“Nana.” My voice shakes on the lone word, but I push forward. “You can’t blame Adam for being absent when y’all never told him I existed.”
“I did what I thought was best,” Mom says, eyes glassy. “He wasn’t in a good place, and I didn’t want you to have a drunk for a father.”
“I know, Mom. And I don’t blame you for that.” I swallow. “Or maybe I do, just a little. But I understand. And I don’t know. Maybe I would have made the same choice in your shoes. What I do know is that Adam is here now, and he’s made it clear that he would like to be part of my life.”
Nana’s mouth tightens into a thin line, and I brace for impact, but it’s my mother who speaks first. “I just don’t want to lose you, Ava.”
My heart squeezes at the admission. “You’re not going to lose me. You could never lose me. I love you, Mom. And you, Nana. Nothing can change that fact. But I can love you and still want to know my father. To have a relationship with him.” I inhale deeply, my chest expanding to its full capacity, and stare straight into the camera. “You don’t have to like it, but you need to respect my choice.”
Nana’s eyes widen. “Well, I never—”
“Mom, stop.” My mother’s tone is firm, and she nods slowly, as if coming to terms with this new reality. The one where she and Nana don’t make all the rules. It can’t be easy for her, not after all this time, but she’s trying. “I made my choice thirty years ago, and I don’t know if it was right or wrong, but Ava’s a grown woman now, and this is her choice to make.”
“Thank you.”
Tears sting the backs of my eyes, and I blink them away. I am not going to cry. This is a good thing. She may not like it, but she’s recognized my agency and my boundary.
I spoke up for myself, and the world didn’t end. I’m still here. Mom and Nana are still here.
Granted, Nana looks miffed. I can’t remember the last time someone had the audacity to cut her off. Certainly, my mother and I have never.
Maybe this is the start of a new era for the Washington women, or, for me at least.
Advocating for myself was both harder and easier than I expected, but I’m proud of myself for finally doing it. Maybe it was a baby step, but it’s still progress. Who knows? Maybe someday I’ll have the gumption to be as bold as Emerson.
We chat a bit more about the weather and work, and they catch me up on the town gossip. As we talk, Nana’s temper cools, and by the time there’s a knock at my door, I don’t think twice about telling them I have to go, because I know we’ll catch up again soon.
I disconnect and make my way to the front door. When I peer through the peephole, I nearly lose it, exploding like a champagne cork. I yank the door open, squealing—actually freaking squealing—as I fling myself into the arms of my two best friends, pulling them in for a tight hug.
Kayla and Lexie shower birthday wishes upon me, and when they pull apart, I’m lighter than air, the discomfort of my earlier video chat all but forgotten. “What are you doing here?
“We flew in to surprise you,” Lexie says, beaming.
“You didn’t really think we were going to let you celebrate thirty alone, did you?” Kayla laughs. “Girl, it’s a milestone. We’re going to do it up right with dinner and drinks and the whole nine yards.”
My chest squeezes, full to bursting with love and gratitude. “You flew all this way just to surprise me?”
Kayla smirks. “Did you expect anything less?”
“In case I forget to tell you later, you’re literally the best friends in the world.”
Despite our many differences, they’ve always been here for me, and I hope they feel the same way, because I’d charge Hell with a bucket of ice water for them.
Waving them inside, I step back so they can pass by easily. They haul their bags up to the living room, and while they checkout the open-concept space, I grab the bottle of wine from the breakfast bar.
“I was just having a drink. Join me?”
“Hell yes,” Kayla says, eyes bright. “Let’s get this party started.”
Lexie shakes her head, but she’s grinning. “We’re going to need an Uber.”
“It’ll be just like the old days.” I pour them each a glass of the pinot and then lift my own to make a toast. “To best friends.”
“And birthdays!” Kayla adds as she and Lexie raise their glasses.
I take a long sip of the wine and lean against the counter. “So how long are you in town?”
“We fly out Sunday afternoon,” Lexie says. “I couldn’t get more than one day off from the clinic.”