Chapter 3
"Mum, who owns the hot truck?" asks Seth as he walks through the front door, throwing his school bag on the arm chair. He has grown, tall and lanky but huge with muscles, not the same scrawny stick I remember. Mum and I have been making quiet conversation for the last two hours and I have put my bags in my old room and put Chaska down for a nap.
"Seth this is... Ava." Mum smiles proudly, yet shaky. Seth stops in the hall way and stares at me with a blank expression.
"Hey Seth… ya miss me?" I smirk and in a blink of an eye Seth has me in a bone crushing hug. He has got much taller, at my 5'8 feet he has my legs dangling like a rag doll.
"Where the hell have you been?" Seth barks, as he puts me back on the ground.
"Sightseeing," I smirk, as I sit back down.
"Funny," says Seth, taking a seat on the chair next to Mum. They both look at me like they're memorising every inch of my profile. "You must have been somewhere good, you look and smell rich," Seth smirks.
"Just because I don't smell like dirt and trees, doesn't mean I'm rich," I scoff.
"Well if the truck out front's yours, then you either stole it, robbed a bank, or you're rich." I nod to his logic.
"I'm well off." I can't seem to wipe the wide grin off my face.
"Does Leah know your back?"
"No, we decided to wait until the bonfire tonight," says Mum, biting her bottom lip nervously.
"Think she'll be surprised?" I ask Seth.
"Yeah, just a little bit." Seth looks at me in awe with that stupid smirk plastered on his face.
"You think if I showed up with a kid, she'll freak?" Seth's face changes to one of confusion and he looks to Mum to see if I'm lying.
Mum shakes her head and Seth slowly turns back to face me, his lips are in an o. "That why you left?" he asks, slowly.
"Yep, you're an uncle to a three-year-old boy, his name's Chaska," I smile.
"Wow, way to make me feel old," Seth chuckles.
"You think you feel old. Try finding out you're a grandmother," says Mum.
"If Seth ever finds out he's a grandmother, I think he'll have bigger problems then feeling old." We all laugh at my joke.
"Mummy," calls a small voice from down the hall, stopping the laughter.
"Yeah Chask?" I call. He walks out of the hall rubbing tired eyes that immediately land on Seth and go wide.
"Mummy, who's he?" Chaska ask, his big eyes still locked on Seth.
"This is my brother Seth, he's your uncle. Say hello," I smile at the young boy. His small face lights up with a bright smile and he walks towards Seth with a hand held out.
"Hello Seth, I'm Chaska-a." Mum and Seth both chuckle at the boy's grown-up speak. Seth takes Chaska's hand – 1/8 of the size of his, and shakes it lightly. "Nice to meet you," my boy says, stepping back from Seth. Chaska then walks to me with arms held high, and I hoist him onto my lap.
"How did you teach him to do that?" asks Mum, chuckling at me.
"You're just jealous you can't get Seth to act like a gentleman," I smirk, pressing a kiss to the back of Chaska's head.
"How do you know I can't be a gentleman?" Seth pouts, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Mummy always right," Chaska says before I can remark.
"Oh Ava, can you teach Seth to do that?" Mum claps her hands in front of her mouth, beaming at my boy's cuteness.
"I can say you're right," Seth protests.
"When do you ever say I'm right?" Mum shoots back at him.
"Mum's always right," I say nodding, and stick my tong out at Seth like a child.
It feels good to be home…
…
"Ava, Mum texted!" Seth yells down the hall. Mum has already gone to the bonfire and was going to text us when Leah got to the beach.
"Okay," I call back, taking one more look at myself. I chose to wear a red crop top, black leather jacket half zipped up, dark skinny jeans, and red sneakers. I let my dark brown hair hang loose down my back, blond streaks curling amongst the brown. I kept jewellery simple, two silver studs in each ear, a few rings on my fingers and a light silver chain around my neck. I slip my phone in my jacket pocket and grab the truck keys before walking out of my old room.
I walk into the living room to find Seth rolling around on the floor with Chaska, both laughing their heads off.
"And I was worried Chask wouldn't have anyone his age to play with." Seth rolls over to look at me, Chask locked in his arms.
"I forgot how funny you are Ava," he says sarcastically, before releasing my son from his arms. Chaska jumps up and dusts off his puffy black jacket and blue jeans.
"I know, I'm a hoot and a half, now come on I don't want to be late," I say, picking up Chaska. Seth groans lazily as he drags himself up off the floor.
"You can't be late for something when no-one knows you're coming," Seth points out, kicking on some old joggers that were by the front door.
"Wow, look who's Mr Know-it-all for once," I say as we walk out the door.
"Hey!" Seth objects.
"Is for horses, what's your point Seth?"
"What?" he asks, looking at me like I'm speaking French.
"Never mind, just get in the truck."
"Can I drive?"
"I don't know, can you?"
"…What?"
"God he needs to get out more," I mutter as I buckle Chaska in the back. "Oh what the hell, knock yourself out," I say, tossing Seth the keys and jumping into the passenger seat.
#If you want the next chapter as quick as possible follow, favorite and RIVEWE (good or bad, they can spick some inspiration in me, and I love to know what you think!#
#Hope you have a nice day/ night, thank you so much for reading!#
