Only Her

“The important thing is that we fix what we can now.” He lowered his eyes. “You don’t know what it meant to me when you came to me and told me we needed to protect her future. That you sought me out meant something to me. Skylar, it shows me no matter what you won’t shut me out of her life. I needed that.”

She propped her chin on her hands. “I won’t shut you out Luka. Ava needs you,” Skylar admitted.

“So we’ll make the appointment together tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I’m using dad’s attorney. Is that all right with you? Your mom has been using him too since your dad passed away.”

“Who is that? Carmichael?” He asked.

“Yeah, Jason Carmichael.”

“That’s fine,” Luka said.

That night after dinner, Skylar met Luka coming out of Ava’s room. She went in to tell their daughter good night. Ava was reading a book. She laid it down on her stomach and glanced up at her mother.

“Momma, what ya doing?”

“Heading to bed Ava,” she told her. “I’m tired. Ramona and Brett are coming over tomorrow while Daddy and I go see the attorney if Mr. Carmichael can see us.”

“Why can’t I go with you?”

“Because the lawyer’s office isn’t someplace for you to be.”

Ava nodded. “Are you mad at me?”

“No sweetheart, I’m not. Why would you ask that?”

Her daughter’s eyes lowered, she wasn’t wanting to look at Skylar. She took Ava’s hand in hers. “Ava, what is it? You can tell me anything.”

“I was just afraid Momma that you were upset with me because I wanted to be a Shaw like Daddy, Grammy and my uncles.”

“I’m not.”

“I love you more than anything Momma,” Ava reassured her.

“I know.” But it was reassuring to hear her daughter say it.

“Maybe someday we’ll both be Shaw’s,” Ava suggested.

“I wouldn’t hold my breath Ava.”

Her daughter chuckled. “Goodnight Momma.”

“Goodnight Ava.”

Skylar slipped out of Ava’s room and shut the door. She was already lost in her book before the latch clicked shut. Ava always had a fondness for reading just like Luka. He was coming up the stairs.

“Good night Luka,” she said softly. Skylar was tired.

“Could we talk Sky?”

She kept going towards her room. She might have even picked up her pace. “Not tonight Luka. Too tired.”

She couldn’t let him into her room again Skylar knew what would happen. She would let him into her bed again. Her hand was on the doorknob when he said her name. She dropped her chin to her neck a little and sighed.

“What Luka?”

“I just wanted to say goodnight,” he replied.