which stopped ringing but has started again. It has to be Jeremy.
My brows knit together as I look at the display. International .
“Hello?”
“Bonjour, is this Ava?” A thick French accent replies.
“Yes?” So far I’ve said two words and both have come out sounding like questions.
“Ava, this is Marjette. I’m not sure if you remember me. I only met you once or twice…”
“Oh! Marjette, of course I remember you. How are you? How is everyone? How are Mr. and Mrs. Rousseau? Enzo and Mathilde?” I fire my questions off excitedly. I’m so happy to hear from them. I have kept in contact with the children by exchanging letters. I sent my last one about a month ago, and I’m expecting one back any day now.
I hear Marjette hiccough and sniffle. “Marjette, is everything okay?”
“Ava, I’m terribly sorry to be have to be the one to tell you, but we thought you should know. Enzo passed away.” She chokes back a sob and I drop the phone.
Enzo has passed away. Enzo is dead. Oh god . I burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably. How can this be?
I pick up the phone off the carpet and put it to my ear.
“Marjette, I’m so sorry. What happened?”
“He was cha sing after a ball. He ran out into the road without looking and a small truck hit him. He passed instantly. He should have known better, he was twelve after all, but he was just playing.” Marjette explains. “We obviously don’t expect that you can come to the funeral, but we thought you ought to know.”
“Of course. Thank you for calling me. When is the funeral?”
“This coming Wednesday.”
“I’ll be there.” I state. I hope I can get a flight.
We speak for a few more minutes before I end the call and immediately phone the airline. It must be my lucky day because I can get a flight from Darwin to Sydney this afternoon, and Sydney to Paris leaving at midnight. I race around packing a bag and making sure I’ve got my passport handy. As I’m racing down the stairs, my father walks in the door. When I see him, I burst into tears.
“Ava, darlin’, what’s the matter? Come here.” I fall into his outstretched arms and sob.
“Enzo d-died,” I manage. “I-I’m going to P-Paris for the funeral.”
“Good idea, sweetheart. Come on, I’ll drive you to the airport.”
On the way, I fill my dad in on everything that I know. We arrive in record time and after kissing my dad goodbye, I check in.
I decide to quickly text my mum before I board.
I have to go to Paris. Will be back in a week.
Her reply is almost immediate
Ava, what’s going on? Why are you going back to Paris? Don’t run again, Ava!
How the fucking hell does she know I ran last time? My mother is too intuitive for her own good.
Dad will explain everything to you. I have to go. Plane is about to board. Love you xo
I turn my phone off and board the plane.
Chapter Nine
Two days later
After arriving in France, I booked a motel and spent the next day sleeping off jet lag. When I started to feel somewhat normal again, I dragged my ass to the nearest phone shop and brought a charger for my phone. It was the only thing I’d forgotten to pack and when I turned my phone off after texting my mum, it wouldn’t restart again because the battery was too low. When it was finally charged enough to let me start it up, I found I had thirty missed calls (ten from my parents, three from Edie, one from Jules, two from Jackson, two from an international number and twelve from Jeremy. I also had a slew of text messages.
Hey babe, we have to catch up soon x Edie
We need a girls night catch up – that scene at the hospital was intense! – Jules
Ava, your father just filled me. Stay safe please and pass our love and thoughts on to the family. Come home soon. Call when you can. Love mum.
Ava, answer your phone - Jeremy
Ava, please honey, just talk to me – Jeremy
Goddammit Ava, answer
My brows knit together as I look at the display. International .
“Hello?”
“Bonjour, is this Ava?” A thick French accent replies.
“Yes?” So far I’ve said two words and both have come out sounding like questions.
“Ava, this is Marjette. I’m not sure if you remember me. I only met you once or twice…”
“Oh! Marjette, of course I remember you. How are you? How is everyone? How are Mr. and Mrs. Rousseau? Enzo and Mathilde?” I fire my questions off excitedly. I’m so happy to hear from them. I have kept in contact with the children by exchanging letters. I sent my last one about a month ago, and I’m expecting one back any day now.
I hear Marjette hiccough and sniffle. “Marjette, is everything okay?”
“Ava, I’m terribly sorry to be have to be the one to tell you, but we thought you should know. Enzo passed away.” She chokes back a sob and I drop the phone.
Enzo has passed away. Enzo is dead. Oh god . I burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably. How can this be?
I pick up the phone off the carpet and put it to my ear.
“Marjette, I’m so sorry. What happened?”
“He was cha sing after a ball. He ran out into the road without looking and a small truck hit him. He passed instantly. He should have known better, he was twelve after all, but he was just playing.” Marjette explains. “We obviously don’t expect that you can come to the funeral, but we thought you ought to know.”
“Of course. Thank you for calling me. When is the funeral?”
“This coming Wednesday.”
“I’ll be there.” I state. I hope I can get a flight.
We speak for a few more minutes before I end the call and immediately phone the airline. It must be my lucky day because I can get a flight from Darwin to Sydney this afternoon, and Sydney to Paris leaving at midnight. I race around packing a bag and making sure I’ve got my passport handy. As I’m racing down the stairs, my father walks in the door. When I see him, I burst into tears.
“Ava, darlin’, what’s the matter? Come here.” I fall into his outstretched arms and sob.
“Enzo d-died,” I manage. “I-I’m going to P-Paris for the funeral.”
“Good idea, sweetheart. Come on, I’ll drive you to the airport.”
On the way, I fill my dad in on everything that I know. We arrive in record time and after kissing my dad goodbye, I check in.
I decide to quickly text my mum before I board.
I have to go to Paris. Will be back in a week.
Her reply is almost immediate
Ava, what’s going on? Why are you going back to Paris? Don’t run again, Ava!
How the fucking hell does she know I ran last time? My mother is too intuitive for her own good.
Dad will explain everything to you. I have to go. Plane is about to board. Love you xo
I turn my phone off and board the plane.
Chapter Nine
Two days later
After arriving in France, I booked a motel and spent the next day sleeping off jet lag. When I started to feel somewhat normal again, I dragged my ass to the nearest phone shop and brought a charger for my phone. It was the only thing I’d forgotten to pack and when I turned my phone off after texting my mum, it wouldn’t restart again because the battery was too low. When it was finally charged enough to let me start it up, I found I had thirty missed calls (ten from my parents, three from Edie, one from Jules, two from Jackson, two from an international number and twelve from Jeremy. I also had a slew of text messages.
Hey babe, we have to catch up soon x Edie
We need a girls night catch up – that scene at the hospital was intense! – Jules
Ava, your father just filled me. Stay safe please and pass our love and thoughts on to the family. Come home soon. Call when you can. Love mum.
Ava, answer your phone - Jeremy
Ava, please honey, just talk to me – Jeremy
Goddammit Ava, answer
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