Unbeknownst even to him, Beau stepped out of his car that was parked in front of Ava's home and began walking toward her doorway. He didn't even know what he'd begin to say to her, but he knew deep down if he wanted his life to change, he needed to start undoing all of the wrong things he'd done. She most certainly deserved an apology.
He nervously fumbled his hands before he pressed her doorbell and waited. He heard footsteps immediately, but was not prepared for the moment when she opened the door, her eyes streaming tears harder than Niagara Falls.
"Oh God, what the fuck do you want?" she shouted at him, clearly not happy to see him in the least bit.
"I came to apologize, what's going on? Are you okay?"
"No, I'm not fucking okay! My mom was in a car wreck and now she's in critical condition," her voice echoed pain throughout her doorway.
"I'm so sorry to hear that."
"I have to go to the hospital now," she started digging through her bag to find her car keys, in such a panicked mess that she couldn't find them. "Where the fuck are my keys?" she continued to cry until she threw her purse to the ground before her own body as well.
"Ava, you are in no condition to drive. Please, let me take you. What hospital?"
"Vancouver central," she whimpered.
Beau got onto his knees beside her and helped lift her back up. In his best, most soothing voice, he decided to take the helm and be a real man to someone for once. "It's going to be okay, I'm here for you. I won't leave your side."
Slowly, he helped her stand up and picked up her purse before escorting her outside. He made sure her front door was locked behind them and continued carrying her weakened body over to his passenger side. He opened the door for her, helped her sit down, and ran along to his own side before making his way across town.
The entire ride Beau listened to her cry, trying his best to say the right words. He wasn't someone who knew how to be comforting, but he knew he had to change. Not just for Ava, or Victoria, but for himself. He needed to rid himself of this hardened, cynical attitude of his and be more compassionate.
Beau spent the entire day with Ava sitting in the waiting area of the emergency room. He checked on her mother relentlessly, helped her calm down, and made sure she ate something and stayed hydrated. As much as she had been crying, Beau knew her body had no water left. He'd met her mother previously, just once, when they dated a few years prior. She was a nice woman, both of them were. Beau was sorry that the entire situation turned the way it did. Maybe he should have stayed with her, maybe his only reasoning for finding her too clingy was because he himself didn't want anyone in his life.
'I've been such a fool,' he thought to himself.
"Beau, why are you doing this for me?" Ava cut off his thoughts. The room was silent now, the sun had set, and they were the only ones left waiting.
"Because…I've been a fucking asshole to you, and I hate myself for it. I have to change, and I decided you of all people I owed my apology to the most."
"That's very big of you, and I appreciate it. Not just that, but for today. I can only assume something major happened for you to have this change of heart."
"Uh…well…"Beau didn't want to talk about what had happened. Even though he swore to himself that he'd be a better person and stop worrying what others thought of him, the entire situation did still bring him shame.
"The student?"
"Yes, her," Beau quietly answered her.
"What happened?"
"Wouldn't it make you uncomfortable to hear this?"
"Of course not. I'm your friend."
"I appreciate that. Thanks. It ended because I was a pompous jackass who, as you know, was embarrassed to let anyone know I was seeing her. I was scared of what my colleagues would think of me if they found out I was with her. I ditched her in public when I ran into the Dean. I dumped her because I didn't agree with her job, which would have been even more shameful if anyone at the college had known. I still don't agree with what does for a living, but she has very good reasons, and I cannot judge her for that."
"So, what happens next?"
"Your guess is as good as mine. I just know that this way that I've been living, it's gotten me absolutely nowhere, and if I want my life to change, it has to start from within."
"Wise words Professor Edison."
"And for what it's worth Ava, I'm really sorry for everything. I was such a jerk to you, and it was so despicable of me to use you just to hide my secret. I can't even believe I did something so horrendous over something so minuscule. I hope you can forgive me. You're a wonderful woman."
"Thank you Beau, that means a lot to me. And I'm sorry too."
"What? For what? You've done absolutely nothing wrong."
"Oh come on, I was a total basket case when we dated. I was going through a bad phase, and I took it out on you. I know I was clingy. One day I woke up, and I was just like, why the hell did I act that way? I don't even know who that person was anymore. I'm so embarrassed that I acted that way. You had every reason to run away from me."
"Well, I'm sorry any of it happened, but I'm glad to see we're both bigger people as a result."
"I'll agree with that."
Beau and Ava smiled at each other, enjoying this beautiful harmony the two had found in the midst of their own self discoveries.
"Ms. Poynette? Your mother would like to see you," the nurse interrupted them.
Ava jumped up with relief so strong and nearly began sprinting until something in her heart held her back.
"Come on Beau!" she laughed.
"What? You want me to go in there?" Beau was completely startled. What business did he have being in there?
"Of course. You've been here all this time for what?"
"I didn't think you'd want me in there. I'm sure your mother doesn't like me."
"Nonsense, we don't hold grudges in the Poynette family."
Beau stood up with glee and began walking with both her and the nurse to a room down the corridor. They both entered to find Ava's mother laying in a bed, a large bandage over half of her head.
"Mom!!!" Ava cried as she hugged her mom. It didn't take but a few seconds until she started crying tears both of joy and sadness.
"Oh stop your crying young lady, you have a boyfriend here!"
Ava pulled away and wiped her face.
"He's not my boyfriend, he's an ex, but a friend. You remember Beau?"
Ava stepped aside to let her mother take in a full view of Beau's tall stature.
"Of course I remember you, honey! How many red headed men do you think walk into my house?"
They all laughed, Beau feeling slightly less nervous. He didn't feel he belonged in this room or in their lives, but it seemed as though they were big hearted people who didn't let old situations ruin their every day for the rest of their days. Perhaps this was an approach that he too needed to take. He never thought he'd see a day where Ava would even look at him, let alone with a smile, for what he had done to her and yet here they were, doing just that.
"Hi Ms. Poynette," Beau reached over to hug her as well, and even kissed her on the cheek.
"Beau was so wonderful, he drove me over here and he's been here the entire time."
"Well aren't you a sweet heart. That means a lot to me."
"It was an honour to help in any way that I could," Beau spoke honestly. This moment felt so good. All of that fear, all of that former hostility, eye rolling at being a hero, it was all gone faster than her car crash.
"So, tell me what happened?" Ava asked her mom.
"Some jackass ran a red light and t boned me on as I was getting onto the Coquitlam highway. Oh he's going to get a big ole bill from me alright! But he was pretty cute, maybe I'll just put him to work at the house to make up for it. Wouldn't hurt to have some eye candy around for a while."
Ms. Poynette had such a good attitude about everything. If he'd been in a car wreck, he'd only be readying a lawsuit and thinking about as usual, life had chosen him to strike down on. Yet here this woman was, in a hospital bed in pain, and still joking about her bad luck.
"If you need help around the house, I'd love to help you," he spoke up.
"Do you mean it?" Ava asked him. "Ever since dad died, there's been a few things we've struggled with."
"Yes, anything I can do, let me know. I should just warn you, I'm not a very good handy man, but I can write a damn good essay to a company on why you should get a discount," he joked. Ava and her mother laughed at Beau's comment. "Really, if you need a man about the house, I will do what I can."
"Thank you Beau, you're such a sweet heart," her mother thanked him.
"Beau, it's pretty late and you have class tomorrow, you should go home now."
"Don't you need a ride?"
"I think I'll stay overnight and catch a cab in the morning. Let me walk you to the lobby."
"Oh, okay. It was good to see you again, Ms. Poynette, and again anything, just ask."
"Will do. Bye."
Beau and Ava made their way to the front lobby of the hospital where Beau waited for the valet to return his car. Even though told himself he'd stop using valets because they were a waste of money and encouraged laziness and hierarchy, he threw that notion out of the window today to comfort Ava.
"Thank you for everything today, it really means a lot to both of us."
"It was nothing."
"And hey, the whole thing with your student. Whatever this problem is, this shameful secret, I guarantee you, it's not worth being unhappy. I mean think about it, I made a total ass of myself to you when we dated, and I'm still here talking to you, and I moved on from it. Who gives a fuck what other people think about you? If this girl is as amazing as you think she is, she's worth every ounce of you feeling uncomfortable.
"You have no idea how uplifting that is, thank you for saying that."
The valet arrived with Beau's car, but Beau couldn't leave without a proper goodbye. He reached over and hugged her tightly the way he should have when they dated but never did. "Let's keep in touch, okay. Let me know if there is anything I can do, anytime, I mean it. You have my phone number."
"And you have mine. Bye Beau."
"Bye Ava."
Beau walked around to his car door and tipped the valet before having a seat.
When he made his way down the road, he couldn't help but notice the genuine look of happiness implanted in his eyes as he glanced in his rear view mirror. Could it be? Being a nice person was such a good feeling that it completely surpassed the feeling of being important at a social event? The flashing of a high value ticket to an usher? The walk to a VIP table at an exclusive restaurant?
It was. In fact, it was a far greater feeling. He'd stop at nothing to make sure this wasn't just some one time, random gesture of kindness, but a regular stop on the route to a better life.