“You’re going back there?” Mike asked, incredulous. “I’m done with that place.”
Ava shook her head with a laugh. “I have one last drawer to clean out.”
“Suit yourself.” He held open an arm toward her. “Bring it here, kid.”
She stepped into the hug. “You do know I’m around the same age as you.”
“Yeah.” He grinned. “I know.”
“Viel Glück,” she said, wishing him luck in Swiss. She had spent a week studying it as she vacillated over her decision before finally turning the offer down.
Mike’s brow crinkled. “Huh?”
“It’s Swiss,” she laughed.
“Yeah, I knew that.” He offered a reassuring nod and clapped her on the shoulder. “Let me know if you ever want to come join me. It’d be great to work with you again.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” She embraced Alfie and Theo before taking her departure, refusing to think of James as she did so.
Back at the office, she didn’t last long before the heavy meal in her stomach left her eyelids feeling leaden. She pushed up from her seat and made her way to the back room where a pot of restorative coffee was always at the ready.
Her heels clicked over the glossy floor as she turned the corner and stopped short. Mr. Sims stood near the coffeepot, his large hand braced on the vanilla speckled Formica countertop, his head bowed.
This was clearly a moment of a man needing his privacy and yet Ava could not bring herself to leave.
“Mr. Sims,” she said softly.
He straightened and cleared his throat, opening his mouth to speak before closing it again only to shake his head. His gaze slid away. And then his chin trembled.
Ava said nothing but strode over to him and opened her arms. He sagged against her, his breath warm where he sniffled against her shoulder and the bulk of his large body trembled with the power of his grief. He stayed there for a long moment, clinging to her the way Noah did when he would wake from a nap after a nightmare.
There was something so humbling about witnessing such a proud man forced to bend under the weight of loss. She knew the burden well and wouldn’t wish it upon anyone.
“I’m so sorry,” she said gently.
“He always wanted to make me proud,” Mr. Sims said raggedly.
“You’ve never been anything less,” Ava offered in reassurance. “He knew that.”
The older man straightened, his eyes bloodshot and his nose red. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and gave her a grateful nod. “Don’t you have a desk to finish cleaning out, Harper?” His question lacked its usual sharpness. “You know you won’t get paid extra.”
“Yes, sir, I do.” She turned, leaving him to recover in peace.
It didn’t take long to sift through one final stack of papers. When she was done, she handed the box to be destroyed to Peggy.
“I’ll be joining you in DC sooner than later,” the secretary said. “I expect you to show me around all the good dance halls and jazz clubs.”
Ava chuckled. “I’m not sure how adept I’ll be at that, but I can give you a personal tour of the Library of Congress.”
“I’ll take it.” Peggy beamed and gave her one final hug. “Have a safe flight.”
Once upon a time, Ava would have shuddered at the mention of flying. Though she still didn’t relish the idea, it didn’t terrify her anymore. In the last year and a half, she had been trailed by the PVDE, stalked by a Nazi, and duped by a spy. Daniel had jumped out of planes on a beach in Normandy and fought for his life. Even more powerful was what she had witnessed of others in her time in Portugal.