Free Honeymoon For One by Lily Zante

did say
you were on a working holiday.”
    Ava stopped laughing. “Montova then. Let me see
what’s so special about this factory village of yours.”
    Nico nodded. “Enjoy your day tomorrow.”
    “I will,” said Ava, fumbling around in her bag as soon
as her cell went off. She glanced at it then frowned. It was the sixth call
from her mother today.
    “Is everything alright?” asked Nico. Ava nodded
before answering her cell and walking away, making her way up the stairs
slowly.
    Why did her mother never stop worrying about her?
“Hi mom. What’s up? I have like five missed calls from you.”
    “You have five missed calls from me and you’re
wondering what’s up?” Ava could hear the worry in her mother’s voice and she
was suddenly worried that something was wrong. She clutched the cell to her
ear. “Are you alright mom?” She walked into her hotel room, slipped off her
jacket and lay down on the bed.
    “’I’m worried about you Ava! Five calls to you and
no answer,” her mother cried. “What’s a mother supposed to think?”
    Ava
groaned and let herself breathe again. Of course, everything was fine. Her
mother was fine. She mother was just being her mother.
    “Mom I’m fine. In fact, I’m having a wonderful
time.”
    “Now that I know you’re safe and well, I’m having
a wonderful time knowing that you’re having a wonderful time.” Ava could hear
the relief in her mother’s voice and imagined her sitting down in her favorite
reading chair which was her favorite place for making calls and reading.
    “It’s so beautiful here mom, I wish you could see
how beautiful it is here.”
    “A few days in Italy and you sound like a new
person Ava. I’m so glad you went. I knew it would be the right thing for you.”
    “Rona doesn’t think so.”
    “Rona can’t see beyond diapers and poop at the
moment. And she’s not getting much sleep either. I bet she wishes she was out
there with you. But she’s glad you got away. She returned the ring by the way.”
    The
ring. Connor. She hadn’t thought of him at all lately.
    “Was everything alright….giving the ring back and
all?”
    “Must
have been. She didn’t say much about it.”
    The final thing had been done. Now Ava felt that
the final connection, that last link to Connor was severed forever. She took a
deep breath and watched her stomach rise and fall as she breathed in and out.
    “I’m real glad that’s done mom.”
    “I know Ava, I know.”
    “Mom?” Ava ran her hand over her stomach, and
wondered if she should mention the handsome driver she had met. Though it was
silly because what was there to say?
    “Ava?”
    She decided against it and settled for “I miss you
mom.” What would her mother make of it anyway? After all, there was nothing
going on except a wisp of attraction on her part. She couldn’t gauge Nico’s
interest in her. She flushed as she remembered him teasing her. You don’t
think I’m doing all this for you do you? He had said. He was probably doing
nothing more than his working duties required of him.
    “I miss you too honey. Enjoy the rest of your
trip. I love you.”
    “Bye mom, love you.”
    Ava
lay on the bed, thinking of Nico’s jet colored eyes and tried to wonder what
had changed in only two days.
     
     

Chapter 13
    It had been an early morning appointment for Nico.
But he was relieved that it was over and done with. He left the steps of the
private hospital and rushed to his car, slamming the door shut behind him.
    He turned and waved to Alessa as she got into her
mother’s car. He hadn’t wanted Alessa to experience any pain and luckily for
her, it had been a painless experience. Luckily for him, it had been a quick
experience and she had asked no awkward questions. Unluckily for him, Silvia
had been in a foul mood the whole time and hadn’t been the easiest of people to
get on with.
    At least it was over and done with.  His
shoulders relaxed for the first time that whole morning. This was