109

Ava arrived at the cafe almost half an hour early. It wasn’t just that she liked to be on time for her appointments, it was also to make sure that the four women she had with her blended in to the crowd. She didn’t want to spook Fatima and Luka’s mother. Ava ordered a pot of tea and some cherry pie. She glanced at the table where three of her bodyguards sat and then at the table where the fourth one was drinking her coffee. Ava tried to look at it objectively and she thought they blended in with the rest of the guests. She took the extra time to relax and enjoy her treat.
“Ava,” Fatima greeted her as she came walking.
“Fatima, it’s nice to see you again so soon,” Ava said, standing up to give her friend a hug. Fatima looked around and gave Ava a questioning look. Ava smiled at her friend and gave a discreet nod towards the table with the one bodyguard. She felt a little bad towards her friend that she didn’t disclose the other three. But she knew it was for the best. Fatima nodded and waved another woman over. The woman carried a tray with two cups of coffee on it. She didn’t look up and made sure not to meet anyone’s eyes. Fatima took the tray from her as she arrived, placed it on the table and placed her hand on the woman’s shoulder.
“Ava, this is Grace, Luka’s mother. Grace, this is my friend Ava who is looking after Luka,” Fatima introduced them. Grace hesitated but then looked up at Ava, ava found herself looking into the same eyes that Luka had. She smiled at the woman.
“Hello, Grace. It’s nice to meet you. Luka can’t stop talking about you, so I have been looking forward to meeting you,” Ava said.
“He has? Is he here?” Grace asked, looking around.
“I’m sorry, but I didn’t bring him. I didn’t know what was waiting and I wanted to keep him safe.” Grace looked defeated.
“Oh, right. Yeah I can understand that,” she told Ava. The three of them sat down and sipped on their drinks.
“Is it true that Jonas is gone?” Grace asked after a while.
“In a way. He isn’t dead, but he is close to it. He will be trapped where he is for years to come. He won’t be able to hurt you,” Ava told her. Grace nodded.
“How is Luka?” Ava smiled at the question.
“He is doing good. He was a little scared with all the men moving around. But now he is doing fine. He has everyone wrapped around his little finger and I’m afraid he may be a bit spoiled. The doctor has seen him, and he tells us there is nothing wrong with him, he just needs to gain some weight. With his appetite, that hasn’t been an issue,” Ava told her with a smile. “He misses you and he likes to tell me stories about what the two of you used to do. He is a really good boy, you did a good job raising him,” she added. A quiet sob escaped Grace.
“I’m so grateful to you that you have taken him in. I miss him like crazy, but a part of me questions if he wouldn’t be better off away from me. That’s why it took so long for Fatima to contact you. She had to convince me that Luka would be better off with me. I was thinking he would be better off staying with you,” she confessed.
“Oh no. Don’t feel like that,” Ava said. “He loves you and even if he is okay with staying with us, he misses you like crazy. Sure, we may be able to give him more toys and a fancy house. But that is materialistic things. That is easy to fix. What he needs is his mother,” Ava told her.
“I struggled. Jonas wouldn’t let me buy enough food and he would punish Luka for just being there. I tried to protect Luka. But I always failed,” Grace said.
“You didn’t. Luka is well adjusted for growing up with someone like Jonas. I think you did a better job than you give yourself credit for.” Grace gave her a weak smile.
“That is kind of you. But the whole situation with Jonas is my fault. I should never have let that man into our lives.”
“Don’t be too hard on yourself. A close friend of mine fell for him as well. He got out, but it took a lot from him,” Ava said.
“Him? Are you talking about Gabe?” Grace asked. Ava was surprised.
“I am. Do you know him?”
“No. But Jonas used to talk about him. All the time. He is obsessed with him. Are your friend safe?” Grace told her.
“He is safe. His new boyfriend will keep him safe, as will our family and it was because of him that we have made sure Jonas is no longer a threat,” Ava let her know. Grace looked relieved. Ava liked her. She could see the damage Jonas had done to Grace, at least the ones on the surface. But she seemed stable and it was clear she loved Luka. “How about we talk a little about the future? As you have understood, I, and my husband, has become attached to Luka and we feel for your situation. I also know that you probably don’t have it in you to trust my family. I understand. But let me tell you what I would like to do for you,” Ava started. Grace looked to Fatima. Fatima nodded.
“At least hear her out. She has a terrible taste in men, but otherwise she is a good person,” she told Grace. Ava overlooked the jab at Zane. Grace nodded at Ava.
“I will go home and talk to Luka, let him know I have found you. then we can arrange a hand over later this afternoon. Zane will probably insist on coming along for that, but I’ll make sure he won’t come anywhere close to you. I will get the both of you new identities, fool proof, the best you can get. I won’t know your new identity. The only one who will know your new names is the man that will create it and you. I will also give you five million dollars in untraceable cash. It should be enough for the two of you to start over anywhere you want. We will give you an additional million to be placed into an account for Luka’s future. If that will be school, travel or whatever he wants to do with his life. After that you will never see us again. We won’t track you; we won’t try to find you. I will give you a phone number and a code word. If you get in trouble of any kind, you call the number and say the code word and help will be provided for you.” Ava stopped talking and sipped on her tea as she watched the two women at her table. They just looked at her with big eyes.
“W-what?” Fatima finally managed to say.
“We’re not interested in monitoring Grace and Luka. We just want Luka to be safe and happy. After meeting Grace I’m more than convinced that she will make that happen given the right conditions. Zane and I are in a place where we can give her those. And we are happy to do it,” Ava said.
“Y-you are giving me five million dollars?” Grace asked.
“Yes. I know it sounds like a lot and had you mentioned that number to me two years ago I would have reacted the same way you are now. But things change and it’s not a big of a number as one might think. But it will give the two of you a good start.”
“Thank you,” Grace said.
“You will accept?” Ava asked.
“I would be an idiot not to. It will give Luka the life he has always deserved,” Grace told her. Ava nodded.
“How about we meet up by the swings in the park by the hospital in two hours? The identity papers will take a day to get done. But I think you can remain in Fatima’s care with Luka until then and I will let Fatima know when they are done and where to collect them. Does that sound good?” Ava asked.
“Yes, it sounds perfect, thank you. I can use a day or two to plan where I want us to go,” Grace said.
“Then I think we have a plan, my friends. I will remain here for ten minutes longer, so you don’t have to worry about my bodyguard,” Ava told them. They all stood up and this time Ava got a hug from both women before they left. She was content with the meeting, even if it would be hard to let Luka go. Ava placed a hand on her stomach. Zane and she would have their hands full in a couple of months. She couldn’t wait.