Fate for Two

Chapter 4 Settling In

(Ava's POV)

"Well we're here." The man said pulling into my childhood homes driveway. I looked at the house then at him "how'd you get this address." I asked coldly looking at him skeptically. "Is this not the right house...?" He trailed off looking sad. "NO, IT IS! AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM! HOW'D YOU KNOW ABOUT MY HOUSE?!" I asked through fear and anger point at him and then gesturing at the house. The man let out a sigh and leaned back "The other guy gave it to me afterwards I smashed his phone so he couldn't find you." He said looking at the garage door infront of us as if it was super interesting. "Oh..." I said looking down at my shoes the feeling of guilt slowly growing. The man shut off the car and just sat there "Well I'm not going anywhere until you get out and I see you go inside." He added as he leaned his chair back.

I sigh opening the door before I step out I grab some paper and a pencil from my bag and gave him my number. "Look I don't know if your from around here ,but I'd like to thank you for today over lunch or something on me." I say in a serious tone as I extend the piece of paper towards him. He looks at me then the paper gives a short chuckle and grabs it. "Fine but I get to pick the place." He says in a gentle tone which was nice versus his harsh or angry tones. "Fine by me." I smirk as I grab my bags and get out slamming the door then making my way towards the porch. "Hey!" The man yells as he vehicle comes to a hum. "Yeah?" I ask turning around walking towards his rolled down window. "I'm Zavi by the way." He smiles waiting for my name in response. "Ava." I say putting my hand out for his. "Pretty name for a pretty lady." He says shaking my hand. "Well have a good night Mr. Zavi." I say in a mocking voice as I make way towards my porch again. "You too Ava!" He yelled back before pulling out of my driveway.

It was nice but now it's time for reality to set back in, taking a step forward I knock on the door and hold my breath as I wait. I hear the door unlock as my father swings the door open stopping in his tracks as he see's me. "H-hi papa" I say nervously as I didn't know if he wanted to see me again after I had left. He rushes forward hugging me tight sadness filling his voice. "AVA YOU CAME HOME!" I felt a wave of emotions wash over me but I pushed them aside and enjoyed my dads embrace. "Ava listen to me." My father said through tears pulling out of our hug and holding my arms as he maintained eye contact with me. "Listen I know I messed up when your mom passed but I changed and you know I won't be here forever so I wanted to make things up to you and gi-". I interrupted him "Papa stop your starting to spiral and I can't understand a word your saying." I say pushing his hands down hoping he'd focus himself as he had a tendency to speed run things like this.

"Sorry bean..." he says trailing off and steeping inside then motioning to the living room. "This place looks like it's falling apart." I added hoping he'd forgotten about what it was he was taking about. He closed the door behind me responding to my comment. "Well I've tried to maintain the house as best I could by myself unfortunately my age is catching up with me." He walked over the living room flipping a switch to a light that stayed on for a whole of two seconds before the bulb blew up and left us in the dark again. "Hmm...I was hoping you'd come home I tried sending you letters as I didn't have your number but I never got wrote back." He told me furrowing his brows in frustration and sadness as he walked over and lit an old oil lamp. "Papa the house I was living at it just didn't work out I didn't know you we're writing to me..." I explained as guilt quickly washed over me. "Look Ava sweetie it's late so why don't you go get your old room back, and I'll talk to you more over breakfast tomorrow." He said sounding exhausted "Oh ok...well goodnight pops." I said as I went in for an awkward hug.

After I managed to get out of the hug I grabbed my bags, then headed for the stairs which had long lost there beautiful color. Walking up the eerily creaky stairs memories slow started to come flooding back of me as a kid in this exact same house. "It's still here..." I whispered tears starting to fill my eyes. I was standing in the doorway of my old bedroom looking at my 'special wall'. I take a step closer to take in the faded painting a bean, followed by small roots, that slowy blossomed into a large weeping willow. "Oh momma..." I let out through a saddened tone and weeping at this point. My mother was a small artist but she loved painting the most. One day when I was four or five I asked her if she'd paint me a weeping willow.

[Chapter under work]