Eternal Hearts (Incurable Hearts 2) (16 page)

“Yes, I did. He has a ring and everything planned out” I laughed.

“Bloody hell, she is going to have a birthday to remember isn’t she”

“Sure is. Anyway, what is up with you, you have been distant since I got here, actually, come to think of it, for weeks really?”

“Oh nothing, it isn’t important,” he said.

“You know you can talk to me,” I urged.

He nodded, “Just not today” he said before returning to staring out of the window.

For the rest of the day I tried to work through the tensed atmosphere, I had a lot of paperwork to catch up on, and Alex sitting there sullenly opposite me made it difficult to concentrate. I was tempted to try and get whatever was on his mind out of him, but I knew better, he was like me. When he is ready to talk he will, not before.

By the end of the day I couldn’t take any more silence, I was about to ask him what the hell was wrong but he stood, said he would see me later at the restaurant and left.

I still couldn’t concentrate after he left, I wondered what could be wrong with him, he has never closed himself away from me before. At least thinking about Alex took my mind off of tonight’s big proposal.

For
the next couple of hours I managed to get through most of the paperwork, I got so carried away with it I almost made myself late. I had an hour to get home and changed before I had to be at the restaurant.

When I arrived at the restaurant, everyone was already seated apart from Ava and Layton.

With everyone working and doing their own thing, we haven’t been able to get together as much as we would have liked lately. I hadn’t realised how much I have been looking forward to tonight.

“You’re late! She is on her way” Nat scolded me as soon as I sat down.

“I’m here now, Jase just called to say he and Anna can’t make it as Sophia isn’t well”

“Bless her. How are you son?” mum asked.

“I’m fine. How are you Henry?”

He was looking more tired these days. In the last few years he has had two heart attacks. The first one was a mild one but the second, last year hit him hard and he hasn’t fully recovered. My mother worries about him constantly. If I admit it, I do as well. He is an old man now and if he were to suffer another attack I don’t think he will survive.

“I’m okay, I would be better if your mother would stop hovering around me”

I understood his frustration, I knew how my mother could be. I can’t imagine having to have someone around all the time. I remember when she would constantly ‘pop by’ to make sure I was okay after Jas died. I dread to think what she would have been like if I had been ill. I really did feel for him.

“You wouldn’t have it any other way,” I mocked.

“Could be worse, I could leave you to fester by yourself. See how far you get then,” she said, warningly.

“Calm down mum, he is only teasing” Alex said
, fiddling with the fork absently.

When he spoke I first heard the boredom in his voice, but when I looked at him, I saw the distance between him and Nat. It was like they were strangers. She didn’t look at him, he didn’t look at her and there was no conversation between them. Usually he receives Nat’s bright, perky attitude with warm, loving smiles, tonight though something isn’t right between them. Maybe that is why he has been withdrawn at work lately? Natalie was about to say something when Ava and Layton arrived.

“Happy birthday sweetie” I said, getting up to hug Ava and shake Layton’s hand.

I had to suppress a laugh, he looked unbelievably nervous, although he was doing his best to hide it from Ava.

“Thank you dad. I see you have survived my moving out” she giggled.

“Yeah yeah, sit down” I told her.

Everyone wished her a happy birthday and we settled around the table. Layton’s proposal was surprisingly the last thing on my mind, I couldn’t help but keep a close eye on my brother and his wife.

“How have you enjoyed your day darling?” I asked Ava, trying to ignore the bad feeling that was beginning to
take root within.

“Well, I had to work this morning, but I spent this afternoon being pampered and spoilt. Oh and thank you for the flowers” she smiled, happily.

“You’re welcome, here is your present” I said, producing her gift.

“I love present time” she squirmed in her seat,
she opened the box and gasped, “It’s beautiful, I love it. I will keep it with the others”

Each year for her birthday I have something that has meaning to our lives made from white gold and encrusted with diamonds, this year, it is a key to represent her moving into her first place.

“Thanks dad” she said, hugging me from her seat.

“Here is our gift. I picked it out, your Uncle Alex barely wrote his name on the card” Nat said, trying to sound flippant, but we could all hear the disdain in her voice.

This got Alex’s attention, he plastered on a smile and began blabbering away.

“That’s not quite true. Happy birthday Ava”

“Um…thank you” she replied, “Are they okay?” she whispered more closely to me.

“I have no idea,” I told her truthfully.

“Okay, before we order, I would like to wish my brilliant daughter a happy birthday…enjoy tonight and we all love you” I said, raising the glass in front of me high.

“Happy birthday” everyone cheered around the table.

Until the end of the meal, we all enjoyed good food and the conversation while the atmosphere was in full celebratory mood. On keeping close attention to my brother and Nat, they seemed to make more of an effort, it was like they were over-compensating, trying to act like they were a couple rather than the usual light-hearted jokes between each other. No subtle touching like usual, nothing but polite chatter, but not with each other, just both in conversation with the rest of us.

“Excuse me, I would like to say thank you to you all for sharing my day with me” Ava said.

“Oh honey, we wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” my mum cooed.

“Right then, shall we get the bill?” Alex asked impatiently.

He was beginning to annoy me, I don’t have a clue what is wrong with him, but I gave him the opportunity to talk to me earlier and he turned away from me. He said it could wait, now he is acting like a dick on my daughter’s birthday, and he was out of order.

“What is the rush?” I asked.

“No rush, I thought we were all done,” he said, slouching down in his chair again.

All I had to do was give him a certain look, call it brother code, he could do the same to me, and know without saying a word how I was feeling. And tonight, he knew the look I was giving him
meant behave-your-fucking-self, plus he knew Layton still had his proposal to get through.

My mother began talking amorously, trying to get the mood back in good spirits.

“Actually Fiona, can I have a moment please? I have something I would like to ask Ava” Layton said, raising his voice to be heard.

My attention turned to Ava, I couldn’t decide if she knew what was coming or not. The confused look on her face told me she had no idea, but the small smile playing arou
nd her lips told me she was expecting it at some point soon.

“Ava, you know I love you and will do anything for you” he started, pushing his chair back to go down on bended knee.

The women gasped while Ava covered her mouth elegantly trying to hide her surprise. I will never forget the want in her eyes, the eagerness to say yes to the unasked question she awaited to hear.

“I will love and protect you, and…make you pancakes every Sunday” he winked
, making her and us all laugh, “Will you marry me?” he finished.

I had to give the boy credit where it was due, he had actually asked her in front of us all.

If Layton had any worries about her refusing him, he needn’t have, she was the most happiest I have seen her in years. She couldn’t form any words, with tears of joy and a smile only a woman could wear in the instance, she nodded yes.

As soon as Layton had slid the ring on her finger, she was in his arms.

The atmosphere had lost the tensed mood that circulated because of Alex and once again was joyous.

“Congratulations darling, to the both of you” my mother said, getting up to give them cuddles. In turn so did everyone else. I waited till they had taken their turns.

She waggled her hand in front of me, showing me the ring I had seen a few hours ago, smiling.

“Can you believe it?” she asked.

“I sure can, he is lucky you said yes”

“You knew he was going to do this, didn’t you?”

“Sure did, do you think he is brave enough to do this without my permission?” I smirked.

“I’m glad you did, I love him dad”

“I know you do sweetie, be happy” I said releasing her.

We sat back at the table. Nat had taken my seat besides Ava to do the whole lets-look-at-your-ring thing, so I took Nat’s seat and sat back relaxing my arm around the back of Alex’s seat.

“You look happier about this then I imagined you would,” he murmured.

“And you don’t look happy at all” I pointed out, “What is going on, and don’t bull shit me?” I said
, trying to keep the conversation between the two of us.

“Not tonight,
its Ava’s night” he murmured back.

“Don’t give me that, tell me. Ava is in her own world right now” I said, beginning to get angry.

He was right, it was Ava’s night but the way he has been acting tonight, he has made it my business to know now.

“I have been stupid,” he admitted, the
n he went silent.

“Go on…” I prompted further.

“And…”

“Not here, he will tell you later as your house is where he will be staying tonight” our mother pitched in.

I was always aware she was listening, even when you think she isn’t, she is. But I didn’t think she could hear us now.

“Why will you be staying at mine?”

This wasn’t good enough, obviously our mother knew more about this then I did, and I didn’t like it.

“I’ll explain later” he said.

“Okay, so I warn you now, this wedding will be as soon as possible” Ava said, gaining our attention.

As soon as possible? No chance of a long engagement then? I wondered if Ava’s life was destined to be similar to that of her mothers, who she has never
known. Jasmine’s wedding and mine was planned quickly for reasons beyond our control, thanks to her tumour. Now, fifteen years later on, our daughter was rushing into a wedding too, I reminded myself it was for a marriage that will last a lot longer than mine. It was times like this I missed her the most, we should be enjoying these times together. Watching our daughter go through the motions of life with both of her parents at her side. I still hold the anger inside me towards the tumour, even after all this time. I know it happens, it happened to us, but of all the people in the world, it took her away from me.

Strangely, it was times like this that got me through life on my own. It gave me something to live through and they were definitely worth living for, to see my daughter this happy and content.

“Dad?”

I blinked until I was in focus to see Ava waving her hand in my face.

“Wedding talk boring you already?” she laughed.

“Of course not. I was just thinking what I
should get you for your wedding gift”

Of course she saw straight through the lie, but it was something I would have to think of soon, if she were going to be married soon.

“Okay, well we are getting ready to leave now” she said.

“Okay, I will meet you outside,
I’ll settle up here first, my treat” I told everyone.

“I’ll pay, it might be my last chance to” Alex said
, getting his card out of his wallet.

“What the fuck is going on with you? And why are you not going home with Nat?” I asked again
, as everyone made their way outside.

“Let me pay, then
I’ll tell you in the car”

I sighed in frustration and left him to pay. I said good-bye to my mother and Henry, Nat was pulling away by the time I went to say good-bye to her.

“Do you know what is going on with Nat?” I asked Ava.

“No, but I don’t think it is good between her and Uncle Alex” she said.

“I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about” I lied, “Here, give me a hug before you go”

“Don’t feel like you are losing me, I am not going anywhere,” she said quietly into my jacket.

Her reassuring words reminded me of Jas, there was no doubt, that even if I wanted to be rid of memories of Jas, I could with Ava around, they were so alike.

“Hey, don’t you be worrying about me! Believe me, I am happy for you, both of you” I told her.

“Good, I’ll always need you dad”

“Always” I agreed, “Go on and get yourselves home. Drive safely Layton” I warned.