In the morning, right after the sun came up, Ava quietly crept into the living room. She looked around and saw Fenton still sleeping soundly on the couch. She put on her shoes and went outside.
Upon hearing the door shut, Fenton woke up and looked outside. Seeing Ava, he went outside after her. "Good morning, Ava. What are you doing out here so early?"
She turned towards him and replied, "I can't find Mom."
"What do you mean?"
"She's gone, and so is her stuff."
Fenton went back inside the trailer and into his bedroom. Sure enough, there was no sign of Eileen anywhere.
He went back to Ava, who was looking around the trailer. "Why don't you come inside? It's chilly out here."
Reluctantly, Ava went back in, while Fenton followed, closing the door behind them.
Fenton was no genius, but it didn't take one to figure out what had happened. Ava soon realized the same thing and was visibly getting upset. "How could she do this to me?!" she cried out. "How could she leave me in a random place with some random guy?!"
Fenton's face fell at seeing her so upset. He immediately knew he was alone in this. "Ava, sit down." He sat on the sofa.
Ava hesitated at first, but then sat on the other end.
"Ava, I'm not just some random guy," Fenton told her. "I'm...I'm your father."
He watched her expression to see her reaction. After looking confused, her expression turned normal, and she said, "Oh."
"How do you feel about that?"
"I don't know. I never knew who my dad was or saw any pictures of him. I guess anything is possible."
"And this was the best possibility." Fenton gave her a small smile.
"What am I going to do?" Ava asked, distressed. This question was directed at herself and not Fenton.
"What do you mean?"
Ava got up. "Mom obviously dumped me here. Most of my stuff is in the apartment. How am I going to get my stuff? Where am I going to go? How am I going to take care of myself?"
Fenton stood up, as well. "You're going to stay here with me and M'Ma."
"I can't."
"Sure, you can! There's plenty of room."
Ava looked around, skeptically, then shook her head. "We barely know each other. I can't interfere in your life, too."
Fenton looked sad. "Oh, honey, you're not interfering with anything. I want you to stay. Tell you what: we'll go to New Stork and get your stuff and bring it back here. What do you say? It'll be a fun road trip!"
Ava shook her head.
"Besides, it'll give us time to get to know one another."
Ava looked away. "I guess I don't have much of a choice right now."
"Great!" Fenton shouted, enthusiastically. "I'll get a rental car and call work."
Mrs. Crackshell came out to the living room, yawning. "What's all the noise? What's going on?"
"Ava and I are going to New Stork."
"What???"
Fenton explained the situation to his mother. At first, she looked shocked. She stared at her son, then, at Ava, who shrank back, uncomfortable. Mrs. Crackshell's face softened. "Oh, sweetie, I'm so sorry. Of course you can stay here."
Ava just looked up, surprised at her reaction.
Fenton kissed his mother's cheek. "Thanks, M'ma! We'll be back in a week!"
"Be careful, you two."
"We will. Come on, Ava, let's hit the road!"
"Wait." Ava went into the bedroom and got her bag. "I'm ready."
"Alright. Let's go!"