really did need to get her schedule and supplies. Things tended to sell out quickly at the beginning of the semester. She quickly typed:
Hi. How’s it going? What time do you want to meet for lunch?
Max: Hi babe. Didn’t realize I had so much stuff. Can we make it dinner? Love you. xoxo
Ava: Sure. I’m going to grab a bite with Carly then, and I’ll see you later. Love you back. xoxo
“Okay,” Ava said. “That sounds like a plan. Do you want me to drive?”
“No. You’ve been driving all day,” Carly replied. “I’ll drive.”
Chapter 37
Ava looked at her class schedule as they sat at their table waiting to order at The Spot. For the first time in a long time, Statistics 101 wasn’t listed. In fact, she only had one class left for her business degree—a marketing class. All the rest were art classes. Graduation was in sight, and a job with Cynthia was pretty much guaranteed. Everything she wanted was within her reach. Everything but Max. She had to wait longer for him. Why did there always have to be something? Why couldn’t she just have it all for once?
The line at registration was ridiculously long; not that Ava was surprised. Everybody returning from winter break had the same thing on their mind: getting their schedules so they could pick up their supplies to be ready for the first day of class. Of course, they would have gotten through a lot faster if Carly hadn’t insisted she was thirsty and needed a drink that very minute. She made Ava leave the line with her to grab a drink at the student center just when they were starting to move closer to the front. Carly had said if she didn’t get a drink right that second she would surely pass out. Ava thought she was being a bit over dramatic, but whatever. Sometimes it was just easier to go along with Carly than argue with her. Ava noticed that Carly was checking her phone a lot as they got back in line—the end of the line that is, which seemed even longer. Ava wondered if maybe she had a new boyfriend, although she didn’t ask. She wasn’t really in the mood for the details.
After they
finally
received their schedules, they headed over to the art supply store. As predicted, it was packed with students. Ava grabbed what she needed pretty quickly, but Carly seemed to be taking her time—texting someone all the while. Ava was starting to grow impatient. She was on limited time as she wanted to get back to Max, and they still needed to eat lunch. Finally, just when Ava was about to suggest they skip lunch, Carly appeared ready to head to the cashier.
“Earth to Ava,” Carly said.
“Huh?” she asked, looking up to see the waitress staring at her.
“Lunch, Ava, remember?” She motioned to the waiting waitress.
“Oh, sorry. I’ll have a cheeseburger and a diet cola. Thanks.”
The waitress scribbled the order on her pad and walked away.
“Is something wrong with your schedule?” Carly asked. “Did you forget to get something at the art store?”
“No, no. I think I got everything. I was just thinking that for once, my schedule looks decent.”
Carly took it out of Ava’s hands and glanced at it. “Yeah, you look like a real art student, finally,” she teased. “I’ll bet Cynthia will be excited.” She checked her phone again and smiled. “Hey, we should stop by the gallery when we’re done so you can show her.”
“Actually, I really just want to get back. I can tell her about it on Friday when I go in for work,” Ava replied.
The waitress brought over the food and drinks, and Ava and Carly thanked her. Carly took a long sip of her drink.
“Oh, hey, speaking of the gallery, have you seen it? Cynthia had the whole place redone. Honestly, Ava, we should really just swing by. It won’t take a minute. You’ll love it.”
“I already saw it,” Ava responded, taking a bite of her burger. “Before I left to go home. You’re right, it is pretty awesome. Why the sudden interest in stopping by the gallery anyway?”
Carly sighed. “Okay, well, I didn’t want to tell you this, because it’s supposed to be a big surprise, but Cynthia scored a big exhibit while you were gone. You know that painter Julien Henri?”
“Of course!” Ava said. “He’s one of my favorites! We studied him last year in Art History. Are you saying Cynthia has his pieces in the gallery?”
Carly nodded.
“I thought most of his works were either in private collections or museums?”
“I don’t know,” Carly added. “You have to ask Cynthia. So,
now
do you want to stop by the studio and see Cynthia? Or do you still want to wait until Friday?”
Ava looked down at her phone to check the time. It was getting late, and she really wanted to get home to Max. They could always stop by the gallery later that evening or tomorrow.
Carly took the last bite of her burger. “I’ll tell you what,” she said. “You think it over while I go use the restroom.”
“Okay,” she agreed. She glanced back down at her phone and started typing a message to Max:
Hey babe. Just finishing up lunch. Trying to get back to you ASAP so we can spend some time together.
Ava twirled her straw through her ice while waiting for Max’s response. He seemed to be taking forever. Finally, her phone buzzed.
Max: Sorry for the delay there. Wasn’t sure what time you’d be back with Carly, so my pal Ryan stopped by with a six-pack. We’re going to watch the game for a little bit. Still on for dinner, though, right?
Ava: Sure. See you later.
Carly came out of the bathroom just as the waitress came by with the check. “So,” she asked, “what’s the story?”
“Oh why not,” Ava replied, feeling annoyed. “We might as well stop at the gallery.”
Ava stewed for the entire three-block walk. Her and Max only had one week together—that’s it—and they’d already spent most of day one apart. She understood that he needed to pack and all, but now he was just sitting around drinking beer and watching a game. Didn’t he want to see Ava as much as she wanted to see him? Maybe he wasn’t going to miss her after all. Just the thought made her even more upset. By the time they got to the gallery, she barely remembered why she was there.
“You’ve been so quiet,” Carly remarked as they approached. “Everything okay?”
“I’m fine,” Ava replied. “Let’s just go in.” She hoped that seeing fine art would cheer her up.
Carly opened the door, allowing Ava to go in first.
Ava looked around the room, and then at Carly, who had the biggest grin on her face.
“What’s going on?” Ava asked.
Chapter 38
“Why are the lights off?” Ava asked Carly. “And where’s Cynthia?” She glanced around the room, lit only by a small amount of fading sunlight coming through the windows. “Cynthia?” she called out. “Something’s not right here, Carly.” Ava wasn’t sure if she should stay and investigate, or leave and call 9-1-1. She just knew she felt extremely uncomfortable … and Carly still had that goofy smile. She was definitely up to something.
“You made it, Ava,” Cynthia said as she finally came out from behind one of the curved walls. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Oh, there you are. Good.” Ava’s eyes were starting to adjust to the darkness as she spoke. “I was getting worried. What’s with the lighting in here?”
“I didn’t want you to see my new exhibit until you were in the perfect spot,” Cynthia said.
“Oh, you mean the Julien Henri exhibit?” Ava asked.
“Julien Henri?” Cynthia said while looking at Carly with a furrowed brow.
“Sorry. I know you wanted to surprise me,” Ava said, “but Carly already told me you have several of his pieces on display. You kind of picked the wrong person to tell your secret to,” Ava laughed.
Carly just shrugged her shoulders and nodded.
Cynthia sighed. “Fine, just follow me.”
“Wow,” Ava said, “don’t I feel special! You really didn’t have to go through such a fuss, Cynthia. I would have been just as happy to come see the exhibit with all the common folk.” Ava laughed. Through the dark, she swore she could see Carly roll her eyes.
“You deserve this,” Cynthia answered. “Come on, and eyes closed until I tell you to open them.” Cynthia put out her hand and led Ava behind one of the curved walls into the biggest area of the gallery, the one where all of the curved walls gave the appearance of forming a circular space.
Ava felt like Cynthia was taking an extreme amount of time positioning her just so. Finally, after what seemed like forever, Cynthia declared, “Open your eyes!”
Ava gasped and spun around. The lights in the gallery were fully on. Surrounding her on all sides were enormous canvas paintings of Claude Monet’s
Water Lilies
mounted as panels to each circular wall just as they were in the pictures she had seen of the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris. With her hand on her chest, and her mouth hanging open, she proclaimed, “Oh, my! This is beautiful! The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
“No,” the familiar voice said, “you’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
Ava spun around again. Max stepped out from behind one of the curved walls.
“Max?” Ava asked, confused. “What are you doing here? I thought you were back at your apartment watching the game with Ryan.”
“Now why would I want to waste my time doing that when I could be here with you?”
Ava smiled and took his hand in hers. “Can you believe what Cynthia’s done here? Isn’t it incredible?” she asked.
“Actually, this was all Max’s idea,” Cynthia said, now walking to the center of the room with Carly.
Ava looked up at Max. “You did this?”
“Well, I may have mentioned to Cynthia that you always wanted to visit the Musée de l’Orangerie,” he gleamed. “I guess we came up with the idea together.”
Ava spun around one more time. “But how …”
“Well, these aren’t the originals, of course,” Cynthia said, “but I pulled in a few favors to borrow these wall sized prints. It’s my going away gift to you.” Cynthia smiled.
“You’re going away?” Ava asked, once again confused. If Cynthia left, what would become of the gallery?
“No, silly, you are!” Carly blurted, clasping her hands together. “Oh, I just can’t take this anymore. Max! Tell her!”
Max took both of Ava’s hands and began to explain. “Ava, I know we talked about you staying here while I’m in California, but the thought of being separated from you was tearing me up inside. At first I just told myself to suck it up, you know? That lots of people have long distance relationships and do just fine.”
Ava nodded, feeling the now familiar tears starting to well.
Max continued, “But once we were separated for winter break, the reality hit as to just how difficult it would be. You seemed to feel the same way. Then I started getting calls from Carly and Holly. They were both telling me how sad you were. Miserable really. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know how we would get through.” He tenderly brushed his thumb across Ava’s face to catch the tears as they fell.
“I know, Max,” she replied. “It’s going to be so difficult. I don’t know how—”
Max put his fingers to her lips. “Ava, remember when I was at your house? In the kitchen with your family while you slept?”
Ava laughed. “I’m really sorry about that.”
“No,” Max said. “They weren’t giving me the third degree or anything. Okay, maybe a little bit.” He leaned in and kissed her lips softly before continuing. “Mostly we were talking about you. Everyone was so worried about you. At the time we thought Thomas was still around, and your family was worried about what would happen after I left, so we made plans.”
“What kind of plans?” Ava asked.
Max took a deep breath. “Your parents did most of the work actually, but they arranged for you to finish out your final semester at a small college in California. They even managed to get you a room on campus, just blocks away from my apartment. Although, I think that was just to make your Dad feel better … you know, so he didn’t have to think about you staying with me.”
Cynthia put her hand on Ava’s shoulder. “And I have a friend out there who runs a gallery. After I told her how fabulous you are, she agreed to hire you … for a paid position. She’s getting ready to retire and had been looking for someone to take over for her. She’s willing to train you while you’re in school, then after graduation, you’ll be running the place.”