Chapter 3 — Ava Had Been Making a Card for Robert
Rachel looked toward the papers Ava had left on the table.
“What were you coloring?”
Ava wiped her eyes.
“Grandpa’s card.”
Robert looked up.
“My card?”
Ava nodded.
The following Tuesday was Robert’s birthday.
Ava had been making him a card in secret.
Pink hearts covered the front.
Inside, in uneven handwriting:
GRANDPA ROBERT IS THE BEST AT FIXING THINGS.
Robert stared at it.
His face changed.
Ava had been sitting beside his surprise for him…
when he decided to use her as the explanation for his own mistake.
“Ava,” he whispered.
She looked away.
Robert moved closer.
“I’m sorry.”
Ava didn’t answer.
“I drew the line.”
She looked toward him.
“I know.”
“I didn’t mean to.”
“I know.”
Then Ava asked:
“Why did you say I did?”
Robert’s eyes filled.
He tried to find an adult explanation.
Stress.
Surprise.
Embarrassment.
Fear of ruining Helen’s gift.
None of those answered Ava’s question.
So Robert told the truth.
“Because I didn’t want everyone to be angry with me.”
Ava frowned.
“So you made them angry with me?”
Rachel looked toward her father.
Robert slowly nodded.
“Yes.”
Ava thought about that.
Then said:
“That’s mean.”
Robert swallowed.
“It was.”
Rachel did not soften it for him.
She did not say:
Grandpa didn’t mean it.
Because while Robert had not meant to damage the photograph…
he had meant to move the blame.
That difference mattered.