» The Hopper Legacy Chapter 1.3 - First Comes Love

Ava had settled into her new life in Riverview remarkably quickly. She’d gotten two promotions at work within a few months and had befriended most of her coworkers. She replanted the garden that had been destroyed by the meteor and it was thriving. Ava, in fact, was thriving. She had every reason to be happy, but one…

Ava had fallen hard for her best friend, Odin Crosby. He was handsome, kind, hard-working… and married. She lit up around him and was always in a great mood when they worked together, and he often visited her at home after work. Ava was beginning to sense that Odin had feelings for her, too. But she was crushed when he announced that his wife, Heather, was pregnant.

“Honestly,” Odin confided in her one night at the Bistro, “we’ve been having problems. I can’t shake the thought that Heather got pregnant on purpose to keep me around… I don’t even like children. But no, Heather wouldn’t do that…”

He trailed off and remained mostly silent for the rest of the night. Ava knew better than to press him for more details.

One night, Odin came over to visit Ava. Heather had recently given birth to a daughter, Lizette.

“She’s beautiful, Av. You know I don’t like kids in general.. but I love her so much already. I don’t care if she was conceived honestly, I’m just glad she exists.”

“That’s really wonderful, Odin. I think you’ll be a fantastic father,” said Ava, and he hugged her. She really was happy for him, truly. She just wished that she could have a family of her own.

“The thing is, Ava,” Odin said, looking down at the floor awkwardly, “you’re the only person I wanted to see after Lizette was born. I kept wishing it was your hand I was holding in the delivery room.”

Ava blushed furiously. She couldn’t believe he’d really said that! But it just made her sad. She didn’t want to come between a new family.

She began to object, “Odin, I-”

“No, Ava,” he interrupted, and his voice had grown stronger, “What I meant to tell you is that I’m divorcing Heather. I love my daughter and I don’t want her to grow up in a house full of resentment. I know you probably have no interest in a newly divorced dad. I’m just happy to have a friend like you right now.”

Ava couldn’t resist the urge to kiss him.

“I love you, you idiot.”

Then Ava did something crazy. Decades later, Ava would tell her grandkids this story while they looked up at her with wide eyes, and even then she would have no rational explanation for her actions. She ran back to her bedroom and grabbed a gaudy piece of jewelry from her dresser. She knelt on the splintery wooden floor of her tiny house.

“Odin Crosby, you’re my soulmate. Will you marry me?”