Episode 604: First Cut

But Ava was one of those it’s the thought that counts types. She appreciated the effort more than the dollar value on things. He wished he’d appreciated that when he’d gone ring shopping, then he wouldn’t be in this boat, dreading asking her what he had to ask her.

He didn’t want to put this on her, he’d looked for a way out, but he hadn’t found one. He didn’t know who he hated more, his father, or himself for being sucked in again.

He plated the sandwiches and carried them into the living room, setting them on the coffee table. Avalon sat on the floor with several boxes. "I’ll eat with you in a second. I want to finish with this first, for Tansy."

Sebastian nodded. He took an uneasy seat on the sofa, though he was happy to have his niece’s charity drive buy him a few more minutes before he would have to breach the subject he didn’t want to breach.

"You’ll have to take a look through the bag after we come home from the bookstore," Ava said, "make sure I’m including anything you want to keep." Her hands busily combed through one of the boxes. "You know, Tansy is such a sweetheart. She’s almost enough to make me think procreating with a Marques wouldn’t turn out so bad." There was a teasing note to Ava’s voice, but seriousness in her brief glance at him.

She wanted to marry him, and have a family with him.

He didn’t want to ruin it. His throat was dry as he said her name. She didn’t hear him. He tried repeatedly.

Finally, she responded though she didn’t look at him, she stared at the white dress in her hands. "I just realized today would have been our anniversary." Her face gave nothing away. Flat. "Once upon a time this was the dress I was going to marry Xavier in."

Sebastian’s chest tightened, but it made it easier to ask her to do something difficult, given how damn difficult it was to be reminded that she’d planned to marry another man.

Episode 605: Home