Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO

Growing up wasn’t quite glamorous or exciting for Ava, she had a father who was very strict and often abusive and a mother who was just the opposite. She was loving, caring, patient, and understanding. She had other siblings who were all male. Childhood wasn’t all fun-filled though she had a fair share of it, thank God for next-door relatives. She grew up in Tuscarawas and went to one of the central schools and then, an Eastern University campus in Cleaveland. Her dad wanted her to study law but deep down, she didn’t want that. She had an interest in the creative industry but unfortunately, no one was keying into her dreams. She wanted more than just appearing in a courtroom to defend or file a case or work in a chamber. She had eyes for fashion and she loved to write too. One day, she had come back home to show her dad a one-paged article she had written on greeting but he didn’t quite appreciate it and he made her feel she wasn’t going to make it through writing.

“You’ll never make out something worth living for out of your nonsense writing thing, Chava. You are going to be a lawyer and that’s final! Her father bellowed. Ava remembered the reddened eyes of her father, his tightened fist, and the trembling of his lips. She sniffed back her tears and ran back to her room where she cried herself to sleep. Her mother didn’t say anything until that night when she came to get her to eat supper.

“Mum, why is a dad like this? I don’t want to study law. There’s nothing in that field for me. You guys are just gonna let my dreams die? Mum?”

“Ava, you are our only daughter. I and your dad wants the best for you.”

“Well, it doesn’t seem so. You guys just care about yourself, what you want and not what I want.” She pulled the blanket over her head and turned in another direction.

“You should know that we love you and want the best for you. You would be doing us a great honor if you study law and become a reputable barrister. I wish you will understand. You see, we weren’t privileged to further our education and become better people in Tuscarawas. You know we belong to the lowest class here. I wanted to be more than what I am today but as you can see, I am just a village midwife. Your dad is frustrated sometimes. He is going through a lot. Please, Ava, join us for supper.”

“Not hungry mum.” She was suckling this time around. Her mother left her and came up with her food. She left it somewhere Ava could perceive the food’s aroma. She had faced a lot of confusion while growing up. She had worked in so many places but wasn’t satisfied, she ended up leaving halfway. Ava had no choice, so she studied law even though she didn’t intend to practice it. She just didn’t want to get her parents heartbroken the more. And after that, she had done some legal jobs whilst nurturing her other dreams. It was years later she got a degree in fashion consultancy and obtained a professional certification too. And now, she was living that life she had always wanted; the life she had always loved. That was the point she moved from Tuscarawas to Losantiville.

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“Olivia, I think you’d spend years chopping that cabbage.” Ava took the chicken lap from a bowl and started rolling it in the bread crumbs. She tried to push back a strand of her hair that seemed to be disturbing her view, with the back of her palm. She had noticed that her friend, Olivia, who had visited wasn’t as bright as she used to be. She looked gloomy and trying to pretend all was well.

“Oh, yeah? I’m chopping it after all.” Olivia blurted. Ava was taken aback. She stopped and looked at her. “I’m just not happy Ava.” Olivia dropped the knife.

“What is it, Olivia? Is it Brad, again?”

Olivia looked at Ava sadly and shook her head up and down. “Girl, it’s him again.” Her face looked like someone who was fighting a tear back.

“Can we talk about it? Do you mind?”

“No, I don’t.”

Ava washed her hands, took off her apron, and hung it somewhere in the kitchen. By the time, they had sat down, Olivia’s eyes were already soaked with tears. “You know, you’ve not told me anything about this new relationship and, amazingly, we’re friends. Tell me how you guys met and what’s going on now. You seem pretty much disturbed. And please, hold back those tears cos I don’t wanna see them.” that was so sarcastic, Ava gave a sad smile which she returned.

 “Yeah. I met Brad through a friend. He’s a medical doctor and he stays in Breuckelen. At first, it was all lovey-dovey. The love and care were mind-blowing. I just don’t know what happened now.” she kept hissing and sniffling.

“Usually, it starts well. The ride gets sweet. Tell me everything, please.” Ava grabbed Olivia’s hands and held them together.

“Remember when I told you I was traveling home?” Olivia wiped her face, Ava smiled and shook her head. “It was him I went to see. I traveled to Breuckelen to see him.”

“And you spent nearly a month there. So, continue.”

 

“Ava, you’re the only person I can talk to and not feel condemned. I messed up big time. We keep misunderstanding each other. We keep disagreeing. We keep fighting. And this started after I left his place. Girl, he’s too possessive. I can’t even be myself around him. I wish I had never gone to meet him. He always makes me feel less of a person.” Olivia was sobbing bitterly already. Ava hated to see tears, it made her angry. She cleared her throat and started rubbing Olivia’s back. “Ava, I gave him everything, my heart, my body. Ava, I haven’t been in a romantic relationship in a long time. I must have missed something. I told him everything. Everything about my past.” she was talking fast and breathing heavily. 

“Shhhhh.” Ava placed her hand over Olivia’s mouth. “Take a deep breath.” She inhaled and exhaled. “You’re not the first person to fall in love and you didn’t do anything wrong and…” then the doorbell rang interrupting her. Ava went for it.

“Hi, I’m Brad. Is Olivia here?”

 ‘How? I thought you should be in Breuckelen?’ She looked back at Olivia.

“He came in last night,” she responded inaudibly.

“And he already knows my place?”

“He knew I was coming here. I mean I told him. I’m sorry, girl. I didn’t know he would come here. I gotta go please.”

“Yeah, sure. Do well to explain to him why you have tears in your eyes.” Ava chewed on her lower lip as she watched her leave with Brad