Chapter Eight - Fletcher

I knew deep down it was not right to leave Ava alone today. However, I couldn’t think of one thing to say to the woman I just married. She’d been so nervous during the ceremony. Her gaze was shifty and the preacher had to repeat himself. Did she even hear what we agreed to back there? Then to leave her alone in my house without so much as a goodbye? I was the epitome of a complete dickhead. Parking in front of the restaurant on Central, I got out and walked toward the door to unlock it. We didn’t open the doors until 10, but the back doors were unlocked because the cooks arrived early to prep the kitchen. Their chatter stopped when they heard the door open. Tony poked his head around the corner to see who arrived. "Good morning, Boss!" Tony shouted from the kitchen window. "Good morning," I said, turning to walk down the hallway. I halted when I turned. The office door was cracked open and light spilled outward. I knew my father well enough to know that he hadn’t left it unlocke