The Game Changer (24 page)

Olivia patted Ava’s knee and gave it a squeeze. “I have a few things to do around here, so why don’t you and Aunt Melody head down to the bookstore and I’ll catch up with you later?”

Ava’s mouth turned down in disappointment. “You’re not coming?”

“Not this time,” Olivia said, giving Ava’s knee another pat. “But I’ll tell you what, I’ll start working on some plans for your new room here, and as soon as Mel and I get a chance, we’ll work it all out and surprise you. How does that sound?”

Ava seemed satisfied with that. The three of them went to the door and Ava hugged Olivia again while Melody waited with the door propped open. When Ava went through and headed for the stairs, Olivia grabbed Melody’s hand and made her stop. “Everything’s going to be okay, Mel. I promise.”

Ava’s words from the week before rang in Melody’s head.
Don’t make promises you can’t keep.
She wouldn’t say it now; she knew it would sound childish and petty, and she didn’t want to seem like a sullen, jealous schoolgirl who’d never learned to share.

If Ava made a connection with Olivia, it just proved that she had good taste; Olivia was the greatest of friends, after all, and Ava would be lucky to have her as an ally. Still, it stung, and Melody felt guilty over the fact that it stung. With no time to give voice to any of these thoughts, she gave Olivia a small smile and simply said, “I hope you’re right.”

*****

They had been in the bookstore for half an hour, and Ava had said all of five words to Melody. Literally—Melody counted. She asked her niece questions and tried to engage her in conversation, but all she got were yes or no answers, nods and shakes of the head, or noncommittal noises.

Melody was becoming frustrated. She had no idea what she was doing wrong. She didn’t think she was trying too hard—she didn’t ask Ava difficult, pressing questions, but rather simple things about school, new friends, and books. Still, nothing would draw the girl out of her shell or make her engage with Melody the way she had with Olivia.

Melody wandered after Ava, following her down aisle after aisle and stopping to look at books when Ava did. Not wanting to seem like an overprotective guardian, Melody tried not to stand too close or make it seem like she was trailing after Ava, even though that’s exactly what she was doing. She didn’t want to let her out of her sight.

Ava had already picked three books—thin paperbacks from the young adult section—and was now in the history row studying a thick hardcover book on medieval history. Melody peered at the book and noticed the beautiful, glossy pictures of women in fine dresses and cloaks, and dashing men on horseback riding into battle. She smiled slightly to herself; that was exactly the type of book she herself would be interested in, but she didn’t tell Ava for fear she would decide she was no longer interested.

Ava sighed and slid the book back into its place on the shelf.

“Something wrong?” Melody asked.

Ava blinked in surprise as if she’d forgotten Melody was there. “No,” she replied, but Melody thought she looked sad. “I just really liked that book, but I can’t afford it.”

“I’d happily get it for you,” Melody offered, silently cursing herself for sounding so eager.

Ava shook her head, and her shiny chestnut-coloured hair fell forward like a curtain, partially hiding her face. “That’s okay. I think I’ll go back to the kid’s section and have another look.”

Melody sighed. “Okay. I’m just going to the reading area,” she called to Ava’s retreating back. She wound her way through the stacks to the small sitting area near the back of the store. Two overstuffed couches faced each other and were flanked on either side by matching armchairs. A large mahogany table sat in the middle, and there was an old-fashioned brick fireplace to one side; it was unlit now, but during the winter it was almost always going.

Melody plunked down on one of the couches where she could see the top of Ava’s head across the room. She felt like she was being punished for Jackie’s mistakes. Like she was guilty by association for all the horrible things Jackie had done, and the neglect she’d inflicted on Ava.

Melody knew it would take time for Ava to warm up to her, and she could accept that, but she hadn’t expected the indifferent vibe she was getting from the girl. She wasn’t hostile or sullen or bitter, as Melody might have expected her to be after all she’d been through. She just seemed guarded, slightly cynical, and skeptical of people’s motives.

“You look like you just lost your best friend.”

Melody jumped and let out a little yelp. Clapping her hand over her mouth in embarrassment, she whirled around to find Julian leaning over the back of the couch.

“God, you scared me!”

“Sorry.” Grinning, he hooked one leg over the back of the couch and flipped over it, landing close beside her.

“What are you doing here?” Melody asked. She glanced across the store to make sure Ava was still in her sightlines.

“Don’t sound so happy to see me.”

“Sorry,” Melody sighed. “You just surprised me, that’s all.”

“You looked like you were a thousand miles away.” Julian reached out and brushed Melody’s hair out of her face. The gesture surprised her almost as much as Julian’s sudden appearance.

“Just thinking,” she told him. “I’m here with Ava.”

“I know.” When Melody raised her eyebrows, he added, “I was coming out of Lion’s and saw Olivia on the sidewalk. She told me you were spending some time with Ava while your mom’s with a friend.” He glanced in Ava’s direction, then returned his attention to Melody. “She said things were a little awkward between you guys. I stood outside the bookstore for awhile trying to decide if I should see how you were doing or just move along. I didn’t want to intrude, but then I saw Ava walk away and you sit down here, so…I hope you don’t mind.”

“No, no, of course not,” Melody assured him. She studied his face for a minute, taking in the concerned arch of his dark brows over even darker eyes. “You really are a good friend, Julian.”

“You sound so surprised.”

Melody smiled ruefully. “I am, I guess. But in a good way.” She leaned her head against the back of the couch and let out a long, weary breath. “I didn’t really want Ava to meet too many people at once, you know? My mom kept me away from her at first, thinking it would be best to give her time and space to adjust to this new life that had suddenly been thrust on her.”

She shook her head, wondering if that was part of the problem. Had her mother explained that to Ava, or did Ava think Melody hadn’t wanted to see her?

“Then when I finally met her and she was so…I don’t know, withdrawn, I guess…I understood how my mother felt. I didn’t want to expose her to too much too soon. I wanted her to meet Olivia, and I’d hoped Liv would be able to help her, but I didn’t think it would be this soon. I wanted to spend some time with her one-on-one to develop a relationship, but that didn’t happen. Then ten seconds after meeting Olivia, she seemed perfectly comfortable with her, but with me…I think she hates me Julian, and I don’t know why.”

Julian cleared his throat and Melody snapped out of her thoughts. She followed his gaze and saw Ava standing a few feet away, cradling her books to her chest.

“Shit,” Melody whispered. How much of that had Ava heard? She jumped off the couch and took a few steps toward her niece. “Hi sweetheart. Did you find anything else?” Her voice was too cheerful and too loud, but she couldn’t seem to control it.

Ava held up a thin paperback book about the adventures of Robin Hood.

“Oh, cool,” Melody said, her enthusiasm genuine this time. “I love stories about Robin Hood.”

“You do?” Ava asked, sounding both surprised and oddly hopeful.

Her tone made Melody’s chest tighten. She wanted to reach out and touch Ava—her face, her baby-soft hair, her shoulder, anything—but she resisted the urge, afraid of how Ava would react. “I do. Always have. Looks like we have a lot in common.”

Ava smiled shyly, holding Melody’s gaze for the first time since the night they’d met. After a moment, she looked past Melody and took a step closer to her.

“Oh.” She looked over her shoulder at Julian. “My mother would be horrified at my lack of manners.” Her statement drew the desired smile from Ava; it was small, but it was there, and that was something. “Mr. Julian Reynolds, this is my lovely niece, Miss Ava…” Melody froze, mortified. She didn’t even know Ava’s last name. Had Jackie given her their last name or the name of Ava’s father?

Before Melody could silently curse herself, Ava, without missing a beat, said, “Cartwright.” Her lips were twitching slightly, and Melody had that feeling again of dealing with an adult instead of a child.

Julian rose from the couch and stepped forward, taking Ava’s hand in his and shaking it. “Well, Miss Ava Cartwright, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said smoothly, glossing over Melody’s accidental blunder. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Ava’s porcelain cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink, and a little giggle escaped her lips. Biting her bottom lip, she moved closer to Melody; Melody was reminded of small children who grow shy around strangers and hide behind their mothers’ legs, despite their curiosity.

Taking a chance, she put her arm around Ava and gave her shoulders a squeeze. “Julian is a friend of mine,” she explained. “He saw us in here and stopped by to say hello.”

“N-nice to meet you,” Ava said softly. Melody could almost see the stars in her eyes as she stared at Julian, and when he smiled that dazzling smile of his, Ava’s cheeks turned from pink to red.

“I was just about to ask your aunt if the two of you had lunch plans,” Julian said to Ava. “I was hoping maybe you’d like to join me.”

Melody opened her mouth to protest, but before she could speak, Ava said, “Yes, please.”

Melody gawked at her. Had she suddenly stepped into an alternate universe?

“Nana gave me money for lunch,” Ava added.

“Oh. Well, how ’bout you just hold onto that. Lunch is my treat today,” Julian said.

Ava looked at Melody uncertainly. “But Nana told me to pay for lunch for M-Melody and me.”

When Ava tripped over Melody’s name, Melody realized it was the first time Ava had used her name in conversation. Maybe they were making progress after all.
Baby steps
, Melody reminded herself.

“Well, hey, I’m a modern man, I have no problem letting a woman pay for lunch,” Julian said with an easy shrug.

Ava looked longingly in the direction of the aisle where the beautiful medieval book was shelved. She nodded, looking resolved, and said, “Okay. I think Nana gave me enough money.”

Julian started to laugh softly, and Melody looked at him quizzically. “Sorry,” he said, between chuckles. “She’s just so serious.” He took a breath and collected himself. “Ava. I was kidding. Keep your money. Buy an extra book or something. It’ll be my pleasure to take two such beautiful women to lunch.”

“Well, there was this book…” Ava’s eyes returned to the row of books several feet away.

“I’m going to get you the book,” Melody blurted. She decided it was time to be assertive and not let Ava turn her down. She wasn’t trying to buy her affection or approval, she just wanted to do something nice for her niece. They did have a lot in common, and she thought it was fitting that her first gift to her should be a book. “I want to buy it for you,” she said. “Maybe you can leave it at my place and we can look at it together whenever you come over.”

Ava’s expression was blank for a second, but then she smiled softly. “Thank you.”

Melody nodded, feeling like she’d accomplished a victory, however small. “Great. Let’s go, then.”

While Melody went for the book, Ava headed for the checkout, pulling a little purse from under her shirt. Julian fell into step beside Melody. “I hope you don’t mind that I did that. It just popped into my head and I went with it. When I talked to Olivia, it sounded like she’d almost been a buffer for you two, so I thought maybe I could do the same. Maybe that’s all she needs—someone who’s not family, who can just be there because they want to be.”

“I want to be there,” Melody said defensively.

“
I
know that, but that might not exactly be clear to a ten-year-old who’s just been abandoned,” Julian reasoned.

Melody sighed. He was right; Ava likely thought Melody was spending time with her out of a sense of duty or obligation, and not because she wanted to. People like Olivia and Julian had nothing to gain—or lose—by being there, but Melody did. Ava was her family, and that was something Melody took very seriously. Ava didn’t know that yet, though.