?Chapter 0502


    I am jealous. Jealous that Ava has this with Noah. She also has a close rtionship with Gunner. Why didn''t I wake up from my foolishness before it was toote? My only prayer is that even if Gunner and I don''t get to be as close as Ava and Noah are, at least we''ll get to the point where he doesn''t hate my guts.


    "I''m not, I promise," I whisper even as my voice catches.


    He gives me a searing look before he turns.


    "Noah," I call to him before he leaves. His back stiffens but he looks at me over his shoulder. "I''m sorry. For treating your mom horribly and trying to get between your father and her. I''m truly sorry."


    I didn''t expect him to say anything back, and he doesn''t. Instead, he turns back around and leaves me standing at the door.


    Sighing, I wonder whether I should enter or just wait for Ava toe and wee me. My mother''s teaching was still ingrained in my head yearster. I''d never enter someone''s house without an invite.


    Secondster, Ava walks towards me. More like wobbles. Her baby bump was bing more visible each time! saw her. She couldn''t hide it now. It was obvious she is expecting, even with baggy clothes.


    "Oh my God, Emma," she exims in a sweet voice. "I''m so sorry for Noah''s behavior. I didn''t know that he''d leave you standing on our doorstep when I sent him to open the door. Come on in."


    She hugs me before stepping aside for me to enter.


    "It''s okay. I know that I''m not his favorite person."


    "Still, it was rude of him and he''ll be hearing from meter on. Don''t take it personally; once he gets to know you, he''ll understand that you''re really not a bad person."Content belong to N?velDráma. Org.


    "It''s okay, Ava. I understand. He''s just protective of you."


    "And Gunner. They''re best friends."


    She didn''t have to exin things to me. Like I said, Noah is an exact replica of Rowan. That includes his loyalty and protectiveness. I understand why he would view me as an enemy. Gunner doesn''t like me very much, and that trantes to Noah hating me too.


    Ava grabs my hand and we walk down the hallway. I can''t help but stare at the décor. The house is amazing, both inside and outside. It was every woman''s dream.


    "You have a beautiful home," Iment as my eyes continued to wander around the house.


    It isn''t just a house; it is a home. It is filled with a kind of warmth that I''ve always desired to have in my own home.


    "Thank you," she replies. "The other house had so many bad memories. We bought this one because we wanted a clean and fresh start. A home with new and beautiful memories. Not one that was shadowed by the past and that reminded me of the heartbreak and pain."


    I nod my head, understanding their need to start fresh. I wanted the same. A clean and fresh start without my past encroaching on my present. For that to happen, though, I need to fix things. Just like Rowan and Ava fixed things before they could move forward.


    "Have a seat," Ava tells me, and I sit down on thefy sofa. "Can I get you anything?"


    "No, I am good."


    She nods her head and then takes a seat right next to me. "I was afraid you had changed your mind. I''ve been looking forward to hearing from you."


    "I admit that for a while I almost backed out, but it''s not because I don''t want to be in his life, but because I doubted that I was doing the right thing. I was afraid that I was going to make things worse if I went ahead with those ns."


    Ava''s brown eyes stare deep into mine with an intensity that makes me squirm before she finally speaks. "As a mother, you''lle to learn that those moments of doubt are a lot. You''ll always doubt whether what you are doing is good for them. You will always doubt if you are a good mother. You''ll always doubt every decision that you make concerning them."


    Taking a deep breath, she continues. "Don''t let those doubts destroy what you are trying to do for them. Being a mom means fighting for them with all that you have. That''s what Gunner needs right now. He needs to see actions, not just pretty words. He needs to see you put in the effort and fight for him. He needs to know that he matters to you. That he matters so much that you are willing to do anything for him, including living in someone else''s house just to be near him."


    Gosh. What she just said rings true in my head. For the longest time, I treated Gunner in a way that showed him he didn''t matter. I showed him that he wasn''t important. Now I need to prove otherwise. I need to show him that he is all that matters.