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Gail nodded. “My daughter.”
This woman was as sharp as a fishhook.
“You guessed it.”
“That’s too bad.” She clicked her tongue and looked in Emilie’s car with a longing expression. When Emilie left six years ago, Gail mourned for the loss of her adopted daughter. She’d been there during the last days of Emilie’s mother’s life, and she cried when Dean gave her the news of Emilie’s abrupt move.
After grabbing the bags of odds and ends, he shut the car door and motioned to the front door. “Do you want to come in? I’m helping Emilie clean and unpack.”
“Sure, I’ve got a minute.” She followed him inside. He gestured to the table where she could put the bread while he excused himself to bring the rest of Emilie’s things downstairs.
By the time he returned, Gail stood by the door, staring out at the yard. “I’ll come back another day.” She opened the screen door and stepped outside.
He followed quickly behind and caught the door with his right hand. “Gail, before you go, can I ask you something?”
Instead of meeting his gaze, she pulled at a stray thread at the end of her shirt. “What is it, Dean?”
“The two of them have a past, but do you think Ava wants to hurt Emilie again?”
Her concern turned into bemusement. “Why, Dean, it seems to me you should know that answer. Don’t you have your own past with Ava?”
He inhaled sharply. If Gail had found about their relationship and was planning to tell Emilie, he saw the crash and burn coming sooner rather than later. He should’ve expected as much.
Right as the panic settled in, she held up her hands in surrender. “I don’t share other people’s secrets, but yes, I’ve heard the two of you have had some... interactions in the past. It’s not my place to tell Emilie, though, so let’s focus on the heart of the matter. In the last few years, have you ever known Ava to be trustworthy?”
The answer came immediately. It had been a few years since they’d spent time together, but people didn’t change that fast. Her attitude didn’t seem any different when he’d stopped by the restaurant.
Not waiting for an answer, Gail continued. “Seems to me you already have the answer. Emilie’s been hurt by Ava more than once. Even if Ava wasn’t aware of Emilie’s family situation, she didn’t take the time to ask.”
Dean slapped his forehead and grabbed the key from the table beside the door. Why had he let her meet Ava in the first place? He could’ve told Emilie everything, made her believe that Ava wasn’t who she thought she was.
“Thanks, Gail. I’ll tell her you stopped by.”
He locked up the house and followed her down the driveway. Even if it surprised Emilie, he had to try.
11
Emilie
By the time Emilie reached the diner, sweat dripped from her face. She made a beeline for the bathroom to freshen up before she ran into anyone. It wasn’t how she wanted to meet Ava, so she hid in a stall and dabbed at her face, fanning her shirt away from her. Why had she chosen a black shirt?
After inspecting herself in the mirror, she headed back to the main part of the restaurant. Ava was seated in the furthest booth in the back.
“There you are.” Ava stood and motioned for Emilie to join her. “I was worried you wouldn’t show.” Instead of her usual confidence, Ava’s expression was hesitant. She wasn’t the type of person to worry.
Emilie’s heart thumped wildly as she passed booth after booth. It wasn’t that long of a walk, but it seemed to take forever. There was still time to turn around and run. Maybe digging up skeletons wasn’t the best idea. Ava seemed welcoming enough, or at least anxious and as fragile as Emilie was feeling. But the time when Ava snubbed her in school and talked about her to others stung her good memories. Just as she was about to pivot on her heel, Ava stepped forward.
“Emilie, I’m glad you came.”
Without hesitation, her old friend hugged her, her dark, earthy perfume filling Emilie’s nose. Emilie held her breath before the noxious scent could send her into a coughing fit. The woman must’ve bathed in the stuff, it was so strong. Ava pulled away after a couple of seconds.
Had Ava forgotten everything she did to her? Emilie forced her mouth to move. “Good to see you.”
It was as if Ava had walked right out of a fashion magazine. Her dark hair hung loose around her shoulders, ebony and shiny as ever. Her makeup was spot-on, her outfit, a white blouse with a flowery skirt, flowed as she moved back to her seat. And there Emilie stood in her too casual, frumpy outfit, messy hair, and no makeup. A hobo next to a model. Everything about Ava’s look made Emilie self-conscious about the three minutes she’d spent getting ready.
“You haven’t changed a bit.” Ava leaned back against the booth and gestured to the chair opposite of her. “I ordered drinks for us. You still like Coke, right?”
Emilie nodded and sat. It was unreal that so much time had passed, yet Ava looked timeless. That was talent. And completely annoying.
