A child who isn't mine, but feels like she could be. Ethan's breath caught. I know I'm not her mother, Victoria continued. I know I don't have that right, but when I'm with her with both of you, I feel like maybe I could be. Like maybe there's space for me in this life you've built.
There is, he said. There's always been space. You just had to step into it. She looked at him and he saw tears in her eyes. I'm stepping.
I know. Ava ran back breathless and grinning. Did you see me? I made it to the third branch. I saw, Ethan said.
Very impressive. Miss Hail, did you see? I did. You're very brave. Thanks.
Can we get more ice cream? You just had ice cream. But I climbed a tree. That burns calories. Victoria laughed.
A real full laugh that made Ava beam. Maybe on the way out. Ethan said, "Promise. Promise. " They stayed until the sun started to set, painting the sky orange and pink. Ava fell asleep in the car on the way home, her head lolling against the window.
Ethan carried her inside while Victoria waited by the car. "Thank you for today," she said when he came back down. You don't have to thank me. I do because this what we did today. It's the best day I've had in years.
He stepped closer. Then we should do it again. I'd like that. They stood there, the space between them charged with something unspoken. He wanted to kiss her.
Wanted to close the distance and see what happened. But he didn't. Not yet. Good night, Victoria. Good night, Ethan.
She drove away and he stood there long after her tail lights disappeared, wondering what came next. What came next arrived faster than either of them expected. It started with a phone call on a Tuesday morning. Ethan was restocking the mystery section when his phone buzzed. Unknown number.
He almost didn't answer. Hello, Mr. Blake. This is Jennifer Chen from Riverside Elementary. His stomach dropped. Is Ava okay?
She's fine, but there was an incident at school today. We need you to come pick her up. What kind of incident? I'd rather discuss it in person. He was out the door in 30 seconds.
When he arrived at the school, Ava was sitting in the principal's office, looking small and defiant. Her knuckles were red. There was a tear in her shirt. "What happened? " he asked, kneeling in front of her. She didn't answer, just crossed her arms and looked away.
Principal Chen cleared her throat. Ava got into a fight with another student. She threw the first punch. Ethan blinked. Ava doesn't fight.
She did today. He looked at his daughter. Ava, talk to me. Her jaw trembled. He said you weren't a good dad.
Everything stopped. Who said that? Tyler Morrison. He said his mom said that single dads can't do it right. That I probably don't even have nice clothes or good lunches because you don't know what you're doing.
Ethan's blood went cold. "So I hit him," Ava continued, her voice breaking. "Because he's wrong. " "You're the best dad ever, and I don't care what his stupid mom thinks. " Principal Chen sighed. "While I understand Ava's feelings, violence is not acceptable. She's suspended for the rest of the week. " "Suspended? " Ethan stood.
She was defending herself. "She threw the first punch, Mr. Blake, because some kid was bullying her. That's still not an excuse. He wanted to argue, wanted to fight this, but Ava was watching him with wide, scared eyes, and he knew she needed him calm more than she needed him right. "Fine," he said.
"We'll go. " He took Ava's hand and led her out of the office. They didn't speak until they were in the car. "Am I in trouble? " she asked quietly. "No, but I hit someone. " "You defended our family. That's different.
Principal Chen said, "I know what she said, but sometimes the rules don't account for everything. " She was quiet for a moment. I'm sorry. For what? For making you leave work, for getting suspended, for Stop. He pulled over, turning to look at her.
You have nothing to apologize for. You hear me? Nothing. Her eyes filled with tears. I just wanted him to stop talking.
I know, baby. I know. She unbuckled her seat belt and climbed into his lap, something she hadn't done in over a year. He held her while she cried, feeling every sobb like a punch to his own chest. When she finally calmed down, she pulled back and looked at him.
"Can we call Ms. Hail? " "Why? Because she makes things better. " His throat tightened. "Yeah, we can call her. " He pulled out his phone and dialed. Victoria answered on the second ring. Ethan, is everything uh Ava got suspended.
Silence. What happened? He explained, keeping his voice level, even though rage was still simmering under his skin. When he finished, Victoria was quiet for a long moment. Where are you now?
In the car outside the school. Go home. I'll meet you there. Victoria, you don't have to. I'll be there in 20 minutes.
She hung up. Ava looked at him. Is she coming? Yeah. Good.
They drove home in silence. Ethan kept glancing at Ava in the rear view mirror at her red knuckles and tear stained face and felt something fierce and protective rise in his chest. He'd protected her from so much over the years, but he couldn't protect her from other people's judgments, from the whispers and assumptions that came with being raised by a single parent. Victoria arrived in 15 minutes. She walked in without knocking, still in her workclo, her face a mask of controlled fury.
"Where is she? " "Living room. " Victoria went straight to Ava, who looked up with wide eyes. "Are you okay? " Victoria asked. Ava nodded. "Did you win? " Ava blinked. "What the fight?
Did you win? " A small smile crept onto Ava's face. "Yeah, I think so. " "Good. " Victoria sat down beside her. "Now tell me exactly what happened. Don't leave anything out. " Ava told the story again, this time with more detail. About how Tyler had been saying things for weeks.
About how his mom picked him up every day and made comments loud enough for other parents to hear. About how today Tyler had brought homemade cookies and made a big show of saying his mom made them because she actually cares. "And that's when you hit him? " Victoria asked. That's when I hit him. Victoria nodded slowly.
I understand why you did it, but you can't hit people every time they say something you don't like. I know. Do you? Ava looked down. I just got so mad.
Being mad is okay. Hitting is not. Then what was I supposed to do? Use your words. Tell a teacher.
Walk away. But that feels like losing. It's not. It's being smart. Ava didn't look convinced.
Victoria reached out and tilted her chin up. Listen to me. People are going to say things, cruel things, things that aren't true, and it's going to hurt. But you can't let them make you into someone you're not. You're better than that.
But what if they don't stop? Then you keep being better. Eventually, they'll get tired. And if they don't, Victoria glanced at Ethan, then back at Ava. Then we handle it together.
Ava threw her arms around Victoria's neck. Victoria stiffened for a second, then softened, wrapping her arms around the small girl. "Thank you for coming," Ava whispered. "Always," Victoria whispered back. Ethan watched them, something warm and terrifying spreading through his chest.
After Ava went to her room to change, Victoria joined Ethan in the kitchen. "Tyler Morrison's mother," she said. "What do you know about her? " "Not much. We've never spoken, but she's been talking about you. Apparently, Victoria's jaw tightened.
That's unacceptable. It's also not illegal. No, but it's cruel. Welcome to single parenthood. People have opinions.
Their opinions are wrong. He smiled despite himself. Thanks. She looked at him, her expression softening. How are you?
Honestly, I want to drive back to that school and give Tyler's mom a piece of my mind. Why don't you? Because it won't help. It'll just make things worse for Ava. So, you do nothing.