Chapter Text
At twelve years old, Ava told her parent that she wanted to be a nun. Her father, Randy Sharpe, gave her several books about how life in a convent, about religions, philosophy, famous monks and nuns. Then for years, all spiritual books he could get, he provided for his only child.
Her mother, Pam Sharpe, felt worried. It is not an easy life. But her husband asked her to let Ava live her life as an independent human being. "Beside," he said, "It might be only temporary phase. If we refuse it, she will insist strongly just to oppose us. She will lose the propose."
At fourteen, Ava still wanted to be a nun but also wanted to be a professional athlete. Volleyball became her second obsession. And she was good at it. Her team won school competitions in the town, then in the district and province.
Her father got busy fixing their backyard and build an indoor volley field for Ava and her teammates to practice even during the winter. They lived in a big area of family land. Then he began to search books about sport, nutrition, health and athletic for Ava to learn about.
Her mother kept worrying her only child wondering what Ava's life would be. But she said nothing.
At seventeenth, Ava entered the convent. She had to study preparation for five years before the Sisters agree to ordain her. The convent was with boarding school in a big city not far from her small hometown. Ava should stay inside the whole year, only could visit her family once a year at the Christmas holiday.
The rules were very strict. No visitors except in the annual parents meeting. No personal phone. All packages and belongings should be reported. But Ava liked the living there. It suited her. She was a loner. Beside, some sport were allowed including volleyball.
In the Summer of her third year, Ava came home arriving at the door of their house with her suitcase and belongings.
Randy and Pam Sharpe were about to have dinner that time when the main door bell sounded. They looked at each other wondering who might be.
...
At his early twenties, Randy Sharpe told his father that he left the college and would travel alone backpacking around Asia. His father allowed him and gave him some money that he refused saying he would find part-time jobs on the way. He just asked for the air plane ticket to India.
Grandpa Sharpe had confidence that his only son would be back. Grandpa waited and read short messages that Randy was in Nepal for a couple months, then next travel to Bhutan, went across South East Asia for next couple years. Randy never asked for money. Grandma Sharpe asked him to call her every month that he could do only every three or four months.
After six years, Randy came home without any announcement arriving at the door, just like Ava right now standing and looking at him with her trouble eyes.
And like his father accepted him back without questioning anything, Randy questioned Ava nothing, just a big hug then escorted her inside.
Pam, knowing her husband and her daughter for long time, concealed her worry in her long hug, then started preparing dinner for Ava.
Ava couldn't be more grateful with her parent. She couldn't face questions yet. She wasn't ready to give any explanation, even to herself.
....
Randy had converted the indoor volleyball field into a small apartment hut for Ava to stay during her yearly visit. Her childhood room was still untouched inside the house but Ava preferred staying at that small hut. There were a complete kitchen, a medium cozy bed, a working bench, and a toilet. Ava could stay the whole day without going anywhere.
At the first day, Pam supplied food and drink for a week into the refrigerator. She wanted to help cleaning the room but Ava refused her. The next couple days Pam and Randy hardly saw Ava. They knew Ava stayed up pass midnight as the light from that hut informed it.
After a week, Ava started to do her old chorus helping Pam and Randy. She started to have breakfast and dinner with them. But she didn't linger long and she still was very quiet.
...
Randy didn't worry too much about Ava future as since Ava was born he already prepared it. He secured some investment for Ava. And after knowing her wish to be a nun, he kept saving much more for Ava, like how his father did to him. It was family tradition. Although he told Ava about it, he still educated Ava to earn her living by helping her mother and taking care the house.
Pam was a herbalist. She planted herbal trees in her garden. Ava had learned how to take care of it since she was very young. Anytime she wanted, she could study and become herbalist. She already had basic knowledge.
And there was a family business too that he took over from his father. He hadn't introduced it to Ava, not until Ava asked for it. His father did the same to him. About half year after he came home from Asia, he asked his father about family business. Grandpa Sharpe introduced him from the lowest place, a cleaning service department. He started working like other cleaning men. No one knew him.
He wondered if he would do the same when Ava asked about it. But Ava still was in her quiet time. She sat quietly or walked restlessly inside the hut. Sometimes she went to the tree house he made for her in her eleventh birthday. He remembered how his father waited for him, never asked or mentioned his next plan. So he and Pam decided to let Ava be. Ava was a sensible person anyway.
....
One morning, about a month after Ava came home, a beautiful young woman knocked their door, smiling at him when he opened it.
"Hi, I am Sara Lance. Ava's friend."
Randy smiled back and liked her right away. He introduced himself and Pam who walked from her garden to see who was coming. Pam seemed to adore this young woman instantly too. Pam held Sara's hand and asked, "Are you coming from the Sisters?"
"What? Oh, no. I met Ava at the volleyball summer camp. Three years ago." Sara told them. "Is Ava at home?"
"Yes, she is at the backyard. I will call her."
Randy left them to call Ava. When he came back, he found his wife and Sara already were in the garden squatting near a herbal tree with Pam was explaining something and Sara was listening earnestly.
"Ava will come soon." He informed them. They stood up and still were chatting when Ava was coming, almost like running.
"Sara." Ava called her.
Sara looked at Ava and smiled, "Hey."
When Ava said nothing more but only looking at Sara without smile, Randy told them to go to the hut to catch up. Ava turned and walked. Sara followed her after smiling politely to Randy and Pam.
"What a nice girl." Pam said to him watching them leaving. "She knew about medicine. She is studying to be a doctor. Her mother loves gardening too."
"Really? You know it only after a minute talking with her? Women are amazing." Randy teased her.
Pam laughed and they both came inside the kitchen. Pam saw a lemon cake from their breakfast and wanted to give it to Sara.
"She must be hungry."
She left with a plate of the cake walking to the small path to the hut. And just in instant she came back still with the plate of the cake in her hand entering kitchen and sat slowly in front of her husband who was looking at her with a questioning expression.
Pam put the plate on the table between them and looked at her husband.
"They are kissing." She said in a quiet tone.
In her husband's eyes appeared an understanding. He said, "About the time."