IVF.”
Ben quickly glanced at Holly with a surprised look on his face before bringing his attention back to the road. “It’s okay, babe. I understand where you’re coming from, I really do. Going through … well, we’ve just been through something traumatic, and we still need time to heal. That’s why I think this weekend away is going to be so great for us. You don’t think I’m upset about it, do you?”
“No, at least, I don’t think so, but that’s not why I brought it up,” she explained.
“Okay … I’m not sure I understand.”
“What I’m trying to say is that I changed my mind. After we get back home from this trip, let’s give him a call. I want to give it another try.”
“Holly,” Ben darted his eyes quickly at her, “are you sure? I don’t want you to do this for me. You have to make certain this is what you want. Is this what you want?”
“Yes. That’s what I’m trying to tell you,” she said, laughing. “This is what I want. For me and for you. For us. ”
“Oh, babe.” Ben reached over to take her hand with his right while keeping his left firmly on the wheel. He looked over at her for just a second and said, “You have no idea how happy this makes me. Thank you.”
The last thing Holly remembered were the taillights of the tractor-trailer that had stopped short in front of them and the grinding sound of metal on metal as their car smashed up against it.
Chapter 23 - Ava
Ava watched her two boys play together in the backyard. While she couldn’t hear them, she could tell just by the expression on their faces they were enjoying the nice weather and each other’s company.
Back when she learned her second child was a boy, she was admittedly disappointed. It wasn’t that she didn’t want a son, she just didn’t really know that much about taking care of little boys. With the exception of her father, a few dates, and her husband, she’d spent her entire life around girls. But she quickly learned that little boys were cuddly creatures who loved to get messy and give lots of kisses. Her heart, already stretched to the max upon the birth of Jenna, grew even bigger the day Logan was born, and once more with Ryan.
“I keep telling Ryan he has to keep his hands cupped if he wants to catch the ball.”
Ava startled at the sound of the voice behind her, nearly dropping the dish she’d been washing into the sink.
“Max! You’re home early. I didn’t hear you come in. I wasn’t expecting you until dinner time.”
Wrapping his arms around her waist, he kissed her lips and explained, “My last flight got detoured … there are some nasty storms down south. Anyway, we landed early, and here I am. I hope I gave you enough time to kick your boyfriend out.”
“Oh, stop,” she replied, kissing him back. “The only boys here are the ones you helped make. My boyfriend left hours ago.” Winking, she gave him another kiss.
“Gross!”
Ava looked over to her daughter standing in the doorway … a look of pure disgust on her face.
“ Oh, hi Dad! Welcome home. It’s great to see you,” Max said in his best teenage girl voice, still holding Ava close.
“Seriously,” Jenna quipped, glaring at them, “do you have to do that in front of everyone?”
Max raised one eyebrow. “We were alone until you barged in. And last I checked, this is my house. I can pretty much do whatever I want, wherever I want.” Looking back to Ava, he kissed her again—this time a wet, sloppy, noisy kiss.
“Whatever,” Jenna said with that tone all kids seem to have the minute they turn double-digits. “Mom, when you’re done making out with Dad, can you tell me what time you need me to babysit tonight?”
“Babysit?” Max asked, pulling away slightly. “Did I forget about plans for this evening?”
“Sometime after dinner,” Ava told her daughter. “Thanks.”
“Okay,” she said. “Oh and hi, Dad, welcome home. It’s great to see you.” Grabbing an apple out
Ben quickly glanced at Holly with a surprised look on his face before bringing his attention back to the road. “It’s okay, babe. I understand where you’re coming from, I really do. Going through … well, we’ve just been through something traumatic, and we still need time to heal. That’s why I think this weekend away is going to be so great for us. You don’t think I’m upset about it, do you?”
“No, at least, I don’t think so, but that’s not why I brought it up,” she explained.
“Okay … I’m not sure I understand.”
“What I’m trying to say is that I changed my mind. After we get back home from this trip, let’s give him a call. I want to give it another try.”
“Holly,” Ben darted his eyes quickly at her, “are you sure? I don’t want you to do this for me. You have to make certain this is what you want. Is this what you want?”
“Yes. That’s what I’m trying to tell you,” she said, laughing. “This is what I want. For me and for you. For us. ”
“Oh, babe.” Ben reached over to take her hand with his right while keeping his left firmly on the wheel. He looked over at her for just a second and said, “You have no idea how happy this makes me. Thank you.”
The last thing Holly remembered were the taillights of the tractor-trailer that had stopped short in front of them and the grinding sound of metal on metal as their car smashed up against it.
Chapter 23 - Ava
Ava watched her two boys play together in the backyard. While she couldn’t hear them, she could tell just by the expression on their faces they were enjoying the nice weather and each other’s company.
Back when she learned her second child was a boy, she was admittedly disappointed. It wasn’t that she didn’t want a son, she just didn’t really know that much about taking care of little boys. With the exception of her father, a few dates, and her husband, she’d spent her entire life around girls. But she quickly learned that little boys were cuddly creatures who loved to get messy and give lots of kisses. Her heart, already stretched to the max upon the birth of Jenna, grew even bigger the day Logan was born, and once more with Ryan.
“I keep telling Ryan he has to keep his hands cupped if he wants to catch the ball.”
Ava startled at the sound of the voice behind her, nearly dropping the dish she’d been washing into the sink.
“Max! You’re home early. I didn’t hear you come in. I wasn’t expecting you until dinner time.”
Wrapping his arms around her waist, he kissed her lips and explained, “My last flight got detoured … there are some nasty storms down south. Anyway, we landed early, and here I am. I hope I gave you enough time to kick your boyfriend out.”
“Oh, stop,” she replied, kissing him back. “The only boys here are the ones you helped make. My boyfriend left hours ago.” Winking, she gave him another kiss.
“Gross!”
Ava looked over to her daughter standing in the doorway … a look of pure disgust on her face.
“ Oh, hi Dad! Welcome home. It’s great to see you,” Max said in his best teenage girl voice, still holding Ava close.
“Seriously,” Jenna quipped, glaring at them, “do you have to do that in front of everyone?”
Max raised one eyebrow. “We were alone until you barged in. And last I checked, this is my house. I can pretty much do whatever I want, wherever I want.” Looking back to Ava, he kissed her again—this time a wet, sloppy, noisy kiss.
“Whatever,” Jenna said with that tone all kids seem to have the minute they turn double-digits. “Mom, when you’re done making out with Dad, can you tell me what time you need me to babysit tonight?”
“Babysit?” Max asked, pulling away slightly. “Did I forget about plans for this evening?”
“Sometime after dinner,” Ava told her daughter. “Thanks.”
“Okay,” she said. “Oh and hi, Dad, welcome home. It’s great to see you.” Grabbing an apple out
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