Normal | Rhekker

Chapter 65- Stay

Ava woke up to her alarm, rubbing her eyes. She rolled over, getting out of bed. It was morning. She skipped the bathroom and went straight outside to the hall.
She looked around the house. He was gone. He'd left her, and chose Minneapolis. She spuressed her tears and made her way quietly back to the bedroom.
She sat down on the bed, unsure of her next move. Leave? Mayo or Minnesota all together.

Just as she was running over this dilemma again and again, the front door opened. Her head snapped towards the door. Hurriedly walking to the living room.
Connor set a bouquet of flowers down next to a paper bag on the counter.
He looked at her, confused by her behaviour.
"I didn't think you were up"
Ava took a step back, embarrassed by her behaviour. "Yeah, em I am"
"I thought we'd have breakfast together? Before work" he produced two wrapped bagels, and smoothies.
"You didn't go" she said.
"You asked me not to"
She nodded sheepishly, before leaving to get changed.
He stayed.
He stayed for her.

Ava went to shower and change before coming back to him.
Connor had their bagels set out on two small plates, their smoothies beside them. Ava took a deep breath before joining him at the counter.
"Thank you, for the breakfast" she rubbed her hands together on her lap.
"You thought I'd left"
She didn't meet his eye, "I had"
He put his hand, gently over hers, "I'm right here Aves"
"Im always here"

He pulled his hand back, taking a but from his sandwich.
Ava smiled, beginning to eat hers before it grew cold.
"Is Claire okey that your here?"
"No" he shook his head, "she's going to strangle me, but my phones turned off" he shrugged.
Ava finished getting ready for work, showering with a smile she stepped out from under the spray, rubbing moisturiser into her skin.

Connor drove them to work together in a comfortable silence. They went their separate ways once they got into work, saying a quick goodbye in the locker rooms.
Connor found his way to his office later, doing his paper work from the day.
Ava knocked and opened if office door, leaning against the doorway
"Ini and Owen are both in separate surgeries, care to keep me company for lunch?"
He leaned back in his chair, "it's meatloaf Tuesday"
"There's soup"
He stood, "you've got me now Dr. Bekker" he walked out with her.
Ava bought them lunch, tomato soup with bread and a Caesar salad with a side of fruit.
"Here" she sat down with two waters and a few packets of butter.
"Thanks Avey"

Ava poured her sauce over her salad shuffling it around with her fork. She looked out the window over the city as they ate in silence.
She took his hand, Connor looked up, his spoon dropping back into his soup. Ava pulled her hand back, hiding her laughter as he cleaned up the splatter on his uniform. Holding her hand out palm up she took his hand once more.

Ava leaned back against the wall of the hallway while Connor changed in a storage room, removing his stained scrubs. He came back out, his hair ruffled but his uniform clean.
She touched his collar bone, "buy you a coffee to make up for it?"
Ava took Connor's jacket, a light summer breeze in the afternoon air. They walked hand in hand to a nearby park.

Ava bought their coffees from a stall in the Center of the park, walking them to a nearby bench. "Thank you" he took the paper cup.
He pulled his hand out of his pocket, his cup in the other one.
"Might as well turn this thing in and see what she has for me" he took a deep breath as his phone powered up.

Claire 8.09am
Connor Rhodes!
I am going to kill you!
You walked out on the family meeting!
Call me now 😠😡
What is wrong with you!
It's a good thing you work in a hospital, when I'm done you'll need one!

50+ messages.

Ava shook her head, "you should call her"
Connor stepped aside and Ava watched him call Claire from a distance, they spoke for less then ten minutes before he was back by her side.
He placed an arm behind her on the bench.
"She understood why, and hopes you are well"
Ava nodded, sipping her drink.
"Don't think I didn't catch that" Ava pulled out the twenty Connor had slipped into her pocket while putting his arm over her.
"I know all your tricks Rhodes" she put her head on his shoulder.
He'd slip it into her bag when they got home.

They walked back hand in hand to the hospital, Ava staying close to him.
Splitting up once again to get back to work.
Their shift came to an end and Ava packed up her things from her office, putting her coat on and things in her bag.
Connor appeared in her doorway, He held up his keys, "drive you home?"
He drove them in the rain, taking extra care with Ava in the car. He parked in the underground car park and they got into the elevator out of the cold.
They did have dinner separately, Ava calling Brooklyn from the office before it got too late for her. Connor knocked on the door, putting a plate down on the desk in front of her.
"Thank you" she mouthed.
Ava had her knees to her chest, curled up in the desk chair. Tucking into her dinner as he left.
Connor didn't see her for most of the evening. They spoke of wedding plans and themes for the Catskills.

Connor got ready for bed and brushed his teeth, fixing the blankets on the sofa.
Ava tip toed out of the bedroom in a short nightdress, showing off her long legs. She stopped just short of the living room, leaning against the wall.
"Will you come to bed?"
Connor looked to her for confirmation from the sofa before standing. He took her hand, following her to their bedroom. They laid together, Ava's head on his chest and his hand on her back. And all was right.