Fitting The Pieces (The Riverdale Series Book 3) (36 page)

           
“I love you too.” Cara said and let the tears finally
break from her eyes. “Thank you.” She whispered.

           
Deb drew her into her arms and hugged her as only Deb
could, with everything she had.

The Lanza’s didn’t do
anything halfheartedly, least of all love and affection, that, they got from
their mother.

           
Joe strutted into the kitchen, stopping short, on his way
to the fridge, spotting Cara and Deb in their embrace. Deb looked over Cara’s
shoulder at her husband and smiled at him.

           
“Everything okay in here?” Joe asked casually as the two women
broke apart and glanced at him.

           
“I was just telling Cara a bit of our story.” Deb said
before standing up and walking over to her husband.

           
“Pretty good story, no?” Joe asked Cara, throwing a wink
in for good measure.

           
“One of the best ever written.” Cara said sincerely.

           
“Makes you want to go write your own, no?” Joe smiled at
her before looking at his wife. “When is dinner going to be done?”

           
Deb rolled her eyes. “Something’s never change…”

           
Cara laughed slightly before sliding off the stool. “I’ve
got to get to Luke.”

           
Joe glanced at his watch. “Where is that son of yours
anyway?” He asked Deb. “I thought he was just dropping Ava off at the party and
then coming over here.” He turned to Cara. “He’s bringing the bread.” He
explained. The dire need for Luke’s attendance evident in his tone.

           
“That’s what he said, when I called him this morning.”
Deb said as she moved towards the oven, opening it to check on the roast she
was cooking.

           
Sam and Nick walked into the kitchen, hand in hand. “Ma,
you need some help with dinner?” Sam asked, releasing Nick’s hand to peek into
one of the pots that sat on top of the stove. “You made mashed potatoes?” She
pulled open a drawer and took out a spoon to sample the buttery goodness that
was Deb’s mashed potatoes.

           
“See! We’re all starving.” Joe said, throwing his hands
in the air. The phone rang and Nick picked it up since he was leaning against
the wall next to it.

           
“Deb’s Kitchen, Nick speaking, what can we get you?” He
said into the phone, causing everyone to turn and look at him. He shrugged his
shoulders and offered his best grin. The caller on the other end began to speak
causing Nick to stand straight as he listened, the smile faltering from his
face. “Is she alright?”

           
Cara lifted her head a sickening feeling claiming her.
She swallowed hard as she stared at Nick expectantly. Silence washed over the
kitchen and all eyes were on Nick as he spoke.

           
“Shit, alright. Go do your thing. We’re on our way.” He
hung the phone back on the receiver as he turned to face the family. “Ava had
an accident on the ice. Pipsqueak broke her wrist.”

           
Cara hurried out of the kitchen, not waiting for anyone
to follow. She grabbed her coat from the hall closet, rushing to get her car
keys that were buried in her pocket. “I’ll meet you guys over there.” She
called behind her before hurrying out the door. She didn’t wait for anyone to
answer or to follow suit, she didn’t offer to drive anyone or wait for them to
drive her. She was only aware of the urgency she felt overcome her, the urgency
to be with Ava and Luke. They needed her. She needed them. She needed to see
that she was okay. She needed to stand beside Luke, and watch the doctor’s
patch up their girl. He needed to know he wasn’t alone anymore.

           
Luke squeezed Ava’s good hand, leaning down and kissing
the top of her head. “It’s going to be okay, Princess.” He promised her as she
cried.

           
“It hurts so bad Daddy.” She sobbed.

           
Luke glanced over at the doctors as they prepared to set
his little girl's wrist for her cast. He wished like hell he could take her
place, but he was beginning to realize that never worked for him. He brushed
another kiss to her head.

           
“It’ll be over soon. Grandma and Grandpa are on their
way. So is Uncle Nick and Aunt Sam.”

           
Leah walked into the room, glancing at the doctor before
making her way to Ava’s bedside. “Hey Ava, I have something for you…” She
pulled rolls of stickers out of the pockets of her scrubs. “We can decorate
your cast once Dr. Meyers is finished.” She pulled out a Sharpie. “And then you
can ask everyone to sign it.” She lifted her head and her eyes met Luke’s.

           
“Look at that, Ava.” Luke said softly as she lifted her
head from his chest to inspect the stickers that Leah was handing her. “She’s
even got some Hello Kitty stickers.”

           
Ava sniffled and took the stickers that Leah offered her.
“Thank you.” She whispered.

           
“Anytime,” Leah said with a smile. They stood silent for
a moment as Ava seemed occupied with the browsing through the stickers. She
looked at Luke. “Are you okay? You need anything?”

           
“I’m good.” He said quickly before sighing. “Thanks for
getting her right in.”

           
“No problem.” She said softly. “Dr. Meyers is good. Her
wrist will heal perfectly.” She said reassuringly to the nervous father
standing before her. He looked so broken and torn. She wanted to help, even if
it was the smallest way possible.

           
“Okay, where is our little patient?” Dr. Meyers asked,
rolling beside Ava on a stool.

           
Ava whimpered and turned her face into her father’s
chest. The attending nurse looked at Leah, holding the tray of utensils that
the doctor needed for the tray.

           
“I’ll be right outside if you need anything, Luke.” Leah
said softly and stepped aside so the nurse could do her job.

           
“Thank you.” He said as he smoothed back his daughter’s
hair. He lifted her head from his chest gently. “I need you to listen to the
doctor baby. It’ll be over soon, I promise.”

           
Ava squeezed his hand tightly with her good one, her eyes
full of tears as she stared up at him, gutting him with her fearful eyes. Dr.
Meyers positioned her bad arm.

           
“Okay, Ava, I need you to keep your arm still.” He said
softly as he began to set her wrist and cast it. Ava kept her arm perfectly
still as she stared into her dad’s eyes.

           
“I love you.” He whispered to her.

*
* * * *

           
Cara rushed through the Emergency Room doors, and
straight towards the reception desk.

“Excuse me, a little
girl was brought in with a broken wrist. Her name is Ava Lanza. Can you tell me
where she is?”

           
“Yes, she was brought into the E.R.” The receptionist
confirmed.

           
“Right, so are you going to tell me where she is, so I
can see her?” Cara asked her patience non-existent.

           
The receptionist lifted her head and eyed Cara. “Are you
family?”

           
Cara snarled. She knew the way shit worked in hospitals.
It didn’t matter how close you were to the patient, if you weren’t labeled
family, you were shit out of luck. She didn’t have time for nonsense and minor
details like, relations. “Of course I’m related.” She lied. “Now are you going
to tell me where she is?”

           
“How are you related?” The receptionist asked
skeptically.

           
“I’m her damn mother!” She reached over the counter and
grabbed the registrar. “You want to know my blood type too?” Cara asked as she
browsed the list of names, finding Ava’s. She dropped the book back onto the
counter and as a nurse exited the E.R. Cara, hurried to catch the doors before
the door locked and stormed in.

           
“You need to present I.D.!” The receptionist hollered
after her as she hurried into the E.R., the automatic doors locking behind her.
Cara knew she didn’t have much time before the witch followed her or called
security, so she frantically searched, pulling back curtains as she made her
way through the E.R.

           
“Sorry…” She said when she walked in on a nurse giving an
enema to a man. “Shit…” She closed her eyes at her choice of words and pulled
the curtain closed. She shook the image from her head and focused. “Ava?
Luke?!” She called out before spotting Leah staring at her as if she was crazy.
Leah was leaning against the nurse’s station writing something in a patient’s
chart when Cara came to a skidded stop in front of her. “Where are they?”

           
Leah opened her mouth to answer when security called out
from behind Cara.

           
“Stop that woman!” Said the overweight security guard
panting as he ran to catch up to the Nurse’s station.

           
“Fuck!” Cara blurted out and ran her fingers through her
hair. Yep, this was shaping up to be the worse day ever. She was exhausted and
emotionally drained. She was probably going to sleep for a month. She looked at
Leah, shit, she’d grovel if she had to. “Leah, please? They won’t let me see
her.”

           
Leah stared at her for a moment before lifting her head
to look at the security guard who was on the verge of a heart attack, trying to
catch his breath. “What seems to be the problem here?”

           
“This woman, stormed passed reception claiming to be some
kid’s mother and not showing any of the proper…” He gasped trying to catch his
breath. “… Identification.”

           
“Well, I can vouch for her.” She diverted her eyes to
Cara’s. “She’s who she says she is.”

           
“Thank you.” Cara breathed a sigh of relief.

           
“She’s right in there…” Leah said, pointing to a curtain
drawn cubicle.

           
Cara didn’t hesitate and started to walk in the direction
she had pointed to.

           
“Cara?” Leah called.

           
“Yeah?” She asked.

           
“Take care of them…” Leah said before turning her back to
Cara. Cara looked at her for a moment, watching as she escorted the security
guard back towards the lobby doors. Her fingers grasped the curtain and she
pulled it back in one swift motion. Luke’s eyes slowly lifted from Ava’s and
surprise flickered in them as they met Cara’s.

           
“Cara…” Her name came out as a whisper. Ava turned her
head and looked up at Cara, her eyes hopeful until they settled on Cara’s.

           
“Stay still sweetie, we’re almost done.” Dr. Meyers said.

           
Cara met Ava’s stare and smiled softly before walking to
her bedside and standing beside Luke. She swallowed against the lump in her
throat as Ava stared at her, the little girl looking at her as if she was a
figment of her imagination.

           
“Cara I broke my wrist.” She said miserably.

           
“I know baby. I know.” She leaned down and kissed her
cheek softly. “Stay still so the doctor can finish and we can take you home.”
She glanced over her shoulder at Luke. He stared at her with a blank expression
masking his handsome face. “Hi.” She whispered as her eyes found his.

           
“Hi…” He whispered hoarsely. There was so much he wanted
to say, yet he couldn’t form a single word. He just stared at her in awe. God,
did he miss her. She broke their gaze and turned back to Ava.

           
Cara glanced down noticing Ava and Luke’s joined hands,
slowly, she placed her hand over theirs and squeezed slightly, uniting them.

           
Luke opened the door to his house, stepping back, to let
Ava and Cara inside. After Ava’s arm was properly set, she had been discharged
from the hospital, being told to follow up with the doctor six to eight weeks
later to remove her cast. They had made a pit stop at Cara’s apartment to grab
Benny. Both girls missed the little beagle and if he was being completely
honest, he had missed the annoying pup too.
 
Luke didn’t ask questions, he didn’t even care why she was there, he was
just happy to have Cara by his side. He could tell his daughter was too by the
way she stuck to Cara like glue since they stepped outside the emergency room.

           
The Lanza clan had met them at the hospital. Deb and Sam
both flocked to Ava to offer her comforting words, but she never left Cara’s
side. Luke figured his daughter was just as scared of blinking and she’d be
gone, as he was. He assured his family, he could manage and that they could go
home. He didn’t doubt that he could handle this mishap with Ava, but more than
that, he wanted to be alone with Cara. He wanted to take her home with them and
confess to her what an ass he had been. He had come to realize he could live
without her, but that he just didn’t want to. He didn’t want to be alone
anymore. He wanted to be with Cara, heart, body and soul.

           
Luke closed the door quietly behind him, turning around
to face his girls. “Are you guy’s hungry? I can order something.”

           
“I’m just tired.” Ava said as she looked down as Benny
circled her legs. She lifted her head and glanced between her dad and Cara.
“Can Benny sleep with me tonight?”

           
Cara looked over her shoulder at Luke, watching as he
shoved his hands in his pockets and smiled. “Sure sweetie.” Cara pointed to
Benny. “You better be a good boy and take care of your sissy.” Benny barked
happily in response.

           
“Give me a minute and I’ll be right there to tuck you
in.” Luke said.

           
“Can Cara tuck me in, just tonight? Please?” Ava’s eyes
pleaded with her dad’s. He leaned down and kissed her forehead before rising to
meet Cara’s gaze, questioningly. He didn’t want to presume anything, but she
had come running when she heard of Ava’s accident. That had to mean something,
didn’t it? He swallowed, hating the idea of being so out of the loop when it
came to Cara.

           
“Is that okay with you?” He asked.

           
“Of course it is.” Cara said softly and took Ava’s good
hand in hers. “Give daddy a kiss.” She told Ava, watching as she rose on her
tip toes, to kiss Luke goodnight. He crouched down and enveloped his little
girl in a big hug, careful of her cast. He feathered both her cheeks with kisses.

           
“I love you.” He said quietly into her ear. “I’ll check
on you in a little while, okay?”

           
“Okay. I love you too.” She said with a smile, before
turning to face Cara. “Will you help me get into my Frozen pajamas?”

           
“Of course.” Cara said with a laugh and then slapped her
hand against her thigh. “Come on Benny, time for bed.” Benny barked, eagerly
running up the stairs ahead of them.

           
“I’m coming Benny!” Ava cheerfully said as she began to
climb the steps after her puppy. Cara watched Ava and Benny with a small smile
playing across her lips before she turned around and faced Luke.

           
He stared into her eyes, longingly, shoving his hands
into his pockets. “Thank you.” He muttered gruffly. “She’s missed you.” He
swallowed and broke the stare between them.

           
“I missed her too.” She gripped the bannister as she
chewed on her lip nervously. “Luke…”

           
“Cara…” They said at the same time.

           
“When Ava is asleep, we need to talk.” She said firmly
finding the courage within her to take charge of her heart. She watched him,
waiting for him to say something, but he didn’t. He merely nodded after a
moment and she turned, leaving him at the bottom of the stairs and went to tuck
in Ava, and make things right with the little girl who obviously had felt her
absence the last few weeks. She shook her head, disgusted with herself, that
she had even let it get this far.

           
Cara reached the doorway of Ava’s bedroom, pausing
slightly to listen to Ava talk sweetly to Benny.

           
“I missed you and Cara so much. Now that you both are,
here I’m going to do whatever it takes to make you both stay. If I have to call
Uncle Nick for back up I will. He owes me one.” She said as she rubbed the soft
fur between Benny’s floppy ears.

           
Cara knocked softly on the door before poking her head
inside. Ava lifted her head and smiled at Cara. “Am I interrupting quality
Benny time?” She asked with a wink before walking into the room.

           
“I was just telling Benny how much I missed him.” Ava
said, holding up her nightgown. “I’ve got my pajamas ready.”

           
“Okay.” Cara took a seat on the edge of her bed. “How
about we have a talk before we put it on?”

           
“Am I in trouble?”

           
“No, sweetie, of course not.” Cara ran her hand over
Ava’s blonde locks. “I just wanted to tell you I was sorry that I haven’t been
around that much.”

           
Ava looked into Cara’s eyes. “I missed you.” She
admitted.

           
“I missed you too.” She said hoarsely. “I missed you and
your dad so much.” Her voice catching as she spoke.

           
“Uncle Nick told me it wasn’t my fault. He said adults
sometimes need to be pushed in the right direction. He also said you and daddy
weren’t the brightest crayons in the box.”

           
Cara tilted Ava’s chin upward, forcing her to meet her
gaze. “Uncle Nick is a hundred percent right. You did nothing at all to cause
me to stay away. If we’re being completely honest, I never wanted to stay away
in the first place, but like Uncle Nick said, sometimes adults need a push in
the right direction. I needed a push to go after what I love. I love you, Ava.
I love you so much and I don’t ever want you to think you did anything wrong
when it comes to me and daddy. If anything you’ve given me more reasons to love
your dad.”

           
Ava smiled widely. “I knew you loved him.” She said
almost as triumphantly. “He loves you too you know? I can tell.”

           
Cara laughed slightly. “If I didn’t know better I’d say
you’ve been hoping your dad and I were together.” She winked.

           
Ava shrugged her shoulders. “Why not? He smiles a lot
when he’s with you. More than I can ever remember seeing him smile. And in case
you were wondering, you smile a lot more too.” She nodded to emphasize her
point. “Yep, you totally smile more around my dad.”

           
Cara leaned closer to her. “Is that so?” She asked, it
was amazing what a child’s eyes had the ability to see.

           
“Uh huh… So does this mean you are going to be…?” She
scratched her head as if to look for the right words. “If you’re my dad’s
girlfriend what does that make you to me?”

           
“Well, how about you just call me Cara for now? We’ll be
the best of friends.” She said with a soft smile.

           
“Do you think one day you’ll marry my dad? Because then
you can be like my mommy. I don’t have a mommy, so it would be okay if I called
you mom wouldn’t it?”

           
“Let me tell you something, Ava. I’d be the luckiest girl
in the world if one day you called me mom. It would be my biggest honor. Do you
know what that means?”

           
“It means you’re proud to do something. So you’d be proud
to be my mom.”

           
“Exactly,” Cara leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
“But for now, your dad and I need some time to get used to all of our feelings
for one another and when that time comes that’s something you and your dad
would have to talk about.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You and
your dad are a team.”

           
“Always, but I’m sure we could make you part of the team
too.” She said hopefully. “I’m being too pushy, aren’t I? Dad says I get that
from Aunt Sam, but I don’t see it.”

           
Cara laughed. “I think you’ve had a really big day and
need your rest.” She said taking the nightgown from the bed. “Let’s get you
tucked in and I promise we’ll talk more tomorrow.”

           
“Okay, but can you pinky promise me you won’t disappear
again? I really like it when you’re here.”

           
Cara held out her pinky, watching as Ava’s pinky wound
around hers. “I pinky promise.”

*
* * * *

           
Luke sat on his couch in the dark nursing a beer. He
stopped himself at least half a dozen times from going upstairs. He told
himself he’d have his turn. He needed to let Ava have her moment with Cara,
knowing how much she had been affected by her absence. Cara wasn’t just some
woman he was bedding. She had been a part of Ava’s life for years now and when
Luke opened his heart to her, it was only natural that Ava followed suit. Some
things were just inevitable and Luke was certain that Cara worming her way into
their hearts was just one of those things.

           
He brought the long neck bottle up to his lips taking a
slow pull as he lifted his eyes and found Cara descending the stairs. He slowly
brought the beer down from his mouth as she stepped off the bottom step. Her
eyes bore into his, causing him almost to forget to breathe. He leaned forward
and placed the beer on the coffee table before leaning back against the
cushions of the couch.

           
Cara crossed the living room, slipping her phone from her
back pocket. He watched her quietly as she plugged her phone into the docking
station on top of the cable box. He wasn’t sure what she was up to, nor did he
care, he was just happy to have her in front of him. His eyes wandered the
length of her body while she played with her phone. He cocked his head to the
side, drawing his eyebrows together, trying to figure her out. He probably
should say something, he thought, yet couldn’t find his voice.

           
She set the phone onto the docking station, turning around
to face him as music sounded softly from his speakers. She moved to stand
before him and remained silent for a moment. He stared up at her, wishing he
had turned on a light, so that he could see all her beautiful features
perfectly. She slowly held out a hand towards him.

           
“Dance with me?” She whispered.

           
Luke took a moment to process her request and listen to
the song she had chosen for them to dance to. The beat was slow as the singer
belted out profound words, professing that the person she was singing to was,
her world, her home, her dreams and her heart. He leaned forward and placed his
hand in hers. She took a step back, allowing him room to stand.

           
He rose to his full height and looked down at her as she
led him to the center of the living room. She reached up and wrapped one hand
around his neck, still holding onto his other, lacing their fingers together
and bringing it to rest over her chest. Luke closed his eyes, breathing in her
scent as he laid his free hand on the small of her back. Slowly they began to
sway in sync with one another. Cara leaned her head against his chest,
relishing in the closeness of him.

You’re my savior. You’re my center.
My beginning and my end…

           
“Who sings this?” He whispered into her ear, his voice
barely recognizable to his own ears.

           
“Carrie Underwood. It’s called Who Are You.” She spoke
softly, lifting her head to search his eyes.
 
“I figured we needed a song.”

           
“Why?” He asked, careful not to read too much into her
actions or her words.

           
“Well,” She stopped swaying and untangled their hands so
both of hers could slip around his neck. She looked up at him. “Every couple
needs a song. This is my song to you, this is our song.”

           
Luke froze as he stared at her warily. “Are you trying to
telling me something, Spunky?”

           
She nodded slowly before letting the hands that hung
loosely around his neck cup his face, her thumbs caressing the stubble that
lined his jaw.
           
“I love you, Luke.” She smiled
up at him as she spoke the words of her heart.