Ava Comes Home by Lesley Crewe Page A

bills.
    â€œIt is? Oh my gosh.” Debbie stroked the bills. “My hand is touching where she touched. I’m so lucky!”
    â€œCalm down, dearie. It’s dirty old money.”
    â€œNo it isn’t,” Debbie sighed. “It’s her money.”
    Vi and Angus walked out of the store and put the groceries in the back of their truck. Angus settled behind the wheel. “That young girl is a lunatic.”
    â€œWe live in a nutty world, that’s for sure.”
    â€œLet’s go get a Tim’s and a Boston cream doughnut before we go home. I could do with some warming up.”
    â€œOkay,” Vi said happily.
    On the way to get their coffee the cell phone rang. Vi fumbled for it in her purse. “Oh gosh, I hope nothing’s wrong at home. How on earth do you open this thing?”
    â€œI believe it unfolds, at least that’s what I saw on a commercial once.” Vi opened it. “Hello?”
    â€œDon’t hang up! I love you and I miss you like crazy. You have to forgive me, okay?”
    â€œWho is this?”
    â€œWho’s this?”
    â€œVi.”
    â€œVi who?”
    â€œWho are you?”
    â€œHayden. Is Ava there?”
    â€œNo, she isn’t.”
    â€œWhy do you have her phone, then? Is she okay?”
    â€œOf course she’s okay. I’m her aunt. Now tell me who you are.”
    â€œI’m her boyfriend.”
    â€œThat so? She never mentioned a boyfriend.”
    â€œDidn’t she?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWell, she has one and I’m it. I’m trying to get in touch with her. I said something really stupid last night and I want her to forgive me. Will you please tell her I called?”
    â€œI’ll tell her, but if you really want a woman to forgive you, you should send her flowers.”
    â€œThat’s a great idea. Do you have an address?”
    â€œI’ll give it to you.” She told him.
    â€œThank you. I appreciate your help, Vi. I hope I get to meet you one day.”
    â€œWell, you just never know, do you? Gotta go. Bye.”
    She closed the phone. “That was Libby’s boyfriend.”
    â€œI didn’t know she had one.”
    â€œCan’t be too serious. She never mentioned him.”
    Naturally, at the coffee shop they ran into about six people they knew and had a great gab, everyone asking about Ava Harris. Aunt Vi bragged about her niece and felt very important.
    And then it was time to go. They climbed back into the truck and stopped at the entrance to wait for traffic to go by. It was a busy intersection and Uncle Angus had to swivel his head back and forth to see who was coming. Aunt Vi gave him the all clear on her side and he revved the truck forward. He never saw the car speeding through the red light until it was too late.

CHAPTER FIVE
    The phone rang. Ava was washing the dishes, so she grabbed a dish towel to dry her hands and walked over to the phone.
    â€œYes, hello?”
    â€œAh, yes. This is Constable Murrant with the Regional Police Department. Does an Angus or Vi MacIntosh live there?”
    Ava’s mouth went dry. “Yes, is something wrong?”
    â€œI’m sorry to have to tell you this, but there’s been an accident.”
    â€œAn accident?” Ava whispered. “What do you mean?”
    Lola got up from the kitchen table and came over to stand beside her. “There was a car accident. Are you a relative?”
    â€œYes, yes, I’m their niece. Please tell me, are they all right?”
    â€œThey’ve been taken to the Regional Hospital.”
    â€œOh, my god. Are they badly hurt?”
    â€œThey do have injuries. Do you have someone who can take you to the hospital?”
    â€œYes, yes. I’ll go right now.”
    â€œWe’ll be in touch about the accident report. Charges may be laid. A teenage boy ran a red light. It wasn’t your uncle’s fault.”
    â€œOh, no. Thank you for