Chapter 32

Ava

I locked myself in and I could hear banging on the door and David calling out for me. I went inside the bathroom and turned on the shower. As the water touched my body. I couldn't hold it in anymore.

I burst into tears. It was a lot to take in. All my memories flashed through my mind. All those times I was bullied and how my foster father used to beat me. Times with Harry.

It wouldn't have happened if he didn't leave me. He wanted me to keep me safe but it would have been fine as long as he was with me. I would have been ready to stay with him anywhere as long as he chose to stay with me but he chose to leave and now he is back.

I had to go through much, only because he left. I screamed. I was not expecting him to return. I was all fine without him. I was trying to forget everything and move on but now meeting him opened up so many wounds.

I thought I was healed but no it still hurts me to think of the past. I was going to forget the past and start a new chapter of my life with David but seems like God wants me to go through the old chapters of my life. I came out of the shower.

David

I was worried. What happened that broke her so much? She locked herself in and I knocked on the door calling out for her. She didn't open the door. I was getting anxious. I didn't even know who was behind this. I was getting impatient second by second."Ava, Let me in. Don't push me away."

I was about to break the door open when slowly, I heard her unlocking the door.

She was dripping wet and drenched. She had her clothes on and her eyes were puffy and red due to crying. She immediately hugged me and burst into tears and I held her tightly. I hold her till she stopped crying and then wiped the tears off her cheeks.

"Shhh, Ava. It's fine. You are back. I am here. You can talk to me whenever you are ready but don't push me away."

Then we changed our clothes. She was drenched and would catch a cold. I take her hand and made her sit on the bed. I gave her a glass of water as she drank the water. I kept the glass on the side table and sat beside her.

"My biological father." She says in a low tone and I was surprised.

"Your biological father."

She starts narrating the whole thing to me and I sat down listening to her. I didn't say anything and after she was done. I was stunned.

Every time Ava tried to move on from the past, someone pulls her down back. I don't know what to say and instead of telling anything, I held her. She rests her head on my chest and I envelop her in my arms holding her head while still in my arms.

"I don't know what to do David." She cries out.

"Ava, in my opinion, I would say you forgive him and move on. If you choose not to forgive him, the knot of the past will remain a knot forever. It's your choice what to do. If you want to cut all ties with him or stay If you in contact with him. Whatever you decide I will support you in whatever decision you make." I say and she slowly mumbles."Can we think about this tomorrow?"

"Whenever suits you."

Then Ava and I lay down on the bed. As she tried to sleep but she was tossing and turning around because she couldn't sleep. I hold her and sing.

"The eyes are tired,

Yet they have to shine.

Everything is alright,

Yet they don't seem fine.

When you can't explain what you feel,

Somehow I believe that you will heal.

When you don't know what you are going through,

Coz there a million thoughts that made your mind blew.

When you have a messed up head,

And eyes filled with tears to shed,

I will hug you tight and say that you can fight.

Scribble it out just to feel light.

I know it feels like you are tired by every bit,

But you will get up and deal with it.

How can you let yourself die,

It's not wrong to let it out and cry.

I will be your pillar.

Even if the worlds are out as your killer,

Everything will be fine I said.

Believe that and go to bed,

Coz after all the eyes are tired,

Yet You have to shine.

Everything is alright,

Even if they just don't seem like."

And when I glanced over she was asleep so I held her tight and slept.

Next Morning

Ava

"They are sleeping so peacefully, Aunt Silver." Shane says and Silver gets annoyed."Hey, Don't you remember our deal? Call me Silver."

I woke up to some noise. David's arm was over me. I take off his hand and he wakes up sitting up on the bed yawning. I sit up to see Shane and Silver looking at us smiling. I open my arms up and Shane runs up to me and hugs me then he sits in the middle.

"Shane, Come here."

"I told you, Dad, Mom will be back."

"I am glad you are fine, Ava. David texted me about it. Are you fine?"

Silver asks me as she takes a seat at the end of the bed.

"About that. Shane are you ready to meet your grandfather?" I say looking at Shane and he gives me a confused look.

"But I already have a grandfather."

"Your maternal grandfather. My father." I explain him and he squeals in joy."I have two grandfathers. Wow..."

David smiles at me and whispers.

"You decided to forgive him." I nod at him and look at Shane who kept talking about all the love he was gonna get now that he has two grandfathers. Then he asks."But mom you never mentioned him before."

"There were some misunderstandings between us and now it is solved."

Later that evening we left for his house. Luckily I didn't forget the directions to his house. David stopped his car in front of the gate. I let out a deep sigh. David held my hand and looked at me. He meant to say 'you will be fine. I am here'

It was overwhelming. A huge part of me was happy to find him but also a part of me was scared of this new change. I kind of felt what Shane might have felt when he met David. We stood by the door ringing the doorbell and waited for him to open the door. I saw the smile on his face as he saw me. His face lightened up like a firecracker.

He gasps as he makes way for us to get in."Ava. Please come in. Have a seat. I am so glad you came."

He says with a smile on his face."You only wanted to keep me safe. I forgive you Dad."

He sheds a tear of joy."I am grateful that you decided to forgive me."

Tears streamed down his eyes as I said that I forgive him. I couldn't be happier. David was right, I felt good after this. It was like healing from the past. I hug him and it was something else.

"We should keep the past in the past."

"Mom you are so mean. Since you didn't introduce us I will introduce myself. I am Shane." Shane speaks up and we all laugh.

"Alright since Shane introduced himself. Dad meets David, my fiance."

"I know him." He says glaring at him. David looks at me a little intimidated by his glaring.

"It's nice to meet you Mr...."

"Johnson..."

"My foster family had the same surname. I don't have to change it I guess." I say to which David comes in closer whispering in my ear.

"It's soon to be Mrs.Smith."

It was true I was soon to be Mrs. Smith. I blush as he said then turned back to my father. I had to ask him. It was something important. "Dad there is no better time than this. You might not know but David and I are getting married this Sunday. Will you do the honors and walk me down the aisle? I would understand if you think it's too fast."

It was a lot of change for the both of us and when he replies. I feel a smile curl up on my face.

"I already missed a lot and now I don't want to miss anything. I will be more than happy, Ava."

David says and I held his hand mumbling a thank you."We would like it if you accompany us to our guest house so you don't miss anything."

He disagrees with us saying he would be a burden for us but we would be more than happy and I could get to know him more. After a lot of pleading, he agrees when Shane asks him.

"Fine. Also a moment alone with David."

I chuckle. David looks at me confused as to what this was about but I wanted to let him know on his own. "Sure. I know what this is about but go ahead."

"You will know it soon."

I wink at David. I knew what is going to happen but I felt like laughing to see his clueless face.

"Shane let's take a tour of the house."

"Mom, I want to play with Grandpa."

"Later."

I take Shane out of the living room and move upstairs. He has got a nice house but I was too curious to see what was happening downstairs so I left Shane to explore the playroom while I hid behind the stairs to listen to their conversation. I could see and hear them clearly from here.

"I know it's a little late but if you ever hurt my daughter I swear you will regret the day you were born," Dad says and David sighs. He then says smiling."I assure you, Mr. Johnson.  I love your daughter a lot. I would never hurt her."

"I don't want her to shed even a tear because of you. I can call off the wedding and no matter how rich and famous you are. I have contacts." Aww. It's great to have a fatherly figure. I used to yearn when I saw other fathers chase out their daughter boyfriends and now that he was here. I felt overwhelmed and most of all happy.

"I will mark your words but you won't have to use them," David says and Dad gets up from his seat. David stood up and they both hug each other. He says patting David's back."I am sure."

Then Shane came running from the lawn. "Are we done? Grandpa, can we play?"

I came out from the stairs there was no need of hiding when their conversation is done."It's late. We shall leave."

"At least stay for dinner" He insists and as much as I want to stay. With the wedding around the corner and a lot to do we don't have time.

"We have to go to select a wedding dress and cake tasting. We will see you tomorrow. I will text you the address." I say and he smiles. We hug him one by one and then leave for home.

"Goodbye..."

(The wedding is in Four days. Ava forgives her dad. Everything is fine. What happens next?)

...Thank you for reading...

I can be good at writing stories but writing poems is not my cup of tea.

The amazing poem is written by my friend❤

Special thanks to drashti_1708 for the poem😍❤

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