Free A Love of Her Own by Bettye Griffin

there really wasn’t anything out there I wanted to see.”
    *****
    Ava decided to do her holiday shopping a day earlier than usual, to reduce the stress of the constant activity that would be in effect until after Vicky’s wedding. The day before Christmas Eve Ava headed for the mall early. A no-nonsense shopper, she made her purchases quickly, humming Christmas carols as she stood in line. By one o’clock she was driving home. With her purchases safely locked in the trunk, she decided to get some lunch.
    She headed for Main Street. If she could find Marcus, perhaps he ’d want to come with her.
    Again she drove as slowly as she could down the busy avenue, but she didn’t see Marcus. She ordered lunch from Soul Food to Go, but since it was a little warmer outside today, instead of bringing her food home she sat at one of the Roman-style stone benches and matching tables on the restaurant’s property, keeping an eye on the people walking past but not seeing the face she was looking for. She wished she knew Marcus’s whereabouts. She had picked up something for him while doing her holiday shopping, and she hoped to be able to give it to him before Christmas Day.
    Ava was scheduled to meet Kendall and Vicky at Robinson ’s at five for drinks. They would all be at Kendall’s the next evening for the tree-trimming, but this would be their last private get-together before Vicky’s wedding Friday night.
    At four-forty -five she checked her makeup and hair in the bathroom mirror. She was reaching in the coat closet for her jacket when the doorbell rang. A quick peer out the front window revealed Hilton’s Pathfinder parked by the curb. “Hi,” she said, her surprise evident in her tone.
    He smiled at her, his hands pushed in his front pockets in an almost bashful stance she found charming . “I went by the shop, but it was closed. I had planned on seeing if you wanted to go to lunch, but the day got away from me, and now it’s time to have dinner. How about some seafood?”
    She didn ’t hesitate. “Sure. I was just going out to get something.” She didn’t mention she’d been about to meet her friends. She glanced at his attire and saw that he wore jeans, as did she, so obviously they were going somewhere informal. But although she didn’t have to change, there still was something she had to do. “Can you give me just a minute?”
    “ Of course. Take your time; I’ll wait in the truck.”
    The minute the door was closed Ava ran to the phone . Kendall would never stop razzing her for canceling another engagement, but with knowing Hilton was going away she just couldn’t say no.
    “All set,” she said as she climbed in the truck beside him.
    He headed toward Nile Beach. “I hope you like Frank’s Fish Box.”
    “ I love it.”
    “ Good. I’m glad you agreed to have dinner with me, Ava. I’m sorry I didn’t give you more notice, but I really did want to see you again before I leave.”
    She kept her voice even despite of a sudden stab of panic . “You are coming back, aren’t you?”
    “ Oh, sure. This is just a quick visit. I’ve lived in Palmdale for four months and don’t know many people here, so it would be silly to spend Christmas here.”
    “ You don’t sound too enthusiastic about going home for the holiday.”
    “ I’m not. To tell you the truth, it’s my least favorite time of year. But it shouldn’t be too bad. I’m going to spend Christmas with my son, and I’ll see the rest of my family as well.”
    She had wanted to ask why it was his least favorite type of year, but his additional remark caught her off guard, and she blinked in surprise . “Your son? How old is he?”
    “ Six. I feel bad enough about not doing better by him, and Christmas just drives it home.”
    Ava knew all about the holidays driving home life ’s disappointments. Now she felt a kinship with Hilton. “Of course, I don’t know anything about the situation, but I’m sure you’re devoted to