The Smith's Legacy

Still feels like a dream

Chapter 8

Ava's footsteps echoed on the marble floor as she ran inside. Her heart was pounding as if it might give out any moment.

She pushed on the outside door, rushing up to see her mother Geraldine, when she looked out and saw her coming out from the kitchen. 

Immediately, she stopped and tried to get a grip but could not.

"I can't do this Mum, and you know that"

Geraldine walked in, gripping on a bottle of nuts. a warm smile beaming on her face as she sat comfortably on the couch.

"You can't do what, Ava?"

She asked, her voice soft as she fisted on the peanut, poured out in a small bowl.

"Please don't do this Mum, I'm begging you. You know how much I love Asher, right?"

She continued, her voice cracking as if struggling to hold back her tears.

"I know you love him, Ava. And I also know that, Asher is not the right one for you.

Geraldine said, feeling relaxed on the couch, legs crossed with her finger stifled under her chin. Her smile not wavering, bright enough to convince Ava into believing in her.

" But Mum…"

"Hey..!" Geraldine interrupted. "Look at you, Ava" She said, running down her voice not to get Ava scared.

"Beautiful and certainly needs someone who would keep this beauty glowing. You do realise Asher can't do that, right? So…"

She continued but suddenly got interrupted.

"But I'm okay with him that way. I love him Mum and that's all I should…"

" No darling," her voice came in, stopping Ava half way "That young man, is definitely not the one for you"

She stood, took a few steps forward towards Ava. Brushing off the tears from her eye and said. 

"It's just you and I, Ava. Your father left little or nothing and we need to survive. I'm really sorry child"

Geraldine said and was walking away when Ava said in a voice barely audible.

"I thought it was all a joke when you first started this, Mum. But it's..."

" No Ava," She said as she suddenly stopped. "Asher was never meant to be in our world"

Her words ring on, as Ava watches her walk through the stair. Meanwhile, Asher was still surprised that no one came to him when he fell. Not even his wife, Ava.

Why has everything changed? Why was Ava acting weird? Why did she abandon him, right on that floor? Was there something he did and he was yet to find out about it? What was happening to his marriage? Was someone speaking to Ava?

Right inside the bathtub. Knees pulled to his chest, steam curling around him like smoke from a dying fire. Asher was there, lost In thoughts. So many questions without an answer to them.

" I'm I the problem? Did I do something wrong? What is going on?"

He muttered to himself, sinking deeper into the water, his hand clenched on the surface.

Stepping out from the bathroom. Asher saw Ava dressed up but almost naked.

"Ava?"

He called out to her. Standing at the doorway as water slouched around him.

"What are you… I mean. Where are you going?"

But she didn't say anything, she stood right there gazing at Asher in disgust.

"Talk to me Ava, pleas…" 

He tried to plead with Ava when her voice snapped in.

"I don't hav…"

"No Ava!" He snarled. "Not this time. What is going on? What are you putting on, Ava?"

He asked and Ava darted her eyes round his face. "A dress, Asher," she said coolly. "Please excuse me" 

Quietly he stepped aside, confused as his whole body shivered from the way Ava brushed her body on him and passed, not saying another word.

The time fly by, as Asher checked his time and it was 7:00 pm already, but Ava was still not home.  Asher suddenly became restless, pacing back and forth in the room.

Why was Ava not home yet? "What if something happened to her?" He whispered. 

And then, his hand reached for his phone, about to grab it so he could try calling Ava for the tenth time, when the car horn blared outside.

Slowly, he laid the phone back, hurried to the window. And there was Ava stepping out from a sleek black car and going into another man's arms.

His body suddenly went cold, his hand trembling and his knees nearly buckled as he retired to the couch, breathless.

"How did I get here?" He mumbled in his shaking voice, and not too long. Ava walked in through the door, majestically.

"Hey" she said, tossing her purse on the table. "You don't look okay. What is it?"

But when Asher said nothing. She reached out her hand to pick the purse she dropped, turned around to look Asher in the face and said.

"Good night Asher. It was really a long day and I really need to sleep now.

Ava climbed the stairs, leaving Asher in silence. But a moment later, Asher dragged his weak body through the stairs.He walked to the door but found out it was locked.

 

He knocked but no response, then harder for the second time before the door suddenly began to crack open.

" I'm sorry Asher. But you'd have to sleep in the guest room"

She said, her voice low but Intense. Asher's eyes widened in shock. He was still trying to understand what his eyes saw earlier and then, that?

He was still pondering when Ava tried to slam the door but his hand played a quick one.

"You didn't just say that, did you?"

He whispered, but slyly, Ava smiled while trying to pick a strand from his hair.

"I'm very sure you know this is not a joke, Asher. 

 She said then jammed the door, leaving him shocked and confused. He leaned his back on the door, head fixed on the floor trying to get the picture. And suddenly he heard a sound from inside, a strange one.