Even in this, their darkest hour, Ava believed that love, above all else, would see them through.
28
“Is that all of them?”Ava asked Ruben as Chris placed another source of Ouzo on the kitchen table, found in an old shampoo bottle in the linen press.
“Yes,” replied Ruben quietly, sitting next to her in a bathrobe, his hair still wet from his shower.
“Are you sure?” Chris asked.
“Yes.” He answered a touch more confidently. “No more booze. I’m done. I swear.”
“Good,” Ava said, placing her hand on Ruben’s. “Guys, what’s happened to us? How did we get here? Walking on eggshells. Since when can’t we be honest?”
Ruben gave her hand a light squeeze. “Things just got out of hand so quickly. Before I knew it, I was in a tailspin and going down fast. I didn’t want to admit I had fallen off the wagon. I was ashamed. Iamashamed.”
“The last thing we wanted was to bring you into our issues, babes,” Chris said. “We fought the night you were admitted to the hospital and haven’t really talked since. It wasn’t fair to tell you and make you feel guilty, at any stage, especially not when you were recovering.”
“OK. Now that we’re being honest, I haven’t told you that I’ve been having nightmares. No, Flashes. About the fight. I wake up covered in sweat. Sometimes it happens when I’m awake, and I freeze in place and can’t move.”
“That sounds like PTSD. Is that why you bolted from the hospital?” Chris asked.
“My dad showed up at the hospital tonight. He’s part of the case against Van Gould. He wants me to talk to the police and prosecutors. Said I could help put him in jail and I froze again. But this time it was like I was back in that office. I lost it. I blamed my dad for getting involved and made him leave. I feel like I’m coming unglued.”
“Babes, you’ve been through and suffered so much. You don’t have to do anything,” Ruben said.
“You’ve suffered. So has Chris. Everyone has. I’ve got to move forward. I can’t keep letting these things get to me. I can’t. So I’ve made a choice. I’m going to help my dad. And I’m going to challenge Veronica Nash to a rematch.”
“No,” said both boys at the same time, but Chris continued, “Babes, no. I didn’t say anything last time even though I thought it was insane. You weren’t ready for that fight and you’re definitely not now.”
“Look, I can’t say it won’t happen again—”
“Babes, you don’t understand.” Chris shook his head. “You want to reconnect with your dad? That’s amazing. You want to be a part of the court case? Great. But we had to watch you get revived. Right in front of us in the middle of the ring. That alone will haunt me forever. I can’t do that again.”
“I’m sure it was horrible to see, but what are the odds of it happening again?”
“Babes, it’s not just that. What would fighting Nash prove? You shook the greatest fighter in the world up. You don’t owe anyone anything. Forget what the media says,” Ruben said with a wave of his hand.
“I do owe someone. I owe myself,” Ava replied, sitting straighter in her chair. “I have never feared anyone. I’ve always been brash. It’s landed me in loads of trouble, but it’s who I am. I can’t be afraid. I HATE being afraid. Now I never know when flashes of that fight will pop into my brain.
You said I shook her up. How though? Am I that good or did I get lucky? Look, maybe all I can do is stand toe-to-toe with her and take everything she’s got. But, in the end, if I’m still on my feet, I’ll know I belong there.
I’m through running. I’m going to face Van Gould. And I’m going to face Nash. She is going to get the fight of a lifetime. I’m making a stand. I’m either a fighter or I’m not. I’m prepared to train myself if I have to, but I’m not too proud to say I need your help. Either way, you’re my boys, and I love you.”
Chris sat down opposite them and reached for their hands across the table. “You will not be alone. You’ll never be alone,” he said, looking from one to the other. “We all messed up, and we all have to learn from past mistakes. If this is what you want, and I mean what YOU want, I’ll be there for you.” He focused on Ruben who let out a deep breath.
“Me too.”
“You’re going to have to go through hell, Ava. I hope you know this. Starting with the court case. Then, when it comes to training, you’ll be wishing death on me. We will push you to the absolute limits. You’ll need the Nash fight for some rest and recreation. I need you to understand this before we begin.”
Ava kept her eyes on Chris. She knew what he was saying. She appreciated the honesty. “I’m ready.”
“No, you’re not,” Chris said, taking his hands back. “But, come fight time, you will be.”
“Babes... are you sure you want to do this?” Ruben asked.
Ava stood and cracked her neck. “I’m not a hundred percent. But with your help, I will be. Make the call to Max.”
Two hours later, Ava opened the front door and welcomed her father into the house, something she’d never thought would ever happen. He’d arrived right on time, dressed in his best shirt, a dark purple affair that Ava had bought him for Christmas the year before she left, tucked in. She noticed he’d done his best to make his hair presentable. All-in-all he looked like his old self, and Ava quickly realised this wasn’t just for her benefit but for the boys’ as well.