Chapter 7: Curious Ender

As Avan sat back down, Ender's eyes darted between him and Ashley, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Who are you?" Ender asked, his voice squeaking with uncertainty. Avan smiled warmly at Ender. "I'm Avan, like I said. I'm someone your mom works with." Ender looked at Ashley, then back at Avan, his eyes searching for answers. "How do you know Mommy?" he asked, his voice filled with curiosity. Ashley smiled, trying to gauge how much to reveal to Ender. "Avan and I work together, buddy. We've become friends over the years." Ender's eyes narrowed, his gaze still fixed on Avan. "Mommy, how does he know you?" he asked, looking up at Ashley with a questioning expression. Ashley took a deep breath, trying to think of a simple way to explain her relationship with Avan. "Well, Ender, Avan and I work in the same office. We often have lunch together and talk about our work." Ender's eyes flicked back to Avan, his expression still uncertain. Avan, sensing Ender's confusion, decided to try and break the ice. "Hey, Ender, I've heard so much about you from your mom. She's told me all about how smart and brave you are." Ender's face lit up slightly at the praise, but he still looked unsure. Ashley could see the wheels turning in his head as he tried to process this new information. She decided to intervene, hoping to put Ender's mind at ease. "Ender, why don't we sit down and get you that cupcake you were asking about?" she suggested, trying to steer the conversation back to more familiar territory. Ender's face brightened at the mention of cupcakes, and he nodded enthusiastically. As they sat down, Avan asked, "So, Ender, what kind of cupcake are you thinking of getting?" Ender's eyes widened as he scanned the menu. "I want the one with the chocolate frosting!" he exclaimed. Ashley laughed and smiled at Avan. "I think that's a great choice," she said, feeling a sense of relief that the conversation was starting to flow more easily. As they ordered their cupcakes and waited for them to arrive, Ender continued to ask questions about Avan and his relationship with Ashley. Avan answered patiently, trying to reassure Ender that he was someone Ashley trusted and cared about. Ashley watched, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Avan for being understanding and kind. She knew that this was just the beginning of a new chapter in their lives, and she was excited to see where it would lead.