Taking Flight

CHAPTER SEVEN

Ava dreaded the conversation that was about to take place.

Even though she knew she had to face this. Even though she knew it was inevitable. Part of her wished that Cyclone was there to help her through it, but he had left to give Ava and Maverick a bit of privacy.

The problem was that Ava didn't even know where to begin, so she waited for Maverick. Maybe the older naval aviator would know where to start. However, as Ava looked across the table they were seated at, she could see Maverick staring blankly at his hands.

Ava was drowning in the silence. She didn't know what to say to fill the empty space between the two of them, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to try. Turning in her chair, Ava was ready to walk out the door, when Maverick finally spoke.

"I didn't know Charlie had a daughter," he mumbled so low that Ava wouldn't have heard if it weren't for the tomb-like silence surrounding them.

She looked up, and their blue eyes finally met. Ava wasn't exactly expecting Maverick to start the conversation like that. Many hurtful things wanted to spill out of Ava's mouth. One, in particular, was somewhere along the lines of that's how she wanted it. Instead, Ava found herself saying, "From what I recall, Captain, you two weren't exactly keeping in touch."

Maverick knew she was right. He sighed and shook his head in regret, a look of pain flashing across his face. Good, Ava thought. It was nice to know she wasn't the only one affected by the whole thing.  "We spoke... from time to time. She told me when they diagnosed her," the next part seemed difficult for him to say, and he cleared his throat. "When the doctors told her that she had cancer."

It was even more difficult for Ava to hear the words, though. Because it brought her right back to that moment – that moment when her mother told her the news. Ava could picture her younger self, walking down the stairs and finding Charlie crying in the kitchen. Her mother's blonde curls had been a mess, and her cheeks were flushed from sobbing. Ava knew then that something was terribly wrong, but she never would've guessed that it would feel like the end of the world. Her world.

Tears pricked her eyes, and she blinked them back along with the haunting memories. "Yeah, well, she didn't really want anyone around after we found out," Ava said, her voice thick with emotion. "She just wanted to be with her family."

"Of course. You and your dad-," he began, only to be interrupted by an angry scoff from Ava.

Ava's sad expression changed to one of anger, and Maverick wondered how someone so young could appear so bitter. "It was just me and mom," she corrected him. "I took care of her. I was the one who was there."

Despite her angry tone, Maverick suddenly felt bad for her. He remembered growing up without his dad and knew it must've been worse for Ava, considering that her mother got sick. "I'm sorry," Maverick whispered, imagining her going through all of it alone. No wonder she looked far too weary for someone her age.

"Why?" Ava asked, that angry tone still in her voice. "It's not your fault she got cancer."

Again, she was right. Maverick knew she was right. Yet, he couldn't help but feel guilty for some reason. Like he could've done more. "I'm sorry you had to go through that alone," Maverick clarified. "If I had known-"

"It wouldn't have mattered," Ava reassured him, making him furrow his eyebrows. When he looked at her, her beautiful face was impassive. She was clearly not interested in his sympathies. "I'm used to doing things alone. I've had my whole life to get used to it."

"Well, if you ever need anything," Maverick tried to offer some support again, but Ava was already shaking her head.

"With all due respect, captain," Ava replied to him, her blue eyes flashing. "All I need is to do my mission. I understand that you were close to my mother, but I'm not her."