Ghosts and Gardens

Alex.

The garden was a riot of color and life, a stark contrast to the sleek, modern lines of the house. I followed the winding stone path, the sound of childish laughter and splashing water growing louder with each step.

As I rounded a corner, I spotted them. Ava, kneeling by the edge of a small, ornate fountain. And Emilia, her dark curls damp and clinging to her cheeks, her little hands plunged into the water as she giggled and played.

For a moment, I just watched them, something warm and unfamiliar stirring in my chest. Ava's face was soft, unguarded in a way I'd never seen before. She was smiling, her eyes crinkled at the corners as she watched her daughter play.

But there was a sadness there too. Faint, but it was there, it flickered across her face when Emilia wasn't looking. It was the same sadness I'd glimpsed that day at her office, when she'd reluctantly told me about her husband.

I must have made some noise, because suddenly Ava's head snapped up, her eyes locking with mine. The softness vanished, replaced by the cool, wary mask I knew so well.

"Alex." She stood, brushing dirt from her knees. "I didn't hear you come out."

I shrugged, stuffing my hands in my pockets. "Rosa was giving me the tour. Nice place you've got here."

Ava's lips thinned, but she didn't respond. Instead, she turned to Emilia, who was watching us with wide, curious eyes.

"Emilia, this is Mr. Russo. He's... a friend of Mommy's."

I crouched down, bringing myself to Emilia's level. "Hi there, Emilia. It's nice to meet you."

She stared at me for a long moment, her little brow furrowed. Then, abruptly, she turned to Ava.

"Is he daddy's replacement?"

Ava flinched as if she'd been slapped. "What? No, sweetie, of course not. Mr. Russo is just... he's helping Mommy with some work stuff, that's all."

Emilia frowned, her lower lip jutting out. "But he brought you home. Daddy used to do that, when you worked late."

I saw Ava's throat work as she swallowed, saw the way her hands clenched at her sides. "That was different, baby. Daddy... Daddy's not coming back, remember? We talked about this."

Emilia's eyes filled with tears, her little chin trembling. "But I want him to come back. I miss him."

Ava's face crumpled, just for a second. Then she was gathering Emilia into her arms, holding her close as she cried.

"I know, baby. I miss him too. So much."

I stood awkwardly to the side, feeling like an intruder. This was a private moment, a grief that I had no part in. But I couldn't look away, couldn't pretend I hadn't seen the raw, aching pain on Ava's face.

After a few minutes, Emilia's sobs quieted, fading into hiccupping breaths. Ava smoothed her hair back from her face, wiping away the tears with gentle fingers.

"Tell you what, peanut. Why don't you go inside and wash up, and then we can make some pancakes, okay? Your favorite."

Emilia sniffled, but nodded. "With chocolate chips?"

Ava smiled, a wobbly, watery thing. "Is there any other kind?"

She set Emilia down, watching as she scampered off towards the house. Then she turned to me, her eyes red-rimmed and exhausted.

"I'm sorry you had to see that. She's been taking it hard, lately. The anniversary is coming up, and..."

She trailed off, shaking her head. I took a step closer, hesitated, then reached out and laid a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey. You don't have to apologize. I can't even imagine how tough this must be, for both of you."

Ava stiffened under my touch, but didn't pull away. "It's fine. We're fine. It's just... it's a process, you know?"

I nodded, even though I didn't know, not really. Loss, grief, the gaping hole left behind by someone you loved... it was all foreign territory to me.

But looking at Ava now, seeing the weariness and the pain etched into every line of her face, I felt a sudden, fierce urge to protect her. To shelter her and Emilia from the harsh, unforgiving world, even if only for a little while.

It was a foolish thought, a dangerous one. I wasn't a protector, a savior. I was a businessman, a schemer, a man with a plan and a goal that I couldn't afford to lose sight of.

But as Ava pulled away, turning to follow her daughter into the house.