sick.” Her grandfather talked to her with the same tone as when she was five and wanted to eat a whole package of Oreos by herself. But this time he wasn’t just being grandfatherly. He just wants me to rest because he hates that I’m doing the videos. She squared her shoulders and tried not to let his comment pull her down.
“I wish I could rest, but I have no choice. Todd made it clear the video needs to be there three hours before the show so they can review it.” She wrinkled her nose, imagining the team assembled in Todd’s office, viewing her work. She knew she could make something decent, but could she, in this amount of time, meet their high standards?
“You seem a little nervous about it.” Grand-Paul cocked an eyebrow.
“A little is an understatement. I just want to get it right, you know? My boss is counting on this.” She didn’t mention that her boss was also counting on her to understand her grandfather in new ways. Understanding was far from what she’d achieved so far. Rather, each new destination had only brought more questions—ones her grandfather had no desire to answer.
“Let me tell you something I used to tell the people working in my company,” Paul said, stepping closer to her. “Inside, all of us feel as if we’re still in junior high. We feel awkward and think everyone around us is more handsome, smarter, or better. The best thing you can do is to take long strides ahead and tell yourself you’re at the top of the class. Have confidence in yourself, in your abilities, Ava.”
Ava looked at Dennis, remembering what he told her: “ I used to tell myself, Ava would do it, so why can’t I? ” Thinking of that, she wondered when things had changed. For too long she’d focused on what she could do well, instead of trying new things. This trip was a huge step for her—she hadn’t realized how big until now.
“I’ll be fine. A little nervous, yes, but nothing hard work and a few prayers and tears can’t solve. Besides, I can’t think of a better story to lose a little sleep over. I have to get this right because I have one amazing subject.”
Her grandpa rose from his chair and tried to get his balance.
“Off to bed, all of you.” She waved her hands to shoo him away, trying to pretend she wasn’t bothered by his decision not to participate in the videos. “Get some sleep.”
She pointed at Dennis. “Especially you. You’ll need a good night’s sleep, because I have a feeling you’ll be dragging me around tomorrow in my half-asleep state.”
“I can do that.” Dennis grabbed her hand and playfully tugged her arm. “Just as long as your feet move to follow.” His hand felt warm and the heat from it moved up her arm, spreading through the rest of her body. She took a step toward him, the tenderness in his eyes drawing her, and she rubbed her thumb over the back of his hand.
“I can do that,” he repeated.
* * * * *
Ava previewed the video while Grandpa Jack got ready for bed. She smiled into the camera, noticing that the shots were nice. The audio was clear. The scenery came across beautifully—a nice contrast to the stories Grand-Paul was sharing. Her grandpa seemed to give no mind to the video playing on the computer screen as he got into bed. It was almost as though he believed the whole project would go away if he just ignored it. He snuggled under the down comforter and was asleep nearly as soon as his head hit the pillow.
While the video was uploading onto her computer, Ava set to work on the script for the extra video she wanted to shoot. After she got everything written out as she wanted it, she changed her clothes, put on fresh makeup, restyled her hair, and then she headed downstairs.
The dining room was empty except for a young waitress who was sweeping.
“Excuse me.” Ava approached the young woman, whose hair was dyed burgundy—a color popular in Europe. “I was wondering if I could videotape.” Ava pointed to a table in the
“I wish I could rest, but I have no choice. Todd made it clear the video needs to be there three hours before the show so they can review it.” She wrinkled her nose, imagining the team assembled in Todd’s office, viewing her work. She knew she could make something decent, but could she, in this amount of time, meet their high standards?
“You seem a little nervous about it.” Grand-Paul cocked an eyebrow.
“A little is an understatement. I just want to get it right, you know? My boss is counting on this.” She didn’t mention that her boss was also counting on her to understand her grandfather in new ways. Understanding was far from what she’d achieved so far. Rather, each new destination had only brought more questions—ones her grandfather had no desire to answer.
“Let me tell you something I used to tell the people working in my company,” Paul said, stepping closer to her. “Inside, all of us feel as if we’re still in junior high. We feel awkward and think everyone around us is more handsome, smarter, or better. The best thing you can do is to take long strides ahead and tell yourself you’re at the top of the class. Have confidence in yourself, in your abilities, Ava.”
Ava looked at Dennis, remembering what he told her: “ I used to tell myself, Ava would do it, so why can’t I? ” Thinking of that, she wondered when things had changed. For too long she’d focused on what she could do well, instead of trying new things. This trip was a huge step for her—she hadn’t realized how big until now.
“I’ll be fine. A little nervous, yes, but nothing hard work and a few prayers and tears can’t solve. Besides, I can’t think of a better story to lose a little sleep over. I have to get this right because I have one amazing subject.”
Her grandpa rose from his chair and tried to get his balance.
“Off to bed, all of you.” She waved her hands to shoo him away, trying to pretend she wasn’t bothered by his decision not to participate in the videos. “Get some sleep.”
She pointed at Dennis. “Especially you. You’ll need a good night’s sleep, because I have a feeling you’ll be dragging me around tomorrow in my half-asleep state.”
“I can do that.” Dennis grabbed her hand and playfully tugged her arm. “Just as long as your feet move to follow.” His hand felt warm and the heat from it moved up her arm, spreading through the rest of her body. She took a step toward him, the tenderness in his eyes drawing her, and she rubbed her thumb over the back of his hand.
“I can do that,” he repeated.
* * * * *
Ava previewed the video while Grandpa Jack got ready for bed. She smiled into the camera, noticing that the shots were nice. The audio was clear. The scenery came across beautifully—a nice contrast to the stories Grand-Paul was sharing. Her grandpa seemed to give no mind to the video playing on the computer screen as he got into bed. It was almost as though he believed the whole project would go away if he just ignored it. He snuggled under the down comforter and was asleep nearly as soon as his head hit the pillow.
While the video was uploading onto her computer, Ava set to work on the script for the extra video she wanted to shoot. After she got everything written out as she wanted it, she changed her clothes, put on fresh makeup, restyled her hair, and then she headed downstairs.
The dining room was empty except for a young waitress who was sweeping.
“Excuse me.” Ava approached the young woman, whose hair was dyed burgundy—a color popular in Europe. “I was wondering if I could videotape.” Ava pointed to a table in the
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