Chapter 70

A kindred Spirit

Today was a chilled day. I didn’t have much to do. Noah was already at school, and I was here at

home just relaxing.

After my mental breakdown, I decided to take some much needed break from work. My students

weren’t happy about it, but they understood that I hadn’t been myself the last couple of weeks.

I planned to resume after I give birth. My focus now was my kids and the Hope Foundation.

I’m still trying to come to terms with all that happened these past few weeks. Including

everyone’s change in behaviour.

The only one who seemed to be consistent with her hateful personality was Emma. The rest seem

to have had an overnight change of heart.

Instead of focusing on those thoughts. I push them away and pick up my phone and dial mom’s

number. She picks up on the first ring.

“Hey mom” I greet her. I wasn’t completely used to calling her that, but I was slowly getting there.

“Ava!” She screams through the phone, always excited to hear from me. “Theo, my love, our

darling daughter is on the phone“.

I hear shuffling before a sort of echo fills the phone. I just know that she’s put me on loudspeaker.

“Hey dad” I greet him too.

Their love honestly fascinated me. They were together since they were thirteen and they’re still

together years down the line. More than thirty–five years later.

If I was still chasing after love, then their kind of love is what I would have been looking for.

Instead, I’ve accepted that love is just not for me. I’m now set and prepared to spend the rest of my

life alone.

“Hey darling, how are you doing?”

“I’m doing good. Not much going on. I just wanted to check up on you guys“.

I still haven’t told them that I am pregnant.

Even though I’m starting to show, it’s easy for me to hide my bump with oversized t–shirts. I just

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I know deep down it hurts them even though they try hiding it.

+15 BONUS

As for Ethan. What he’s doing to them is wrong, but I also understand where he is coming from.

He feels ashamed. He feels like he doesn’t deserve their love after what he did. He was hiding from

them because he felt like he didn’t deserve their kindness.

I sent him the picture of my recent ultrasound. He wrote back and told me he was thankful. He couldn’t

stop saying how he was dying to meet his baby. He was also okay with waiting till the day I deliver to

know the gender of our baby.

“Ava?” Mom calls, pulling me back to the present.

“Sorry. I zoned out a bit” I murmur embarrassed.

“It’s okay darling. I just wanted to know if you’ll be coming this weekend like we had talked about

“Yes, though Noah won’t be joining us this time. It’s his weekend with his father so it’ll just be me and

you guys“.

The Woods and the Sharp family used to have a monthly get together. I wasn’t always invited. (2)

When I did get an invitation which was rare, I was treated like I didn’t exist. Like I didn’t matter. I was

completely ignored and was treated like a pariah.

The only one who used to talk to me during the gatherings was Noah. Most of the time, I ended up

leaving early or crying in the bathroom.

There hasn’t been a get together in months. I guess now that the parents are back, they were back to

having them.

“It’s a bummer that he won’t come but I am still happy that you’ll make it” dad says.

I was about to say something, but something takes my focus away. I hear a bark then a scratch. At

first, I think I’m imagining things since there aren’t any dogs in the area. That is until I hear it

again.

“Let me call you guys back, dad, I have to check on something” I tell him distractedly.

“Okay honey”

I hang up and move to where the sound seemed to be coming from. Going to the backyard I find a

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There was nothing left except a whole mess.

I stare in shock. My mouth hanging wide open.

+15 BONUS

“Do you know how long it took me to plant those, and you just ruined every single one” I fume.

He looks chastised. Laying on the ground, giving me puppy eyes, but I wasn’t going to buy it.

“I wanted organic food, that’s why I started the damn garden in the first place and let me tell you, it took

a lot of time and effort.” He whines, but I am too far gone to listen to him.

“Oh no, no, no. You’re not going to get out of this by flashing your cute, adorable eyes.” Shaking my

head I stare at him. Atleast I assume it’s a he. “How are you going to make up for the damage, huh?”

The more I stare at him, the more my heart begins to melt. He is big, fluffy and completely adorable. He

had thick black and white far and piercing grey eyes. For some weird reason they reminded me of

Rowan and Noah’s grey eyes.

“Never in my life have I seen a person’s heart melt so fast when it comes to my dog. Most people

usually find him annoying as hell” the warm voice makes me whip my head so fast, I almost break it in

the process.

Holy smokes. The man was hot this close up. Black hair, green eyes, high cheekbones, a chiselled jaw

line, lips that begged to be kissed and a body that enticed you to do dirty things. He was

freaking hot and he knew it. 4

I know what you’re thinking. ‘Slow down Ava, you got fooled once by great looks, don’t make the

same mistake again‘. 3

I wasn’t. I swore off love and men, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t appreciate a fine specimen

when I see one. I’m not blind. 3

“Have we met before?” The words tumble out of my mouth before I can stop them. “It’s just that

you look familiar“.

He stares for a while before answering. “Yes, we used to go to the same school, you were two years

behind me”.

I try to remember him, but it still doesn’t ring much of a bell. Probably because I was so obsessed

with Rowan that I didn’t see anyone else.

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+15 BONUS

“Calvin Garcia” he supplies when I still continue staring at him confused

The moment he mentions his name, it hits me.

“Oh my goodness, you’re Nerdy Cal” for some weird reason, I shriek this.

He groans at the name he used to go by when he was in school. He glares at me, but it doesn’t faze

me at all.

“Wow, you had a big fucking glow up” I stare at him dumbfounded.

The Cal I remember was skinny, with too wide glasses that kept slipping down his nose. He had braces

and his face used to be covered in big red pimples.

He was also a

nerd, spent most of his time studying in the library while others his age were busy fucking in the

janitor’s closet.

To simply put it, he wasn’t someone you would look at twice. (1)

He looked good now. Really good. I am glad that everything worked out for him. He changed into

someone any woman would die to have. He was now in the same category as Rowan.

“Yeah, well, thanks” he says awkwardly.

“I also remember you used to have a massive crush on Emma, how did that crush turn out for you?” I

teased. I wasn’t trying to be mean or anything. 2

When he wasn’t studying, just like all the other boys, he was busy following Emma around like a lost

puppy.

The only problem was that Emma had eyes for Rowan only. When they started dating, they were the it

couple.

Every boy except Gabe and Travis wanted to be in Rowan’s shows. Every girl wanted to be in

Emma’s shoes.

“And you loved Rowan, how did that turn out for you?” He fired back in irritation.

“Touché” I murmur.

The pain was still there, but I managed to push it away.

I didn’t know Cal that way, but I thanked God on his behalf. Thanked him for looking after Cal,

4/6

+15 BONUS

Emma’s love for Rowan would have destroyed him, just like Rowan’s love for Emma destroyed me.

“Dad, can I watch TV?” The sweet voice pulls me from my bitter memories,

I turn to find a cute boy standing behind Cal. He had the same captivating green eyes as his father.

“Hi, my name is Ava” I just couldn’t help myself.

“Hello” he says shyly, and my heart immediately falls in love with him.

“What’s your name?” I ask him gently.

“Gunner” (2

“I have a son about your age, his name is Noah. How about you come over and meet him when he

gets out of school? He’ll be excited to have a new friend.” I pause before adding. “If it’s okay with your

dad, that is“. 4

I see him looking up at Cal. A silent conversation passes between them, before Cal sighs in defeat.

“Fine” he simply says.

I stare at him. My eyes focused on his. I was trying to decode him, and I wasn’t ashamed of that. There

was something in his eyes that called out to me.

He shifts uncomfortably. “Well I’m sorry that Rex ruined your garden. I’ll get someone to come

tomorrow and fix it“.

So the husky was called Rex? It sort of fitted him.

“Rex” Cal called him, and he immediately went to his owner.

After he gives me a nod and Gunner gives me a smile, they leave my backyard through a very wide

opening that I have never noticed before.

I stare at their backs as they walk to their house. It’s only after they’ve left, and I’ve been standing there

like an idiot that I realize what I saw in his eyes.

I saw pain. I saw hurt. I saw a wounded soul.

In his eyes, I saw the same kind of darkness that I have been trying to run away for years without much

success.

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In him, I saw a kindred spirit.

+15 BONUS

Even as all these revelations flooded my mind, I couldn’t help but wonder what had caused him such

pain.