Forever Her Hero

“We’ve got plenty of room here if you need a place to rest your head.” His mother winked at him. “We won’t even charge you rent if you wash a few dishes now and then.”

He rocked back on his heels, his hands stuffed in his front pockets. There was no point in waiting any longer to tell his parents about his new accommodations. He cleared his throat. “Well, I have some news. I bought Mr. P’s lighthouse. It’s my new home.”

“That is so cool!” Daniel shouted. “I can’t wait to sleep over at your house.” He started jumping up and down with excitement and pumping his fists in the air.

His parents exchanged a knowing look. His mother’s lips were pursed. His father was stroking his chin, a contemplative look etched on his face.

“What? Is there something wrong with that?” Sawyer asked, suddenly feeling defensive. “You two look pretty grim.”

His mother shrugged. “No, there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s your decision, son. But I do have a question for you. Does this decision to buy the lighthouse have to do with Ava and the kids?”

Sawyer pulled at his ear. He detected a hint of disapproval in his parents’ attitude. He let out a huff of air. “I made a promise to Billy that I would watch over the twins. Not being able to do that over the past year...” His voice trailed off as emotion took over. “I feel like I let Ava and the kids down. Now I’m close enough to really be of help to Ava.”

The expression on his father’s face was a mixture of shock and dismay. “You’ve gone to great lengths to keep your promise to your cousin. Don’t you think buying the lighthouse is a bit excessive?”

“Not at all. What you’re forgetting is that I’ve always wanted to live in the lighthouse,” he reasoned, his tone firm and decisive. “You know how I used to go on and on about it when I was a kid. By buying Mr. P’s house I can accomplish two goals at the same time.”

His parents still looked baffled. He caught his mother discreetly nudging his father in the side, and he knew a lecture was about to commence.

“That’s all very honorable, son. It says a lot about who you are as a person,” his father acknowledged. “But we just think it’s high time you started building your own family. If you focus too much on Billy’s family, how will you ever find time for a personal life? It’s time you meet a nice girl and settle down.” His voice sounded soothing yet firm.

The beginnings of a smile tugged at the corners of Sawyer’s mouth. He had this conversation with his parents every few months or so. Even though he wasn’t yet thirty, they wanted their son to be married with children and living in domestic bliss. They wanted to bounce grandchildren on their knees. A random image of Ava fluttered through his mind, and he forced himself to shake it away.

“Helping them out won’t get in the way of a personal life,” he insisted. He glanced back and forth between his parents. Something didn’t feel right about this conversation. He felt as if he was missing some crucial piece of information. “Why do I have the feeling something else is going on?”

Again, his parents shared a private look. “Your uncle Troy is a little sensitive about you and Ava spending so much time together,” his mother explained in a low voice. She paused for a moment. “He thinks it doesn’t look right. Before you left for Africa, he made it clear it was an issue for him. We didn’t have the heart to tell you, especially since you’d been so supportive to Ava and the kids.”

Uncle Troy was his father’s brother, as well as being Billy’s dad, and they’d always been the best of friends. A stab of guilt pierced him at the thought that his actions had created tension within the family. After all, they’d all been through so much. Although Uncle Troy had spoken to him about his objections, he’d had no idea the topic had been broached with his parents. “We’re just friends, Ava and I. That’s all we’ve ever been, ever since we were kids.” He threw his hands up in the air. He was battling against a rising sense of irritation. “I can’t believe this is a problem. Ava and I were friends long before she married Billy.”

His words hung in the air for a moment like a live grenade. He probably came across as sounding petty, as if he were a kid on the playground arguing over territory. He knew he was acting defensive, but it annoyed him to no end the way his family minimized his long-standing friendship with Ava. They acted as if he didn’t have his own relationship with her outside of Billy. On some level he felt as if everyone in the family was dancing around the fact that he and Ava shared an unbreakable bond. Didn’t his feelings matter at all?

“Son, you’ve been an amazing support system for Ava and the kids. And of course, we all know the depth of your friendship.” He patted Sawyer on the back. “I don’t see why you shouldn’t continue to be there for them. We all love them. But I have to admit I do worry about the strain it will cause within the family. Troy and Nancy have already suffered the loss of their only child. We just don’t want to add to it. Family has to stick together.” His rich voice was filled with emotion, and Sawyer knew his father was torn between his brother’s wishes, his own son’s needs and what might be right for Ava’s family.

But he wasn’t going to give his father a free pass. He couldn’t believe what he’d just heard tumbling from his lips. Family has to stick together? Had his father really said that? Wasn’t Ava part of his extended family? And wasn’t he honoring his cousin’s bequest by standing by Billy’s family?

“The last time I checked, Ava and the twins are part of this family, too.” Try as he might, he couldn’t manage to keep the anger out of his voice.

Needing to cool off, he walked outside where he found Daniel kicking around a soccer ball. He joined in, knowing that spending time with his brother was the best cure for his current mood. Hearing his parents voice their concerns hit him hard. They were forcing him to think about all the reasons he could never be with Ava. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t already harbored these doubts, but hearing someone put them into words served as a brutal reminder.

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