A Rescued Heart (Rescued Heart Romance) (19 page)

The first day of the new school year approached like an express train without brakes. Classes started in less than two weeks and Ava began to feel the pressure to set up her room. Past years she would have been done by now because she had nothing better to do during the summer than spend it in preparation for the new school year. This summer was completely different from her lonely past and she didn’t even think about her room until now.

Ava already had the list of students who would be in her class. She and the other kindergarten teachers had decided to wait until school approached to have their kindergarten “meet and greet.” They had the date set for the end of this week for all the kids to come and be introduced to their teacher, see their room, and meet all the other children in their class.

This special time for the kids also came as a great opportunity for her to meet each of the parents. She planned to have the parents fill out paper work about their child so she had a little heads-up about their home life, their likes and dislikes, and where they improved in their learning journey since their first assessment earlier in the year at kindergarten roundup.

She had spent all day yesterday at the hospital keeping Kim company, not leaving once since Matt had brought her. Ava returned home late last night to see that Jake had set up camp in her spare bedroom. After countless hours of tossing and turning, despite already missing a night of sleep she decided that today was as good as any to begin. She got up before the sun did to get ready for the day. She debated whether or not to wear makeup but then remembered she would have to go to the store to buy supplies and she still sported a pretty ugly bruise. She applied a thick layer of foundation and went a little heavier on her eye makeup to hopefully camouflage her still-darkened cheek. She chose her favorite pair of comfortable jeans, flip-flops, and her new white tank top and headed to the kitchen.

Sitting down at her table while sipping her much-needed coffee, she organized the list of projects she wanted to accomplish today. Ava personally required her room to be uplifting and bright with a lot of color. Decorating was always her favorite part of the preparation, but it also took the most time. During the summer break the teachers had to keep their rooms to a bare minimum so that the janitors could come in and clean. She kept a few things up on the walls, but she had a long road ahead of her to get the room to where it needed to be for the open house. Her plan started with going to the school first to set up what she had and then head to the store to get the finishing touches.

Ava had breakfast ready for Jake by the time he came out of his room, prepared to leave for work. She went all out and made him instant oatmeal from an individual package. Only the best for her guests.

Walking into her classroom gave Ava the spark of excitement that she needed. She set to work right away pulling charts and signs out of the storage closet. She put the alphabet above the chalkboard and made a handy helper chart to hang next to the door. Each day she would draw a student’s name to be her special helper for activities. They would also get to be the leader in the lines to lunch and recess and choose the book for story time. Along with the privileges of being the helper, they also had the responsibilities to feed the class goldfish and turtle. The pet store knew Ava by name last year. A bad turnover of goldfish plagued her classroom for a few months but luckily, goldfish were cheap.

Ava came to a good breaking point around lunchtime. She made a list of items she needed to buy at the store. An idea came to mind and she checked the time to see if it would work.

She hadn’t seen Matt since he left the hospital early the previous morning. She had ditched him to spend time with Julia on Friday, Saturday was the attack, and yesterday he stayed busy keeping up with Kim’s case. They talked last night after she got home but kept it short so she could spend some quality time with Jake. Matt mentioned he didn’t look forward to the paper work that needed to get done at his desk. Chances seemed good she’d find him easily.

Ava snatched up her purse and headed to the police station to see if she could take her man out for lunch.

Ava had been to the station a couple of times to see Matt, but it still made her squeamish with unease. As she walked in, she saw Matt’s partner, Derek, right away, relieved to see a familiar face. Ava could easily see why the two friends got along so well. They each had a good sense of humor, were full of spunk, and easily made people comfortable with their outgoing personality. Derek was her favorite of all of Matt’s friends. He looked as if he could be a surfer from California with his blond hair, blue eyes, and dark tan. Besides being nice and friendly, he had a good heart and was an encourager for Matt in their relationship. Ava desperately wanted to set him up with Jules but unfortunately he was casually dating someone at the moment. She would keep her ears open for any talk about him being single again.

“Hey, Ava,” he strutted up toward her, “you didn’t have to go out of your way to come see me. I’m flattered.”

“Hi, Derek.” The man loved to joke around and she couldn’t help deliver the response he worked for. She giggled while rolling her eyes at his teasing. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m here for your partner.”

He snapped his fingers while performing a fake pout that etched his features. He stepped forward to examine her face. “I heard about your attack. I’m glad you’re okay.” He squeezed her shoulder to show support. “I think Matt is down in the evidence room. I’ll go get him for you.”

“Thanks,” she said while he turned and walked away down the hallway. Ava waited in the lobby area. To help ease the awkwardness, she made herself busy by looking at the new pictures displayed on the wall from the cookout earlier in the summer. She searched the pictures, picking out the officers she had met. Doing her best to try and remember their names. She heard Matt’s voice echo down the hallway before she saw him.

He quickened his step when he noticed her. By the look of surprise, Derek must not have told him she was here. She observed the two friends as Derek grinned and skirted out of the reach of Matt’s fist approaching his shoulder with force.

“Ava, what a good surprise, is everything okay?”

“Yes.” She looked back and forth between the two boys in grown-up clothes. “Did I miss something?”

Matt looked over at Derek and they both started to laugh. “Well, I was told that someone upstairs was causing problems and I needed to come up and start the paper work for booking. I expected the drunk I dealt with earlier this morning, not the love of my life.” He took her hand and led them away from Derek toward an open desk.

Derek’s face exposed his amusement and he started walking back down the hallway, talking over his shoulder. “Good-bye, you two love birds, I see my work here is done.”

Matt shook his head side to side. “And you think I’m a handful.” He leaned against the desk and adjusted his focus back onto her. “So what’s going on?”

“I’m working in my classroom today and needed a break.”

His eyes widened at her response. “Ava, you shouldn’t be out and about by yourself. Where is Jake?”

“He is at work. Where he should be.” Ava tried to remind herself that Matt’s overprotection was just another way he showed his love for her. “The school is safe. No one can get in without a key. Plus, now I’m at a police station. How much safer can I be?”

He crossed his left arm across his chest, resting his right elbow on top of his arm and rubbed his chin with his hand. Taking a moment to consider what she had said, he replied, “I guess you’re right.”

“I’d be even safer if you came out to lunch with me. I could use a bodyguard.”

“Is it that time already?” He looked down at his watch. “I’d love to. That’s a job I would never refuse. Let me go tell Derek and then I’m all yours.”

After walking a few steps away, he stopped and turned around. “Why don’t you come with me and before we leave you can file a restraining order against Ray.”

The man had an amazing memory and wasn’t going to let this go. “Great idea. Any new leads?” she asked while they walked down the hallway.

“A small one. He used his credit card to get gas last night, but we don’t know for sure if he is still in the city or if he has left.”

Ava hoped for the latter.

Ava chose a little café across the river. A beautiful day without much humidity needed to be celebrated. They decided on a table in the corner of the outdoor seating.

They ordered right away because Matt didn’t have much time. The SWAT team had a training session this afternoon and he wanted to get back with some time to prepare. They both ordered water and club sandwiches to help quicken the process. Their efficient waitress had the food out before either of them needed refills.

Matt took her hand and prayed in his soothing voice. When he finished he didn’t let loose her hand. “I missed you yesterday,” he admitted as he rubbed her hand with his thumb.

“I missed you, too.”

“How’s your classroom decorating going?”

“Great. I’ve finished the walls and now I’m getting ready to arrange my reading area. I have a rug and some pillows, but I thought I’d pick up a few bean bags at the store to add …”

“Matt, is that you?” A woman’s voice interrupted.

Matt looked up behind her and smiled. Ava turned around to discover an attractive blonde woman dressed in a short skirt, tight shirt, and stilettos standing there. Ava looked down at her baggy jeans and cringed.

She felt homely next to her.

“Hi, Amber.”