This Kiss

Chapter 46

Ava arrived the following morning. Olivia and Emma picked her up from the airport. They dropped her suitcase at the Beacon, called Jane to watch Emma, and headed to Jeffery's service.

Reva stood starring with sad eyes at the picture of Jeffery next to his casket. Josh was standing across the field watching Reva when Shane walked up.

"Dad."

"Hmm."

"Should I go stand by her?"

"Uh, no, no. Let her have her time alone."

Billy Lewis approached the men carrying baby Collin is his car seat. "Hey. I think this little guy's having a though day too." The baby's grandfather took him and walked away as Olivia and Ava joined the group of men.

Olivia looked at the men. "Hi."

"Hey." They all said in unison.

"Hey Ava. How are you." Josh said. Stepping forward to hug the young woman. "It's good to see you."

"Thanks, you too."

"You look beautiful and I'm sorry."

As Ava stepped back in line with her mother, Olivia faced Shane. "Uh Shane, this is Jeffery and my daughter Ava. Ava this is..."

"Shane, your brother, stepbrother actually." He finished for Olivia. Extending his hand to Ava. "It's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you."

"I wish it was under different circumstances. So uh, I wanted to tell you that I think your dad was a really great man."

"I thought so too. Thank you."

Billy looked at Ava. "Hi sweetie. Good to see you. How's California?"

"Fine."

"Good."

"I should probably say hi to Reva." Ava walked away from the group and stood beside Reva. "I love that picture of him."

Reva turned to her and took her into a hug. "Oh, Ava sweetie. I'm so glad you're here. Your daddy loved you so much."

"And he loved you too. He was a different man when he found you. He was so happy."

"Oh, I never could have gotten through the last year without him." Reva noticed her father and called him over with Collin. "Pop come here, come on." Looking back at Ava. "You've got to meet someone. You've got to meet your little brother. Collin this is your big sister Ava. Pop you remember Ava don't you? Jeffery's daughter."

"I sure do. I wish I was seeing you under different circumstances."

The two woman cooed over the baby. Reva tugged on his foot. "Say hi to your big sister."

Ava looked from the baby to Reva. "It's absolutely incredible. He looks just like my dad."

"I know. I think so too."

"Oh my god."

"That means you're a very handsome guy. He loves music and you should hear his laugh."

"Oh, I hope I get to. Can I hold him."

"Oh of course you can."

Ava took the baby into her arms. They continued to coo over the baby. Reva turned to the photo of Jeffery. "See Jeffery, both your kids are here and they're getting along."

Ava looked down to the baby in her arms. "See, baby brother, that's our daddy. And I hope you grow up funny and smart and kind, just like him."

They woman fussed over the baby for a while longer and then Daisy came and took the baby to Company so Reva wouldn't have to worry about him. Reva was sitting in a chair at the front when Olivia found her. "Hey, where's Collin."