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“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said it. I only just found out a couple of days ago. I haven’t told anyone besides Walter, Michael and Daddy.”
“It’s alright. I can handle you being pregnant, but can you?” Ava smiled widely to let Brooke know she was fine. But it was fake. Inside, Ava’s heart was breaking. She was happy for her sister but it seemed like everyone around her was pregnant, and she could never be.
“Why don’t you go into the house and relax. I can watch William.”
“You’re a lifesaver. If Walter is looking for me, tell him I’ll be in the library.”
She watched Brooke walk towards the house then turned her attention to her nephew and his friends.
By five that evening, the party was winding down. A lot of the families had already left, the children’s little bellies full of snacks. Each child had left with a bag of swag. At most kid’s parties, you would get a little gift bag but Ava’s father went overboard, and it was more like a grocery bag. At 8:00 PM, most of the attractions had been taken down, and Ingrid’s staff had cleaned the kitchen.
Members of the Keene and Cartright families as well as Felice Davenport sat in the large living room. All three of the grandchildren were napping upstairs. One of the large bedrooms had been converted to a child’s room. The extra large room had two sets of bunk beds and many toys, books and games in the bookshelves that lined the walls.
Ava was tired, and Brooke had fallen asleep on the couch. Ava had avoided talking to Felice all day; she was turned off by the woman’s appearance and presence. She got up to get something to drink, and when she closed the refrigerator door, Felice was standing there.
“I would like to speak with you about something,” giving Ava no choice but to listen to what the woman had to say.
“I enjoy your father’s company very much and would like to get to know you better. I lost my mother at an early age, too, so I understand what it’s like to have someone come into your home and seem like she is taking her place. I don’t want to take the place of your mother. Your father told me how wonderful she was and I doubt I could ever fill her shoes even if I tried.” Felice hesitated, waiting for her to speak.
Ava started to feel horrible. This woman was only interested in making her father happy, and she wasn’t giving her a chance.
“I’m sorry if I seemed standoffish today. I’m shy around new people. I understand that you just want to make my father happy. He deserves it because he hasn’t had that for a long time.” Ava smiled at Felice.
“Maybe we can get together this week while you are here and go to lunch?”
“I would like that. I should have some free time.”
Felice extended her hand, but Ava pulled her into a hug. When they walked back into the living room together, her father looked at her suspiciously, but it was Felice who spoke.
“Ava and I are going to lunch sometime this week.”
Michael mouthed, “Thank you.”
Later, when Ava was getting ready for bed, she received a text from an unknown number.
I miss you.
That's all it said.
Who is this? Xander?
But she received nothing further.
