Shoreline

14

A few days later and Ava was sent home, Tom drove her from the hospital and made sure she had everything she needed before heading home to the lighthouse. Ava went to bed as soon as she got upstairs.

Arthur, however, was stood on the end of the wooden pontoon looking out to sea when his father joined him. "What did I do?" He asked turning to face his father.

"Give her some time, she's a little panicked at the moment," Tom said resting his hand on his son's shoulder.

"But what if she doesn't?" he asked a little panicked.

"Then you stop Orm without her." His father answered. "You remember how I made it up to your mother that one time?"

"Yes," he replied.

"Then do that for Ava," Tom said.

"You think it will work?" Arthur asked.

"You can only try son, but right now give her some time to rest," he advised, Arthur nodded and decided to go to bed. Ava tossed and turned in bed that night, the shard singing its visions to her but they were more like nightmares, but it ended with the shark dragging her down to the depths. She suddenly heard a knock on her door, she slowly got up and stumbled down the stairs, she opened the door slowly and there stood Arthur he too couldn't sleep, he needed to speak to her without hesitating she wrapped her arms around him, this shocked Arthur his arms hovering a few inches away from her back.

He took a deep breath and gently rested one arm around her waist and rested another on her head and gently kissed her head, he had been waiting for this moment. "I'm sorry," she said.

"It's okay," he said giving her a gentle squeeze. "Can, I...er come in?"

"Oh sure," she said and let go. He followed her into the living room, and she sat down on one of her sofas, legs sprawled out over it. Arther gently picked them up and laid them across his lap.

"You and I are going out on a boat next week, and we are going to enjoy our time out there with no worries about the shard or my brother," he said.

"That sounds lovely," Ava replied.

"We both need to de-stress," he told her.

"I agree," she said smiling and rested a hand on his arm.

"How are you feeling?" he asked and gently squeezed her knee.

"I'm okay, still a little bit sore." She replied.

"Ava, I am so sorry, I didn't know that was going to happen, I should have been there for you. Ava I should have been at your side," he said.

"Arthur, really it's okay. I'm still alive am I not?" she asked.

"Okay, you have a point." He replied.

"When did you want to leave?" She inquired.

"Early in the morning if possible." He said.

"Okay," she said, resting her head against the sofa.

"Tired?" he asked.

"Yes, but I think it's the medication I'm on," she replied, it wasn't long till the both of them fell asleep on the sofa together.