Chapter Thirteen

Once Ada found her way back to town, she was feeling better and decided to wander around aimlessly through the night. While it was dark out, the night was still young. She didn’t want to go home just yet. Ada knew that as soon as she got home, she would be checking every window and door to make sure they were locked every hour, living in fear that she could potentially be stuck in an enclosed area with a horrible person. Even though she was afraid of being out in the dark alone, she was more fearful of being cornered.

She knew her mother wouldn’t be home for another few hours, so she wouldn’t know about Ada’s late-night stroll.

While she was walking, she found herself standing in front of Ewan’s grandparents’ house. She stood there, looking at the quaint white, small, two-story home that had a cute little picket fence surrounding the property. An archway with a gate met the sidewalk with a stone footpath that led to the front door. A swing hung from the ceiling on the front porch. The yard even contained numerous different types of flowers that followed the footpath, lined the porch, and continued around the house and property. The look of the house reminded her of an old sitcom. This cute little house would make observers believe that a nice, trusting family lived there and as if you would be safe within its walls.

Before Ada could comprehend what she was doing, she had already knocked on the door. Panic filled her and she was ready to run when an elderly man answered the door.

“Hello, there.” The man’s gruff voice greets her. He wore a welcoming, warm smile. The older man had gray hair and was balding, with a receding hairline. He wore a button-up short-sleeved shirt which was tucked into his neatly pressed, tan pants. This man truly cared about his appearance and made sure he dressed nicely, even if he was just at home.

Ada smiles back at the man. “Hi, my name is Ada. I’m a friend of Ewan’s.” She says, feeling comfortable with him.

The little old man’s blue eyes lit up. “Oh, so you’re the famous Ada that we’ve been hearing about for the past few months.” He grinned, opening the door wider allowing her inside. “Please, take a seat. Make yourself at home, sweetie.”

Inside the house was warm and smelled of roses. The living room had furniture that appeared to have been bought in the ’90s, but was still soft, looked hardly used, and was surprisingly still very comfortable. A large, newer model TV hung from the wall opposite the couch. Underneath the TV was a table filled with pictures and little knick-knacks.

On her way to the living room, a mirror was on the wall. She quickly scanned her makeup as Ewan’s grandfather closed the front door, to make sure that her eyeliner hadn’t rolled down her cheeks. She quickly tried to wipe away the imperfections on the sleeve of her jacket before his grandfather came walking up to lead her into the other room.

As Ada took a seat, an elderly woman walked in. She wore a lot of expensive-looking jewelry. Her smile was as warm and inviting as her husband’s. “Well, hello.” Her sing-song voice welcomes enthusiastically. Ewan’s grandmother had her brown, curly hair put up in a neat bun and adorned a pretty, lightweight floral dress. Even her makeup was perfect.

“Darling, this is Ada.” Her husband states with a knowing smile.

Her face brightened even more. She walks over to Ada in excitement. “It’s so nice to finally meet you!” Would you like something to eat or drink?”

“No, thank you,” Ada replied with a smile, examining the immaculate woman in front of her. She was completely dumbfounded as to how these two lovely people could raise a person who treats their children horribly.

Ewan’s grandmother sat down next to her as his grandfather went upstairs to fetch Ewan.

“I’m so glad to finally meet you!” The older woman states again. “Ewan has been talking about you constantly. That boy is positively smitten with you!”

Ada blushed. “Really?” She paused for a moment. “I had no idea.”

“Oh, yes. Every day he has a new story to tell us.” She replies, examining Ada further. “We are so happy that he decided to come to stay with us and just so grateful that you have helped him with his classes.” Ewan’s grandmother places a hand on Ada’s arm, making Ada tense. “He has had such a terrible start in life.” Sadness filled her eyes. “When he asked to move in before the school year started, we were so relieved.” She pulls her hand away from Ada, as her relief became melancholy. “My daughter has made all my grandchildren’s lives a living hell.”

The atmosphere in the room changed dramatically. Ada felt a little uncomfortable at this point and a loss for words. She didn’t expect the woman to reveal so much to her already. Ewan’s grandmother may have heard a lot about Ada, but this is the first time she met them. But, she was able to utter, “Well, I’m glad I was able to help Ewan with his studies, but he is the one that has found his way to the right path.”

To this his grandmother smiled warmly as the memories of her daughter and the pain she caused this sweet old lady, subsiding from her mind. “I’m sorry for unloading that on you, my dear. I know I barely know you, personally, but, as Ewan has mentioned, you have a certain air about you that makes people feel safe.”

Ada smiles at the elderly woman in response.

Ewan broke the following silence with his presence. He entered the room, looking annoyed and angry. When his eyes rested on Ada, his agitation was replaced by surprise and embarrassment. He froze in place, staring at her.

“I’ll let you two talk.” The grandmother states as she gets up and excuses herself to the kitchen.

His eyes were wide, staring at Ada in disbelief. “What are you doing here?” He questions in awe.

Ada stands up, “Do you want to go for a walk?” She questions awkwardly.

Ewan nods, grabbing his jacket, calling out to his grandparents that he was going for a walk, before heading outside after Ada.

They walk in silence for a few blocks. Ada wanted to talk to him, to say something to break the quiet, but every thought fell flat.

Finally, Ewan begins. “I have to admit, when my grandpa came in my room saying I had a visitor, I did not expect to see you sitting down talking to my grandma.”

“Who did you think it would be?” Ada questioned curiously.

“I was pretty sure that I would either be setting my eyes on my mother or brother.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. But, I should’ve known better. My grandparents don’t allow them in their house because they’ve been caught stealing on multiple occasions. They were skeptical of me living with them at first because of them.”

Ada became sad, imagining not being able to allow their child and grandchild in their house because of their behavior. Because they were drug addicts who steal, lie, and everything else to get their fix. It was a reality that was so foreign to her.

Busy in her daydream, of the heart-wrenching reality, she doesn’t say anything.

“I thought you were on your date.” Ewan retorts with a slight bitterness in his voice.

“I was, but he turned out to be an ass,” Ada responded, leaving the subject at that.

“Huh…” he responded indifferently.

She ignores his response, feeling that he may be bordering on the ‘I told you so,’ side when she felt the need to continue their discussion from earlier that evening. “Ewan, I still don’t understand why you’ve been so mad at me lately.” She began quietly. “But I want to just forget all of it and things to go back the way they were. I really need you right now.”

Ewan pauses midstride. “You need me?” He said in a condescending tone.

Ada’s blood ran cold, stopping at his words. Why is he taking this tone with me?

“You don’t need me.” He started, his body becoming tense. “You only want me around because you think I’m sort of a safety net for you. You only need me because I’m the only person who knows how to calm you down.” His voice started to rise with anger as he became more defensive. "Your date didn’t go the way you planned so you just come running to me—"

“What are you even talking about?” Ada started with anger, stepping closer to him. “You know none of that is true! How can you even misconstrue what I said?” She declared angrily with a fire burning in her eyes. “Yeah, maybe I do come to you when I need someone to talk to, or if I’m frightened. But I can’t help everyone else’s touch makes me cringe, making me scared. I can’t help that you’re the only person I feel comfortable around to talk to or just be myself.” Her voice rose with every new sentence as it was as much of a revelation for her as it was for him.

Ewan’s face became red with embarrassment with the display he had just performed. "Ada, I—"

“No, Ewan, you listen to me. No one else in this town can even comprehend what we have gone through. All we have is each other and you let me down. You told me that no matter what you would always be there if I needed you and you weren’t. I needed you more and more each day, and you just left me.” She yelled, tears streaming down her face. Ada hadn’t realized that she had started crying. Her voice now low, “And now you come at me with that crap! You know me better than that. Or at least I thought you did.” She stated sadly.

He steps closer to her, surprised by the emotion Ada displayed. Ewan had no idea that he had hurt her so badly. Guilt consumed him as he grabbed Ada, wrapping his arms around her. Whispering, “I’m so sorry, Ada,” into her ear.

She embraces him, tightening her grip around him while sobbing into his chest. Ada breathes in his familiar scent that soothes her; a scent that reminded her of the ocean. Everything that happened over the past few weeks to earlier that night, just spilled out of her as she cried.