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Chapter Thirty-One

AVA

I walked through the door of the cottage and dropped my pack in the small entry. The familiarity of the sights (Nonna’s collection of porcelain cats and the lumpy old couch) the sounds (the ticking of the kitchen clock and the buzz of the ancient refrigerator) and the smells (the lingering aroma of coffee and that tangy, salty smell that permeated the walls) made me nearly dizzy with relief.

Ella came in from the back patio when she heard the front door shut. “Ava!” She ran over to greet me with a big hug, and I hadn’t realized how badly I’d needed it until she tried to pull away, and I held her in place longer.

“Uh-oh, something isn’t right,” she said in the midst of the hug. “You’re possibly the worst hugger of the group, but right now you’re outdoing Layla in the huggability factor.”

I let her go. “I should defend myself against the worst hugger of the group statement, but I’m too tired.”

“But you’re home early, right? I know you texted yesterday and said you were on your way back, but we thought you’d be gone for two full weeks.” Her eyes rounded with worry. “Was it another one of those mysterious illnesses like you had in Egypt? I knew you should have stayed home. What is it? Should we take you to the doctor?”

“Relax, El, I’m not sick. An unexpected storm cut short the expedition. We had to evacuate early.”

“Thank goodness. I was doing research on Costa Rica, and I worried you’d meet up with a crocodile or a viper.”

I smiled to myself as I walked into the kitchen, and Ella followed. Two of Isla’s pastries sat on a plate on the table. I practically broke into tears of joy. “Can I have these?”

“Of course. I’ll make you some coffee, too.”

“Thanks, El. I’m exhausted and hungry and majorly homesick.”

Ella wrapped her arms around me from behind and pressed her face next to mine. “So glad you’re back.”

“Me too.”

“I want to hear all about it. Layla and I were taking bets on how things would work out with you being stuck with that mean jerk, Professor Sinclair.”

Jack was the last thing I wanted to talk about, but I knew my sisters too well. They were going to want details, and boy, did I have a few to share. I was going to leave off the kiss, though. I wasn’t ready to talk about that one yet.

I devoured the two pastries as if they were the last sticky, doughy treats on earth. Layla walked in as I finished my coffee. She practically tripped on my pack at the door but was still surprised to see me in the kitchen.

“Ava!” There was another hug session. This one went extra-long because Layla was involved. It seemed we may have over-smothered her growing up.

“We weren’t expecting you. I mean we were because of your text but you’re back early, aren’t you?” She had the same reaction as Ella. “Did you get sick?”

“No, a big storm came in, and they had to evacuate,” Ella explained.

“Layla, you smell like brown sugar and vanilla,” I said.

Layla grunted. “One of the hazards of working in a bakery.”

Ella laughed. “Be thankful Isla didn’t open a fish market.”

“How is the bakery doing?” I asked. I left just a few days after it opened and had been out of contact since then.

“The excitement and novelty have not worn off.” Layla poured herself a cup of coffee. “Nor are they likely to anytime in the near future. The line goes out the door almost all day.”

“I knew Isla would wow everyone with her goodies. I’m so glad to hear it.”

“I think she’ll have to hire an assistant baker and someone to help me behind the counter. El isn’t interested,” Layla said with an eye roll.

“Uh, excuse me, I have a job at the online publication.”

“You crank out those stories faster than Isla can churn out cinnamon rolls. It’s not your job that takes up most of your spare time,” Layla said.

“How is Rhett?” I asked. “And how is the house coming?”

Ella turned her eyes up to the ceiling. “Rhett is dreamy and perfect and wonderful. The house, not so much. The contractor keeps uncovering problems and then one problem leads to a whole new set of problems.”

“Then it’s a good thing Rhett is a billionaire.” Layla sighed. “Ava, when are we going to find our dream men? Mine doesn’t even have to be rich.” Layla followed Ella’s lead and turned her eyes up in thought. “Just handsome and funny and charming and ready to shower me with constant love and adoration.” Layla popped out of her daydream. “What happened with that miserable professor you were stuck with on the trip? Was he horrid?”

Ella crossed her arms and bunched her brows. “Yes, what did happen with Professor Grump? I got strange vibes from you when I brought him up earlier.”

“It’s kind of a weird story. I think I need a shower first, and what’s for dinner? I’m hungry.”

Ella laughed. “You just downed those two pastries and a big cup of coffee.”

“Yep, making up for lost time. I’m going to shower.”

“I’ll order a pizza. What should I get on top?”

“Anything but powdered eggs, guava or breadfruit,” I said as I headed toward the bathroom.

“Breadfruit? What the heck is breadfruit?” I heard Layla ask as I reached the hallway.

An hour later we were sitting on the back patio watching a glorious sunset over the cove. Aria and Isla had joined us, and there were two cheesy pizzas waiting to be plucked apart.

“So, Ella says something intriguing happened on the trip between you and the grump.” Aria took a bite of pizza and spent a few seconds fighting with a string of mozzarella.

“Ella is adding in her own drama,” I said. I took a bite. “Oh my gosh, best thing ever. There’s nothing worse than dehydrated food. They try to make it sound tasty and gourmet, but in the end it’s a flavored powder brought to a semi-solid state with water.”

Isla laughed. “Spoken like a true scientist. But you’re deflecting with the pizza commentary, which means, Ella was right. Something happened out there in the jungle.”

“Hmm,” I sat up straighter. “You’re right. Jack and I reunited the absolute sweetest baby sloth with its mother. The storm had blown it out of the tree.”

Every face turned in my direction.

“What?” I asked.

Ella picked up a slice of pizza. “You called him Jack. You usually refer to him as jerk and Scrooge. I even think I heard ‘Oscar the Grouch’ a few times, but never, ever Jack.” Ella looked at everyone else for a nod of agreement. “So, the plot thickens.”

“Seriously? Because I called the man by his name?” I shook my head. “Did none of you hear the part about the baby sloth? We called him Buster, and for one blissful hour he snuggled right here under my chin.”

“I heard that part,” Layla said. “It seems the two of you put away your differences long enough to help a baby sloth. Admirable.”

“That’s right. See, Layla understands.” I returned to my pizza and knew too well that the sisters were still watching me, waiting for details.

I blew out an exasperated puff of air. “Fine. We started off as usual, abrasive and contentious.” I laughed. “On the plane I gave my extra pastry to the stranger sitting at the window instead of Jack, who was on the other side of me.”

Everyone straightened taller. “You sat next to him on the plane?” Isla asked.

“Yes, and I’m ashamed to admit I fell asleep and somehow ended up with my head on his shoulder.”

“That’s so cute,” Layla said with a dreamy smile. “And he let you,” she added.

Aria nodded toward her. “Good point. Especially if you didn’t share a pastry with him.”

I sat back. “I do feel sort of guilty about that. Especially because he sort of—” I paused not sure if I should continue. My sisters tended to go into belated panic mode when I had near death experiences. Even if I was sitting happy and alive in front of them, they’d all go into hand-wringing worry just hearing about it.

“Sort of what?” Ella asked.

It seemed I’d blown it by starting the story, and I knew they were going to insist on the ending. “He sort of saved my life … twice.”

“Oh my gosh, why didn’t you tell us?” Aria had shifted to the motherly tone she always used when she thought we were making a mistake or bad decision.

I looked around at the worried faces at the table. “Uh, because of this reaction. I’m here. I’m fine. Clearly, I didn’t die.”

“Yes, thanks to Professor Grumpy, apparently,” Layla said. “You’ve never said—is Professor Grumpy handsome?”

I sighed. This conversation was going in a much different direction than I’d planned. “I suppose so, in a young, George Clooney sort of way.”

Isla and Ella laughed. “Well, that says it all, doesn’t it?” Isla managed to spurt out.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

Isla looked around the table, and the others nodded in agreement. “Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth,” she said confidently as if that was all she needed by way of explanation.

“I don’t think George Clooney ever played Mr. Darcy,” I said.

“You’re just avoiding the truth behind the statement,” Ella said. “You two hated each other and then you liked each other and he came to your rescue, so did this story end with a kiss?”

I wasn’t expecting the question, and while I’d had no intention of mentioning the darn kiss, I also could never, ever lie to my sisters. I was on the hot seat while the pizza was getting cold. I couldn’t lie, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t fill my mouth with pizza to avoid answering. Unfortunately, my sisters made up a wall of fortitude when it came to waiting for information.

I chewed slowly and looked around the table at each of them. They stared at me like cats watching a bird in the yard.

“They kissed.” Aria finally broke eye contact and picked up her slice of pizza.

The others nodded in agreement and returned to their pizza slices. Why I thought that would be the end of the conversation was beyond me. Wishful thinking, I supposed.

“What happens next?” Layla asked.

“Well, after the pizza, I’ll probably go to bed. I’m exhausted from traveling.”

Ella wadded up her napkin and threw it at me. It bounced off my forehead. “Are you two officially dating?” she asked.

“Is that against department policy?” Aria, always the pragmatic one, asked.

“We’re going to neutral corners,” I explained.

“Like in a boxing match?” Isla asked.

“Yeah, I guess like that in a way. We’re going to ignore each other and get on with our jobs. With luck, we won’t run into each other much.”

“Don’t you work in the same building?” Ella asked.

“Yes, but it’s a big building.” I sipped some water and wished we’d opened a bottle of wine instead.

Aria and Isla exchanged secretive glances, only they weren’t very secretive about it. Isla nodded. “She broke another one,” Isla finally said.

Ella looked at me with a frown. “Did you break another man’s heart? You’ve really got to stop that, Ava.”

I sat back with a sigh of irritation. “I don’t break hearts. I get into relationships and then the relationship peters out, and we go our separate ways.”

“You mean it peters out for you,” Isla said.

“No, it’s always mutual, and just to be clear, Jack and I were not in a relationship. We were stuck on a hill of mud for several days?—”

Layla sat up with interest again. “Alone? Like on a deserted island?”

“No, we weren’t alone. Norman was there, and trust me, it wasn’t an island worth being deserted on. You know what, I’m bored of this conversation. Let’s eat pizza.”

Layla grumbled and slumped. She wasn’t bored yet. “That’s a sucky ending. He’s supposed to carry you off to his massive Pemberly Estate.”

I laughed. “I’m fairly certain there is no Pemberly Estate, and we’re not Darcy and Elizabeth. We’re two assistant professors who went on a grant-funded trip that ended abruptly with a storm, and now we’re back. We return to work on Monday, and we’ll both be busy with teaching. He has his job and life, and I have mine.”

Ella was closest. She reached over and put her hand on my arm. “But you are staying at the university, aren’t you?”

“For now, Ella, I’m home. I don’t know what the future holds, but after this experience, I’m not in any hurry to go back out in the world. Now, enough about me. I know I was only gone a week, but catch me up. I want it all—businesses, relationships, writing. I want all the details.”