Being caught in a very awkward situation was embarrassing enough. But that was not the worst part of it, so it seemed. Explaining what the problem was.
"I am sorry about the mess, Doc." Looking at the kitchen that was spotless a few minutes ago.
Now, her index finger touched the white powdery substance covering the table before her, creating a flowery pattern on the wooden surface. It was all over the place and even covered most of the floor.
"Just call me, Jace." He interrupted her. "All my friends do." His head turned and scanned his surrounding. "What happened here?" He finally asked, putting down the utensil near the pan.
Avana could imagine what he must be thinking when he walked into the room, finding her slumping in her seat with a spatula in her hand and uncooked meat behind her, sitting on a pan.
"I was hungry and was thinking of cooking." She opted to tell him the truth. "But, I could not even make the stove work." Her frustration was evident in the way the air escaped through her lips.
Still, that did not explain the clutter that sheathed the entire room and herself. But that was an entirely different story that required more explanation.
"You can't cook, Ava." Another familiar tiny voice interrupted them, making her look at the newcomer standing by the door with his face covered in disbelief. "But you are a grown-up."
"Not everyone could cook, Kiev." Jace interrupted the little boy as he took a broom and a mop out of a closet and walked over to the boy. "Why don't you make yourself useful by helping us clean this place while I cook lunch."
"I should be the one cleaning this mess." Avana stood up from her seat. But before she could reach the boy, a hand suddenly held her by the shoulders in place.
"You can help by wiping the table clean." Jace waved a rag in front of her. "Kiev had the floor covered." Winking at the boy, who nodded his head proudly.
The Doc, or Jace, had already started the fire, showing her where she had gone wrong. Stupidly enough, she forgot to open the gas source. Of course, the stove would not work without fuel.
"So, Kiev already created a nickname for you," Jace said, using it to break the awkward silence as they all performed their task. "Ava." He repeated her name as if testing how it sounded in his ears. "It suits you."
"I do like it." She admitted, looking at their young helper. Nobody had ever tried calling her by that name. "But you also have a nice name, Jace."
The little boy made himself quite useful as he enthusiastically swept the floor of all the white materials, making the floor spotless again. Her head nodded in approval, giving him a thumbs-up, and the boy responded with a bow.
After wiping most surfaces covered with the flour completely clean, she watched Jace finish the meat he was cooking, standing not far beside him.
"What about me?" The little boy seemed not happy to be left out as he stood behind the doctor.
"Of course, you have a great name. It probably meant something like a brave warrior or a courageous leader." She knelt to his level to look him in the eye.
She knew she was making up meanings. Still, in her opinion, the boy seemed to have great potential. He was not afraid to say what was on his mind.
A trait most kids possessed until they were robbed of their innocence and slapped in the face with the truth. The reality was that life was not as black and white as it seemed.
"Yes, that is me." Proudly accepting the compliment. "But I also think that your name resembles a flower." His little hand extended to feel her face, running his soft fingers across her cheek. "Beautiful."
She could feel her cheeks burning from embarrassment upon seeing the flour covering those short fingers, remembering her earlier mishaps.
However, she could not help but think of how many girls would swoon over this boy from his charms. He was wise, mature for his age, and definitely handsome, just like his father.
A second later, he laughed with her, finding the moment silly like her. His laughter was enough to fill the entire room. Suddenly, her embarrassment and her awkwardness vanished, enjoying the moment.
"If you two have completed your chores, I suggest you clean up Ava for a bit. So, we can eat." Jace suggested, pointing to her situation. "You can use the room beside the clinic. There are a few new clothes in there that you can use."
The doctor walked toward her, then handed her a key. "It can be your room while you are here." He offered before returning to the stove.
After a few minutes, she returned to the kitchen, wearing her new clean clothes. She did take a quick shower in the adjacent bathroom to rid herself of the sticky flour.
"You still have not told us what happened." The boy looked at her as they sat at the table while Jace served the savory meat and some steamed corns and carrots on the side.
The growl in her stomach again protested, demanding that she satisfy her hunger first before answering the boy. She wondered if they could hear that or if it was just her.
"Kiev, stop harassing Ava." Jace mildly chastised the boy. "Let her eat first before asking her again." It made her smile, appreciating that Jace was always saving her at every turn. The boy finally fell into silence, eating his small share. Although, his eyes suggested that he was not yet through with her.
After taking more than half of what was on her plate, her stomach had finally calmed down. The three apples she had consumed earlier did not do much. But the red piece of protein had worked like a charm, making her slightly feel full and some room for more.
"Now, can you tell us what happened?" Kiev asked impatiently, dropping his fork, waiting anticipatingly for her story.
How can she disappoint the young boy with a good story?
"A wild wolf came inside the kitchen as I was about to cook." She began narrating. "Its growl was so frightening I had to hide behind the counter." Seeing the wild eyes of the young child, quite fascinated with her tale, she continued creating her make-believe story.
However, the simple truth was. It was just clumsiness that had caused all this mess, nothing more. No wolf rummaged the kitchen looking for food. Technically, there was. It was her.
"I know you can cook." That was what the boy concluded from her story. Enchanted by her story but not frightened by it.
Jace started snickering, trying hard not to laugh, but eventually, she could not help it as her lips widened and loud chuckles came out of her mouth. All of them smiled, enjoying their meal.
"Well, finish your food. You still have school to attend." Watching the father and son interact with each other. She found it adorable how he cut the kid's meat into small pieces.
"Yes, Dad," Kiev answered him with enthusiasm, seemingly excited to go to his school. After a while, the boy excused himself, leaving just the two of them.
"Kiev seemed to be a young, fine man just like you. Full of curiosity." She complimented, taking the plates from the table and moving them towards the kitchen sink. "I truly adored your son, Jace.
Suddenly her thought came back to his wife. She wondered why she did not join them for lunch. But she might be busy with something else.
"Yes, Kiev is a remarkable young boy," Jace answered her with a faraway look in his eyes. As if he remembered something. "But he is not my son." Taking over washing the dishes. "He is an orphan."
"Oh!" She did not expect that answer as her eyes turned to the window, seeing the young boy with his bag on his back, walking along the pavement, probably on his way to school.
Suddenly, her respect for the man standing behind her had doubled, maybe tripled, learning the sacrifice he made by raising a kid that was not his.
He was indeed a man who loved taking care of strays like the boy and her. Her eyes returned to the man, busily cleaning the dishes. Her heart convinced her that she could trust this good doctor.