The clip-clopping of horse hooves on asphalt snapped Ava out of her day dreaming as she sat out in her Jeep in front of the Paradise Cafe. She glanced into the rear view mirror of the Jeep and saw another one of those odd black boxes on wheels being pulled by a handsome quarter horse. Ava waited for it to pass then started her engine and slowly backed out of the diagonal parking slot.

She headed west back in the direction of the motel. She was met with a steady stream of motorized vehicles interspersed with more horse and buggies heading into town. As Ava crawled along at a turtle’s pace behind the horse and buggy in front of her, the slow pace began grating on her. She was a city girl and addicted to things moving fast.

Ava was not only born in a city but raised in a series of them. City life is all she’d ever known. Urban life was her blood. When your father is in the diplomatic core and married to an  ambitious woman, it meant a different posting every couple of years. Those postings took them all over the world everytime to a new city.

Sighing out loud Ava settled down and accepted she wasn’t going any where fast for the time being. She’d put the time to good use studying Eden a bit.

All the stores appeared to be grouped together in the tiny business district in the heart of town. There was The Farmer’s Store, The Handyman’s Store which Ava took to be a hardware store since it had a barrel of rakes and hoes out front. Of course the Paradise Café and the Eden Community Bank, a small brick structure that looked like a playhouse to Ava. She saw no ATM machine nor drive-up window. In the parking lot horse and buggies were parked along side cars and pickup trucks.

Ava gazed down quiet side streets where more of those giant trees she’d encountered earlier while riding with Anne Pine draped their branches over the street forming great arched canopies of green foliage.

Suddenly, Ava found herself turning onto one of the side streets. She slowly drove past fine old, impeccably kept Victorian homes. Some were three stories high with ornate barge boards and detailed bric-a-brac while other’s were small, quaint cottages.

Ava loved Victorian architecture. It had a humanity to it that so much of the contemporary architecture lacked. Ava recalled the many hours she and Chris spent strolling the old neighborhoods back in the city where the Victorian houses had been saved from developers much as Chris had saved the amazing Victorian building he lived and worked in.

Ava had wondered out loud during those walks what it must’ve been like to grow up in a real Victorian house. How, as a little girl, she would’ve loved to have had a bedroom way up high on one of those third floors, or even in the attic!

These big houses here in Eden were set back from the street. Some surrounded by large lawns bordered with ornate wrought iron fences while the smaller cottages with their intimate yards were overgrown with beautiful climbing vines and skirted with a blooming array of summer flowers. Ava recognized lavendar colored Melva and iridescent blue delphiniums. Lupines thrived, blooming in every color imaginable.

Everything is so restful around here, thought Ava. Time seemed to slow down to a healthy resting heartbeat. The calm seeped deep into the very marrow of her bones.
Bringing her sight-seeing to a satisfying end, Ava returned to the main street leading out of town. She spotted the Red Delicious Inn up ahead. Instead of turning in she drove to Sawmill Road, the narrow side road that bordered the motel just beyond it. The same road she went jogging on last night. She turned on to it and accelerated.

As she drove Ava again admired the lush green dumpling shaped hills surrounding her.She felt cradled by them. There was something reassuring about them and the narrow valley that Sawmill Road meandered through. Ava was learning that around Eden, few roads ran straight and true for long. The countryside was laced with horse and buggy roads with those inevitable deep knee-bend turns.

Ava came upon the great old pines she’d passed last night. They looked even more ancient in the daylight, some had bent and gnarled trunks. Rounding the bend she focused hard watching for a road sign that said ‘Carefree Lane’. To think that Ava had jogged right past here last night. She couldn’t have been more than a quarter of a mile from the property Chris had purchased in her name.

According to the Mapquest directions, Carefree Lane had to be coming up soon, thought Ava. “There it is!” exclaimed Ava outloud.  Turning right again she proceeded down an even narrower road. Suddenly Ava was filled with trepidation and slowed the Jeep to a crawl. What was she about to find? For so many months she’d been haunted by questions she couldn’t find answers to. This property might give her some of those answers. But, wondered Ava, would they be answers that gave her desperately needed peace of mind or worse, would they end up tormenting her more than she was already.

Here it was - the driveway. Ava stopped, pulled the emergency brake on and got out of the Jeep to take a look at the number on the weathered mailbox. She was looking for 321 Carefree Lane. She took her sleeve and rubbed away some dust on the side of the galvanized metal mailbox. She could barely read the numbers painted in a slightly unsure hand on the side of it. Ava made out the numbers - 321.

She turned and studied the wooded drive that obscured everything beyond. Her heart began pounding. The muscles of her body grew rigid with tenseness. She wanted to turn around, go back to the motel, check out, and return to the city. Moving forward down this drive seemed an impossible feat for Ava. High overhead a hawk let out it’s scream. Was it welcoming her or was it a warning to turn back?

Ava wished she hadn’t made such a hasty decision to come to Eden in the first place. Brent Atwell was right. There was no reason to rush. Ava could see now that she hadn’t given herself enough time. Maybe she should take it now. But no, she’d come this far and she would see it through especially after all she’d been through to get to here.

There’d been the hours of relentless driving on the Interstate arriving in Eden well after dark wound up so tight she went out for a jog to relax. Then there was the accident and waking up in a stranger’s bed this morning not to mention the delivery of Katie Miller’s new baby. No Ava had to go down that drive - NOW.

She got back in the Jeep and turned into the drive. Seconds later she broke free of the overgrown foliage. Ava turned off the engine and sat staring for a good minute. Lowering her head she wept.

Ava had to get back to Brent Atwell. If she hid out in the Ladies Room any longer he’d be coming in to look for her. She splashed cold water on her face, patted it dry with some paper toweling and headed back to his office.

Ava knocked softly at his door. The door swung open so fast it nearly sucked her into the room. “Are you alright?” asked an anguished Brent Atwell, “I didn’t mean to upset you earlier.”

For a moment Ava felt sorry for this great hulk of a man. He was so strong physically and yet obviously possessed of a soft underbelly to his personality. “I really need to be getting home,” said Ava, “Can we finish this?”

What Ava really needed to get home to was her bed. From early childhood she’d always made a beeline to her bed and hidden under the covers when deeply distressed. Not having a real mother of her own, her bed became her substitute mother offering her the only nurturing she had known. Right now Ava needed her mother, she needed her bed.

“Certainly, yes, of course,” replied Brent picking up the envelope he’d asked Ava about twenty minutes earlier. “Now, I think its safe to say you’ve seen this before,” Ava nodded. “Do you know what’s in it?” he asked.

“No,” said Ava, “Chris and I.”  And here Ava paused not knowing how to say it. “Well we cut our evening short before the envelope came up in conversation” She felt no need to reveal to Brent Atwell why she and Chris hadn’t gotten around to talking about the envelope. “And then the next day Chris was gone.”

Brent proceeded to explain how the envelope had turned up months after Chris’ untimely death. That it was found in a pocket of a jacket hanging in his closet when his clothes were being readied for Goodwill. Once it came into Brent Atwell’s possession he immediately set to contacting Ava Land. But for weeks she’d refused to respond to any of his phone messages. It took that Special Delivery letter to her this morning to get Ava Land into his office.

Brent Atwell opened the envelope and pulled out the contents taking his time unfolding the sheets of paper before reaching over his acre of desktop to lay them before Ava. “This is a deed to a property,” he said, “A property you own.” Brent looked directly at Ava to assess her reaction. There wasn’t one. Ava sat there looking at him apparently not understanding a word he’d said to her.

“Miss Land? Do you understand what I just said?” asked Atwell. Ava was faraway remembering what happened between she and Chris that last night before he died.

Brent Atwell cleared his throat speaking a little louder and slower as one tended to do with a person hard of hearing, “Apparently Christian Graber purchased a property and put it in your name,” said Brent Atwell.

Ava jumped to her feet, “I don’t want it! This has nothing to with me,” she shouted.

“Legally the property belongs to you Miss Land,” said Atwell.

“I told you, I don’t want it. Just - just put it with all of Chris’s other property and leave me out of this,” said Ava growing more agitated.

Brent Atwell sat back in his leather chair and paused. Taking a deep breath he began to speak slowly but decisively explaining that legally the deed to this property could not be “put in” with the rest of Chris’s assets.

“Look,” he said, his English accent more pronounced now that he was intensely focused on the matter at hand.”You don’t have to keep the property. Put it on the market and sell it. You can do whatever you want with it.”

“No - no,” she said. Guilt was strangling Ava. “I don’t want the land and I don’t want the money that comes from the sale of the land.”

Brent Atwell pushed the point. He explained to Ava that if she did nothing with the property, especially not pay the taxes on it, that in 3 to 5 years it would be taken by the county government and sold off for back taxes. He felt that would be a shame and told her so. “You have to think of what Chris would want,” he said. “Take some time and think about it. There’s no rush.”

With that Brent ventured around his desk. Tucking the deed back into the envelope he placed it in Ava’s hand. Skillfully he steered Ava through the doorway towards the elevator.

“What part of the city is this property located in?” mumbled Ava.

“Oh its not in the city,” said Brent Atwell, “Its located out in the country. Near a small farming town called Eden.”

Ava stared into Brent Atwell’s face but saw nothing. It was as though she’d gone temporarily blind. “Why would Chris buy property out in the country and put it in my name?” Ava asked. The elevator softly pinged right before the doors opened.

“I’m sorry I don’t know the answer to that,” said Brent Atwell, “I should think Chris assumed you’d understand why.”

Right before the elevator doors closed between Ava Land and Brent Atwell she blurted out, “But I don’t!”

Incredible! thought Ava as she watched Carole King hop from the prow of the boat onto the cement embankment. Chris rushed out through a doorway and the two threw their arms around each other hugging long and hard then kissing each other on both cheeks. Chris held Carole back from himself to take a good look at her. Finally wrapping their arms around each other’s waist they walked into the Café side-by-side.

Ava sat there smiling warmly. Chris and Carole certainly looked  happy to see each other. Their body language spoke of two people who’d known each other a long time; were comfortable with each other. Ava sipped her glass of Chardonnay as she watched a small group of men unload musical equipment from the Taxi. What must it feel like, wondered Ava, to have a beloved friend who when laying eyes on him after a long absence filled you with such joy.

She wouldn’t know anything about that for Ava had been a loner all her life. Sure she was friendly with people, always had been, but something inside her had always resisted growing close to anyone. Ava suspected she had a problem with trust. Her trust had been betrayed so many times that the only person she felt she could really count on was herself. But that kept a person isolated in many respects. She was wondering more and more lately if safety was as important as she for so long had believed.

“Great you haven’t disappeared on me!” said Chris smiling at Ava as he followed her gaze down towards the boat where the men were hauling in the last of the musical equipment.

“Did you see Carole just now?” he asked.

Ava nodded. “You both looked so happy to see each other. It was wonderful to watch you together.”

“We’ve known each other for years. That’s why Carole agreed to stay an extra day to do this benefit. We’re raising money to restore the old Music Hall over on Lapham Street. Do you know it?” asked Chris.

Ava nodded. “Look you don’t have to sit here with me.” said Ava, “I should think you and Carole would want to be visiting with each other right now. I’ll be fine here on my own. Really.”

Chris studied  Ava closely trying to figure out this beautiful woman sitting across the table from him. Ave laughed nervously. “Really, I’m perfectly at ease sitting by myself. I do it all the time. It‘s a rare talent.” she said looking away towards the river. Chris remained seated. “After I gave  Kate a ride home last night, I rang Carole at her hotel. We talked a couple hours - we’re all caught up,” said Chris.

So, thought Ava, he didn’t go up to Kate’s condo last night. If Ava knew Kate, it wasn’t for a lack of trying. That would explain Kate’s mood this morning. Ava wondered if Kate was blaming her for not getting anywhere with Chris Graber last night.

They could hear the sound check going on down on the lower level. “It won’t be long now,” said Chris lounging back in his chair and gazing out at the river. “You know.” he said suddenly, “I would like the answer to my question. Were you trying to hand me off to Kate last night.”

Ava stared out at the water unable to look in Chris’ direction. “I broke a cardinal rule last night. Never allow a man to pick you up.” Ava blurted out.

Chris paused a moment to process what Ava had just said. Reaching across the table he took both of Ava’s hands in his own. “I wasn’t picking you up last night. I was recognizing a kindred spirit in you. You recognized it in me as well, I know you did,” said Chris softly. “Kate is, well…..interesting, but she’s not you. Do you understand what I‘m saying?”

Ava released her hands from Chris’ and took her sunglasses off. She willed herself to look directly into his face for the first time. She studied it’s broad planes. Ava knew from her photography classes that a camera lens loved a face like Chris’. He let her eyes roam over him, not nervous or embarrassed in the least by her direct gaze. Ava wasn’t exactly sure what it was but there was something of her own face in Chris’. She recognized a similar shadow of sadness just below the surface. Is this what Chris meant when he said he recognized a kindred spirit?

Chris’s friend appeared at the doorway. “Chris? She’s ready!” he called out.

Ava stood up and held her hand out. Chris rose and took Ava’s hand in his own. Lifting it to his lips he kissed the back of her hand. “Thank you,” he said.

Back out on the street the bright sunlight glancing off the buildings and pavement looked shrill to Ava. Embarrassed after being turned away all she wanted was to hide in the inky black shadows of the buildings across the street where they would cool the heat of her humiliation.

Ava stepped off the curb to head across the street. Her mind raced over the words Chris had jotted on the back of his business card: “Reception 4 Carole King, Sun. 1:30pm, @ Blue River Café, join me?”. She stopped cold and wondered, should I have told the bouncer I was a guest of Chris Graber?

A horn tooted - Ava jumped. She realized she was standing still in the middle of the street. Waving an apology she continued across to the other side.

No she would not turn back to go tell him she was a guest of anyone. What if he said, “Is that right?” or “Chris who?” Ava realized her gut was trying to tell her something all along back at the condo. She should’ve stayed home in the first place. No, she wasn’t going back. One humiliation for the day was sufficient to teach her a lesson. Ava prided herself on being a quick learner.

“Ava!”

“Ava! Wait up!”

“Please Ava!” someone called out. Ava, still drowning in her own humiliation, heard a name being called out but hadn’t yet registered that it was her own.

“Ava,” he shouted louder. Ava stopped. Turning around she saw Chris Graber dodging cars to get to her. Her cheeks flushed.

“My god, I nearly missed you. I’ve been waiting for you at the door. Wouldn’t you know I’d be called away just for a second and that’s when you arrived!” said Chris clearly out of breath.

Ava was embarrassed for folding her tents so fast. She struggled all the time with her assertiveness. Just when she felt she was making headway, something always tripped her up like that smooth-talking linebacker at the door.

She looked up at Chris. Finding his eyes piercing right through her again she quickly looked away. He took her hand in his, but instead of tucking it into the crook of his arm like he had last night, he held onto it as the two moved back across the street. Ava avoided the bouncer’s eyes as Chris guided her seamlessly in front of him into the cool dark of the Blue River Café.

After her eyes adjusted to the dim light she estimated about one hundred people were milling about chatting amiably with one another. The café was built right on the river. Patio doors led out to a balcony. Tables with umbrellas and wicker chairs invited people to come sit outdoors where they could watch the passing parade of small motor-powered yachts. “Would you like to sit out there?” asked Chris. Ava nodded.

They settled in across the table from each other. The sun felt good. For Ava the sun had amazingly turned from shrill to the caressing tone of butter. A typical late August afternoon in the city. While Chris ordered drinks Ava looked fully at him from behind her designer sunglasses as he ordered  a couple of glasses of wine from the waiter.

Chris Graber could’ve stepped off the cover of a Ralph Lauren catalog. He had the rugged good looks the famous designer always selected for his male models. What a cliché, thought Ava, but nothing else accurately described Chris so well. Especially with his dark brown hair, fashionably long and those teal eyes. Ava wondered if he was wearing color contacts but decided no, he wasn‘t the type.

The long sleeves of his white polo shirt were pushed up above his elbows showing off what Ava considered to be the most attractive part of the anatomy of a man; his forearms. Chris’ were tanned with just the right amount of dark hair. The waiter departed with their drink order.

“Why did you walk away last night without any warning?” asked Chris bluntly.

Here it was. The number two reason Ava had come here this afternoon - to tell Chris she wasn’t interested. She was having her assertiveness tested again in relatively short order. He’d caught her completely off guard by being so direct. She didn’t know why but she never would’ve expected bluntness from a man like Chris Graber.

As soon as Ava thought this she realized how ludicrous it was. She didn’t even know him. All she had done was unwittingly fallen under Chris Graber’s spell last night and then come to her senses in time to walk away from him and Kate Hagan.

Ava took a deep breath. “I’ve chronically avoided complications my entire life,” said Ava thankful she had her sunglasses on to act as armour. “I saw you and Kate from a distance at the table and suddenly everything felt too complicated. I realized how tired I was and headed for home.” Ava looked off towards the river. “I’m sorry, I know that was rude of me.”

“But what about me?” asked Chris.

“I don’t understand?” said Ava.

“Do you think you can simply hand me off to another woman?” said Chris. “Do I have any say in the matter?”

“Excuse me, sorry Chris,” said a man obviously a friend of Chris Graber’s who‘d appeared at the table out of nowhere casting an appreciative glance over at Ava, “Miss King’s about to arrive.”

“I’ll be right there,” said Chris. Turning back to Ava he said, “Now if I leave this table do I have your solemn promise you’ll be sitting here when I get back?”

“Promise,” said Ava.

“Just in case,” Chris said with a smile in his voice, “I’m telling that guy guarding the door he’s not to let you pass!” With that Chris excused himself promising Ava he wouldn’t be long.

Down below a Water Taxi edged up to the concrete embankment. I could make a getaway on that, mused Ava. A group of people began disembarking from the Taxi. One of them Ava recognized - it was Carole King.

Brent Atwood jingled the keys in his pockets and purposefully fumbled with the doorknob  to signal Ava Land he was about to re-enter the room. He hoped he’d given her sufficient time to regain her composure. Upon entering his office, he was greeted by a tentative smile on Ava’s face. That’s better much better, thought Brent, rounding his massive desk to get back to business.

“Right - now where were we?” he said sneaking a quick glance at Ava.

“I’m sorry, could you direct me to the ladies room?” asked Ava.

Ava stood before the mirror gazing at her reflection. She didn’t want to go back into Brent Atwell’s office. This entire suite of offices was claustrophobic; a regular rabbit’s warren. She wanted to be out in the open. Even being back in the wind and sleet was more appealing to her than staying here.

For a second Ava thought of making her escape. She wanted to walk away just like she walked away from Chris and Kate Hagan the night of the Carole King concert. Ava leaned against the wall and remembered finding Chris’s business card tucked into her mailbox the following morning as she stretched out her muscles before taking her run.

Ava stood in the lobby of her condo building staring at the back of Chris’ business card. She didn’t know what to make of it. Obviously Chris Graber had brought Kate back to the condo last night. So why was he inviting her to a Carole King reception? Or had he invited Kate as well. Ava stepped out on to the sidewalk. She needed to think this through. Running always cleared her mind.

Traffic was picking up. The breeze blowing off the lake was pleasantly warm for this early in the morning. Overhead Ava found a sky as blue as her eyes, an Ava Land sky, not a single cloud in sight. For Ava, a sky like this was a good omen. Pushing off she headed east to the lake.

An hour later Ava stood waiting in front of the elevator. Usually she took the stairs up to her floor to extend her workout but she was in a hurry this morning, she was going up to talk to Kate Hagan. The doors opened and Kate burst out of the elevator. She was dressed in one of her gallery power outfits consisting of a fashionably tight two-piece, black linen suit with three inch, open toed pumps on her feet, no stockings so Kate could show off her long tanned legs.

Kate braked and turned to Ava. “What happened to you last night?” asked Kate obviously irritated. “You walk off to wash your hands and never come back!” Ava stood silent. “Well?” said Kate. “Oh never mind, I’m late already!” Kate dashed to the door.

“Wait a second,” Ava called out to her, “what are you doing this afternoon?”

“I have to work all day, my assistant called in sick twenty minutes ago. Yeah right she’s sick on a day like this. I gotta go - talk to you later!”

“Had Chris invited Kate to the Carole King reception too?” Ava wanted to know. If he had how would she ever know now? All this was feeling too complicated again. Just like last night.

By the time Ava stepped out of her shower she’d made up her mind. She would go to the Blue River Café to see Carole King. If she had the opportunity Ava would tell her what her music had meant to Ava for so many years. And she would tell Christian Graber she wasn’t interested.

Ava spent hours trying to decide what to wear. What did one wear to meet a musical icon? She’d never done anything like this before. Ava tried talking herself out of going at least ten times but something in her couldn’t let go. Time got away on her. When she happened to glance at a clock it was only a half hour before the reception started. “What about my hair?” wondered Ava.

Rushing to the mirror she realized she wouldn’t have time to blow dry it straight. That arduous task took close to an hour with no guarantee that it would remain that way. Look what happened to her last night when the humidity snuck up on her. And by the look of it, this afternoon was going to be hot and humid. No, Ava would have to pin her hair up.

Ava arrived at the door of the Blue River Café. “Hello there pretty lady,” said the bouncer. He was a huge guy, a linebacker dressed in a tight black T-shirt and black jeans. “Let me take a look at your invitation.”

“Invitation?” said Ava, “I don’t..”

“Sorry good looking,” he schmoozed not wanting to embarrass or hurt a gal’s feeling, “No invitation - no can enter!”

“Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t realize. Th - Thank you,” Ava’s voice drifted off as she turned and walked away.

Ava’s mind raced. That envelope? Yes, yes she had seen it before. Of course she had. The one and only time was about six months ago. Valentine‘s Day to be exact. It was at Chris’s place after having  dinner at The Astor. Chris wanted to show her the completed model for the Emerson Summer Cottage. He was driving it up to the Peninsula the next morning to meet with Ray and June Emerson. The model was waiting for them in Chris’ penthouse. Ava’s mind wandered back to that evening.

Brent Atwell looked across his massive desk at Ava Land and could clearly see she was in distress. Her brilliant blue eyes struggled to hold back tears. He wanted to say something but what? He was no good in situations like this.

The phone rang and he grabbed for it like it was a lifeline. “Hello?” Brent listened. “Can you hold please?” he asked the caller. Brent Atwell got up from his chair, “Excuse me,” he said in his faint clipped English accent, “I have to take this in the Conference Room.”  It was only one of his rugby mates calling to see if the scrimmage was still on for 1 o’clock considering the weather hadn’t cleared yet. In fact it had gotten worse. Brent hoped his absence would give Ava Land the time she needed to pull herself together. To Brent Atwell there was nothing made him feel more helpless than a beautiful woman with tears in her eyes.

~

Chris Graber lived where he worked. He lived above the shop - literally. Christian Graber & Associates Architectural Firm was housed in a beautifully renovated four story Victorian building on the upper eastside of the city. Chris had purchased and restored it when it was at its most dangerous point of decay. Three years ago developers were circling, eyeing the property it sat upon. They had visions of a high rise complex with unencumbered views of the lake. Profits were in the air. All they had to do was acquire the property and tear down the landmark building, thankfully not yet officially designated as one, before anybody was the wiser.

Enter Christian Graber who loved vintage architecture. His original one-man firm had caught fire, was growing fast and he was in desperate need of more space as he hired more and more people to help him keep up with the demand for his residential and commercial designs.

Chris had been actively looking at commercial buildings for over a year. He felt strongly that the building he purchased must make a statement about what his work stood for. It had to possess the fine Victorian lines and proportions that were the trademark of his own contemporary designs. He’d caught wind of the old Iron Block building, one of the rare cast iron buildings still standing in the entire country through a business associate. Hearing developers were vying for the land it sat upon, Chris Graber, with reckless abandon (something he wasn’t known for) purchased the property on the spot and immediately started renovating it.

The first three floors were set aside for offices for the firm. But the top floor Chris claimed for his private residence. When work on his penthouse was finished two city wide newspapers, the premiere city magazine and the state newspaper were all calling asking to do a full feature spread on it. Although it would’ve been great advertising for the firm, Chris declined all requests. He wished for his private residence to remain just that - Private!

Ava leaned back in the passenger seat of the Jag and closed her eyes as Chris expertly maneuvered the car through the busy streets. For just these few moments, for the time it took to drive from The Astor to Chris’s place, she would allow him to take care of her. It wouldn’t hurt to let her guard down just this once.

Parking his car in the underground garage of his building, Chris and Ava took the elevator up to the penthouse. Ava always felt excited the second just before the doors opened because she knew what awaited her.

The elevator stopped, the doors separated. There it was. A full view of the lake. Not a postage stamp one like from her own condo windows but a full, unobstructed panoramic view. Ava stood by the floor to ceiling windows gazing south to the lighthouse. Chris disappeared to put on some soft jazz and to open a bottle of wine. “It’s magnificent isn’t it?” Chris said handing Ava her glass of wine then kissing her on the back of her neck. Ava nodded. “Let’s go sit by the fireplace of awhile,”  said Chris taking her hand in his.

It was a high tech, state of the art,gas fireplace operated by a remote control but Chris had taken pains to house it in an existing white marble Victorian mantle place. Chris and Ava set their glasses on the coffee table. Along with his glass Chris set one more thing down. He took an envelope out of the inside pocket of his jacket, a cream vellum envelope, and leaned it against the bottle of wine saying nothing about it for the moment.

Ava and Chris sat gazing into the fire as the melodious strains of Autumn In New York played softly in the background. Ava recalled thinking ‘this is one of those sweet sweet moments of life’. They didn’t come along that often, at least not for her. Nor did they last long. Years ago she had trained herself to be observant when one appeared in her life; trained herself to pay homage to them by enjoying every second until reality inevitably pierced her ’sweet moment’ like a hawk catapulting itself towards Earth to snatch its prey in its talons.

The flames of the fire grew brighter as darkness enshrouded the city. Ava wondered if Chris was thinking what she was. That they’d come a long way since that first night they’d met at the Carole King concert; since her rash decision to abandon Chris to Kate Hagan.

Ava threw the Special Delivery letter from Brent Atwell onto the coffee table and walked to the bank of windows and stared out. East towards the lake. How Ava longed for a wide, expansive view of the water. In the beginning when she’d first purchased the condo Ava counted herself lucky to have this postage stamp view of it, even paying extra to get it. It was more than most people had living right downtown. But as time passed and she got used to the little view she had, Ava started hungering for more.

She gazed out on the gray day. Low clouds scudded across the sky. The patch of water she could see from her window reflected the color of the sky. The day matched her mood. Maybe she would go into work after all.

No, she’d promised herself she wouldn’t do that this weekend. Gazing down at the street below she wondered again what this lawyer could possibly want with her. Obviously it related to Chris but what did it have to do with her?

Ava supposed she ought to feel guilty for not returning any of Atwell’s or for that matter anyone else’s calls. Since Chris’ death she’d gotten into the habit of letting messages collect on her machine. At first, when she was too numb with grief, she simply forgot to check her machine. But as time passed she ignored her answering machine by design.

On the rare occasion Ava noticed the machine blinking “FULL” she stood at the machine staring off into space, numb. Hitting the Delete button over and over Ava didn’t once bother to listen to any message. She didn’t care, she just wanted to be left alone.

But now this letter had arrived. She’d had to sign for it. It made her feel caught in Brent Atwell’s web. He now had tangible evidence that she’d gotten his message. He was a lawyer and  he wasn’t going to leave her alone. She was sure of it.

Sighing Ava picked up the cordless phone along with Atwell’s letter and went to sit in her library. It was actually the guest bedroom but she had lined the walls with tall bookcases and filled everyone of them to capacity. There were books and books on art, fictional novels, biographies and more. Ava read many genres of literature, even politics and religion.

This room was like a womb. Her safe haven. Anytime she had to tackle a difficult problem she sat in here. These books were her family. They gave her strength when she couldn’t muster up much of her own.

Ava sat down in her reading chair and dialed Brent Atwell’s cell phone number first. He was probably weathering the elements on a day like today, either out sailing on the lake or on some golf course with his cronies. After all weren’t these the recreational activities all lawyers went in for? Sports designed for business networking?

“Hello, Brent Atwell,” came a clipped voice sounding faintly English.

“Mr. Atwell, this is Ava Land.” There was a pause. “I rec’d your Special Delivery letter this morning?”

“Yes, oh yes, Miss Land. Thank-you so much for calling me right away. I’d like to clear up the last of Christian Graber’s estate and you are my final stumbling block” said Brent Atwell. “Didn’t you receive any of my phone messages?”

“I - I’ve been away,” Ava lied. Well no, she had been away, still was, hiding away deep inside herself.

There was a long pause.

“I have your address right in front of me Miss Land. You live in the Third Ward which is only blocks from my office. That’s where I am at the present.” Ava was surprised. “Could you come over or I could come to you.”

“Can’t we take care of whatever this is over the phone?” asked Ava.

“I wish we could but its impossible.”

There was a long pause.

“Well can you at least tell me what this is about Mr. Atwell? I really don’t know why you would possibly have to meet with me.”

“There’s no mystery really, I just have some….” and then he paused, Ava could here paper rustling, “paperwork to go over with you. Please Miss Land, it shouldn’t take more than a half hour.”

“Alright,”  said Ava. She didn’t want this hanging over her head. “I can come in to your office right now if that’s convenient.”

” Yes! Terrific! I’m in Suite 310,” said Brent Atwell and he hung up.. Ava looked at the phone and wondered if Brent Atwell always hung up on people like that?

Ava stepped out of her building and pulled her London Fog trench coat tight around her. The wind was blowing hard. She slipped on her sunglasses despite the gray. Ava felt bad for the 9 to 5-ers who’d slaved all week long counting on good weather for the weekend. Ava suspected a lot of people living in the Third Ward would be going to afternoon matinees at the movie theater just around the corner from her own building.

She zigzagged her way back and forth across the streets trying to avoid the wind and now sleet that was stinging her face. Less than fifteen minutes later she was pulling open the heavy glass door of Brent Atwell’s office building. Stepping into the massive marble everywhere lobby a chill gripped Ava - she shivered. Ava wished she had stopped for a cup of coffee to go along the way.

The elevator stopped on the third floor, Ava stepped out. “Miss Land I presume,” came that English accent tinged voice, booming this time. Ava’s first sight of Brent Atwell was of his head popping through the doorway at the far end of the hallway. “Hold on - I’m back here making coffee!”

Ava inhaled the rich aroma of the Columbian brew steaming in the mug Brent Atwell had just handed her. As they walked side-by-side down the corridor to his office Ava marveled over how Brent Atwell didn’t look like his voice sounded.

Where his voice was refined, physically Brent Atwell was stocky with a low center of gravity, rugby player or wrestler came to mind. And he was no taller than Ava. He had a big, powerful presence however which Ava supposed served him well especially during legal negotiations.

“Right in here, please,” he said opening the door to his office. Ava sat down in a red leather chair while Brent circled his massive desk to sit opposite her. They each took a sip of their coffee. Atwell snuck a furtive glance at his wristwatch. “Right. Shall we  get  down to business then?”

“I’d like that,” said Ava setting her mug on the desk. Brent Atwell held up a cream vellum envelope. “Have you ever seen this before?” he asked. Ava’s vocal chords constricted. She couldn’t speak. All she could do was nod her head while trying to swallow the lump in her throat.

Ava watched Iris Pye expertly weave her way through the packed café carrying a plate of food in each hand. As she turned first this way and then that way she paused here and there to ask after somebody’s health or how many bales of hay the farmer had gotten off his field or where the Missus was this morning. Iris Pye possessed three valuable currencies in life - her smile, her big heart and her delicious food. She was the Queen Bee and her bee skip was the Paradise Café.

“Here you go,” said Iris putting the two plates of food down on the table. “Be right back with butter and maple syrup.” The pancakes were massive. Ava could see already she’d have difficulty getting through just her one.

“There you are,” said Iris back in a flash to set down a small dish loaded with pats of butter. “Butter’s fresh in this morning. Harvey just delivered from the cheese factory! Do you like real maple syrup?’ asked Iris proudly looking straight at Ava.

Ava smiled up at her and then quickly looked down to avoid Iris’ eyes. “I’ve only had it a few times but I remember it tasting heavenly!”

“Well you’re going to love this. I buy it from the Amish and they make the best syrup in these parts. Where’s that Annie got herself to?” asked Iris craning her neck to search the café.

“She received a phone call and went outside to talk,” said Ava.

“That poor gal, folks never let her be for long. But that’s OK she likes keeping busy. Annie and me are like two peas in a pod that way! Well enjoy.” With that Iris headed to the cash register to ring up a check.

“Better start eating before that pannycake gets cold.” Ava jumped startled again by Big Jim‘s booming voice. “Ha-ha-ha!” laughed Jim, “Scared ya didn’t I?” and he laughed deep from his ample belly some more.

The warm, golden, blueberry-buttermilk pancake begged to be eaten. Ava didn’t know what to do. It would be rude of her to start eating without Anne Pine. Oh but it smelled so good. Ava’s mouth watered - suddenly she was ravenous.

Ava picked up her knife and started spreading butter over the steaming surface of her pancake. Just then Anne Pine re-entered the café and handed Iris Pye, who was still at the cash register, a huge stainless steel thermos saying something to her before heading back to the booth to settle in across from Ava. “Is everything alright?” asked Ava.

“That was Doc. I have to head out to deliver a calf. It’s a breach.” Anne Pine let out a great laugh. “Two babies - no relation all in one morning!”

“You look tired,” said Ava.

“I guess no rest for the wicked! But I’m used to it,”said Anne.  Ava wondered if work was Anne Pine’s whole life. Work and more work. Ava knew that kind of life all too well. She knew if a person kept themselves busy enough it saved them from being alone with their own thoughts. And most people would do anything to avoid their thoughts and the feelings that came along with them.

“Here you go Annie,” said Iris Pye concern scattered all over her face as she plopped down the thermos. “Its full up and I’ll put your pancakes in a carry container for you. You need to eat.”

“Thanks Iris,” said Anne stifling a yawn.

Ava put out her hand to Anne Pine. “Thank you for everything,” said Ava.

“You still thinking you’ll head back home today?” asked Anne realizing she didn’t know where home was for Ava Land.  Ava nodded. “Are you going to see a doctor like I recommend?” asked Anne Pine.

“I’m feeling pretty good. I don’t think I have to bother,” said Ava. The thought of seeing a doctor always filled her with dread. “Besides, you checked me out and I have complete faith in your assessment of my noggin!” said Ava tapping her forehead as she laughed.

“Well if you trust my word than I’m telling you to stay on till the morning before heading out,” said Anne Pine shaking Ava’s hand. “And you’re welcome,” said Anne lugging herself back out of the booth again. “And thank-you for breakfast!”

Ava stood in line at the register to pay the check a full forty-five minutes after Anne Pine’s departure. As she waited Ava’s eyes lighted upon a small poster on the wall. There was a picture of a man. She recognized the face. It was Big Jim.

“How was your pancake?” asked Iris Pye jolting Ava.

“Delicious!” said Ava, ” The coffee, everything was delicious! That pancake was the best I’ve ever tasted.” Iris beamed. “What’s this?” asked Ava pointing to the poster.

“Oh that! Why our Jim is a movie star now,” said Iris, “the kids who watch that video of his follow him around town like he’s a regular Pied Piper.” Iris laughed. “It’s really something!” Ava was entranced. She thought of Jeannie, her Executive Assistant  back at the office pregnant with her first child. Her baby shower was coming up.

“Do you sell these here?” asked Ava.

“Nope.The Farmer’s Store  just down the street does.” Iris handed Ava her change. “Hope to see you back here real soon,” said Iris smiling, “Bye now!”

Ava stepped out on to the street. She hadn’t meant to stay so long but the ambience of the Paradise Café had gotten under her skin. She found herself wanting to stay just a few minutes longer and a few after that and so on. Or was she simply putting off what she came here to Eden to do in the first place?

An hour ago, back at the motel, Ava was resenting the fact she had to meet Anne Pine for breakfast. She had wanted to drive straight out on Sawmill Road instead of having to turn in the opposite direction to head to the Paradise Cafe. Now apprehension had a firm grip on Ava. What was waiting for her out there?

Ava got into her Jeep Wrangler and sat staring off into space. Her mind wandered back to the meeting she’d had with Brent Atwell in his law office just two days ago.

Ava stared at the giant man. She was stunned, her mind racing to form some words with which to respond. But she couldn’t. As far as she was concerned, he was speaking a foreign language. “I “I- I -I’m sorry?” she stammered.

“Your noggin,” said Big Jim tapping his own head with his index finger. “Hows the head this morning?” Big Jim cackled again causing a flare up of pain in Ava’s head. “How did this stranger know about her accident?” wondered Ava.

Anne Pine saw Ava flinch in pain and jumped in. “She’s doing fine Jim. Just fine. Right now its important not to do anything jarring and to stay away from loud noises,” said Anne hoping Big Jim would take the hint and lower his voice. He had a habit of shouting out his words even in normal conversation.

“Well-l-l-l,” said Jim, “Ain’t you gonna tell her name?”

“Sorry. Jim, this is Ava Land,” she said. “And Ava this is Jim Aftergood our local handyman. If you have a job that needs taking care of - Big Jim’s your man.”

“Howdy!” barked Jim holding out his hand. Ava gave him her own only to have it disappear into his oversized mitt.

“I’m very pleased to meet you,” said Ava mustering up a firm shake.

“Heard them Amish kids run you off the road. They didn’t mean nothin by it though. Nice kids everyone of them but awfully wild during Rumschpringa,” shouted Jim.

“Rums..what?” asked Ava.

“Rumschpringa,” said Anne Pine, “it’s the Amish teenagers time to run around. Test the waters before settling down.”

Like most people Ava knew a little about the Amish. Most of what she did know she gleaned from watching the movie “Witness”. Ava went to see it in the movie theater when if first came out and even watched it a second time one night with Chris. “Are there a lot of Amish living around here?” asked Ava.

“A lot!” roared Big Jim, “Why there’s a new baby bein born most every day, right Anne?”

“Nearly! It’s one of the reasons I answered Doc Forrester’s ad in that vet magazine,” she said looking over at Ava who still had her sunglasses on, “Remember my saying I knew I wanted to be a midwife on top of being a vet?” Ava nodded. “Well I’d done research and found Eden had a big Amish population.. The Amish are open to using midwives to deliver their babies so this place was a perfect fit for me!”

“Ya- ya,” said Jim, “The Amish wish Annie would become one of ‘em.”

“I think you have that backwards Jim. They’re waiting for you!” said Anne Pine.

“Ha-ha-ha!” roared Jim his laughter coming deep from the bottom of his ample belly. Jim liked it folks talked that way about him. He’d entertained the idea off and on ever since the first few Amish families moved into the area nigh on twenty years ago. But Big Jim wasn’t one for making snap decisions. Iris Pye appeared at the table with a cup and her pot of steaming hot coffee.

“Coffee?” Iris asked looking at Ava.

“Please.”

As Iris poured the coffee she scrutinized Ava. She didn’t look like she’d gotten herself knocked out cold on a back country road last night. In fact she looked like she’d just now stepped off a magazine cover. “You gals ready to order?” The two women nodded in unison. Big Jim swiveled back around on his stool and resumed shoveling food into his mouth.

“We’re having the blueberry-buttermilk pancakes, right?” said Ava looking over at Anne Pine.

Anne nodded her head as she took another long draft of the hot coffee. Her cup no sooner touched the table top then Iris was pouring more into it. “Your usual stack?” asked Iris. Anne Pine nodded again.

“How many is that?” asked Ava. Anne Pine held up three fingers. “How big are your pancakes?” asked Ava. She’d eaten breakfast out at enough restaurants and cafes to know sizes varied. Greatly! Iris Pye held her hands up to demonstrate that one of her famous pancakes came close to being the size of a dinner plate. Ava was astonished. She sheepishly held up one finger to Iris Pye hoping not to offend her or Anne Pine.

“I told you I’m a big eater,” crowed Anne Pine laughing. Anne’s phone rang. Her hands shot down hard into the pockets of her oversized sweater. Finding it with her left hand she pulled it out and read the Caller I.D. She said, “Excuse me. I don’t like talking on these things in public. Be right back!” With that Anne lugged her big frame out of the booth and made a beeline for the front door.

Ava sat alone gazing out through the large multi paned window. She’d raced to the café so fast that she hadn’t really looked at Eden closely. Like the surrounding landscape with it’s hills seeming to harbor you from a bigger, fiercer world, downtown Eden, too, felt intimate. Maybe it was the tall Victorian storefronts that gave the impression of security - of time having slowed down - way down. The lines and proportions of the buildings appealed to her. She’d seen them before in many of the buildings Chris had designed.

Ava’s gaze traveled around the restaraunt . She loved the hum of a café in the morning. It’s the reason she ate breakfast out every day. There were the people, happy and hungry, chatting good naturedly with each other. And the smell of coffee and bacon and fried eggs. All this mixed with the din of silverware clinking against dishes creating a certain all encompassing camaraderie. It felt like the family Ava never had.

Ava absentmindedly reached up to touch the flowers arranged in a drinking glass on the table. When was the last time she’d seen real flowers, wild flowers no less, at any restaurant table back in the city?

Ava hurried. The forty-five minutes were nearly used up. She didn’t want to be late meeting Anne Pine at the cafe. Rummaging through her duffel bag she pulled out one of her white T-shirts, a pair of comfortable jeans and her cowboy boots.

As she dressed Ava’s mind kept going back over the driving directions from MapQuest. It turned out her ultimate destination point, the reason she’d driven all this way to Eden in the first place, was on the very same road she had jogged down last night. Ava was anxious to drive there but she’d have to wait. Again! Why did I make this breakfast date Ava wondered. Her stomach answered the question with a loud growl.

Studying herself in the bathroom mirror Ava concluded she looked like Raggety Anne with her great mop of hair. Sighing she pulled her hair back and up off her long, thin neck and cinched it into place with a giant tortoise shell clip. Chris had tried to convince her that wearing her hair this way gave Ava a beautiful profile but she knew he was only saying that to be kind.

Ava dusted a little translucent powder over her face and applied a touch of mascara to her lashes. Pushing the long sleeves of her T-shirt back up on her forearms Ava studied the scrapes and purple bruises from the accident the night before. She quickly yanked the sleeves back down to her wrists. Reaching across the bed for her purse she flinched. The sore muscles that had relaxed in the hot shower were tightening up again.

Ava Land was extremely time conscious. She hated being late. Jamming her sunglasses on she rushed out to her Jeep and hopped in. As she sped out of the parking lot she left spitting gravel in her wake. Less then a block away she was forced to slow down by a horse and buggy in front of her. Two more horse and buggies in quick succession were in the other lane departing Eden for the open countryside.

Anne Pine parked her pickup in a diagonal slot in front of the Paradise Café. Turned out Doc Forrester wouldn’t be needing her until later in the afternoon which would give Anne time to catch a nap. And boy did she need one.

Entering the café she was met with hollering and clapping. Now winding down from the adrenaline rush she’d been on most of the morning Anne, at first, didn’t understand what was going on. And then she remembered… she was sporting her Happy Hair.

“Who had the baby?” blared Big Jim from where he sat at the counter shoveling in another fork full of hash browns and eggs. Jim never chewed his food - just gulped it. That way he never missed getting a word in edgewise.

“Lydia Yoder’s Katie,” said Anne. “healthy baby boy!”

Big Jim raised both thumbs in a sign of victory. “Another one for our side!” he said letting out a cackle.

Just as Anne slid into a booth by the big multi-paned glass window Iris Pye,  Chief Cook and Bottle Washer as she was fond of describing herslef, and oh yeah, the owner of the Paradise Café, appeared with a cup in one hand and a fresh pot of coffee in the other. Iris knew all her customers likes. And Iris knew Anne Pine liked her coffee fast, fresh and boiling hot!

“You look done in!” Iris blurted out.

“I  am,” said Anne lifting the steaming cup of coffee to her lips.

“What’ll you be having this morning?”

“Just coffee for now, thanks, company’s on the way.”

“It’s not that gal found in the ditch last night?” asked Iris. No matter how long Anne Pine lived here she’d never cease to be amazed over how fast news traveled . “As a matter of fact that’s exactly who it is,” said Anne. “I told her there was no better place to eat.” Iris beamed. She loved to hear her food was appreciated.

Just then the door opened and Ava Land looking every bit the “I’m-not-from-around-here- woman” entered the café. For a second everyone in the café paused in unison to stare. Ava froze as her flight instinct gripped her hard.

“Ava, hi! Over here.” Anne Pine called out. Ava put her head down and aimed for the booth thankful she had her sunglasses to hide behind.

As quickly as the motion stopped the convivial society in the Paradise Café resumed.

Big Jim swiveled around on his stool again to look right at Ava Land. With an ample crop of toast crumbs populating his unruly beard he leaned towards her and said, “So how’s your noggin this morning?” followed by his high pitched cackling laugh. The laugh that always took over whenever he got nervous about something .