She felt cold and weak as she climbed down the scaffold. “Is it Dad? Tell me. Tell me now. Why didn’t someone call?”
“Can we talk somewhere?” Ava tried to pull Emery aside. “Please.”
“About what? Ava, is Dad okay?” She could not be in Sea Blue Beachagain, hearing her only parent was sick and dying.
“Yes, yes, he’s fine, I’m sorry. I should’ve called first, but I—” She looked horrible. Circles under her eyes, hair in a messytopknot—not the sexy kind. Her blouse was wrinkled, and her baggy jeans had a mustard stain. This was not Ava.
“Hey, areyouall right?” Emery gently touched her arm.
“Yes. No. Well, of course it must look strange for me to be here, and well, no, Emery, to be honest, I’m a mess.” When she looked up, there was a looming sadness in her eyes. “Otherwise why would I be here looking like I rolled out of bed, bought an airplane ticket, ate a hot dog with too much mustard and”—she pointed to the mural—“interrupted my sister while she paints ... whatareyou all doing?”
“Painting a mural of the town history.”
Ava moved for a better look. “Is that Lulu Chan? I love her work. Wow, how’d you get her?”
“She’s a friend of Caleb’s.” Emery waved at him, staring down at them, kneeling and gripping onto the side of the scaffold with both hands.
“That’s Caleb? Your summer love?” Ava’s wide eyes exposed her thoughts. “From, like, sixteen years ago?”
“How do you know about him?”
Ava made a face. “How do you think? Dad.”
Emery sighed. “Yes, that’s him, and we’re just friends.”
“He’s gorgeous.”
“I know, but we’re not here to talk about him.” Emery removed her gloves. “Have you eaten anything more than a hot dog today? Why don’t we grab some lunch?”
“Yes, please.”
She texted Caleb she was taking Ava to the Blue Plate. Up Sea Blue Way, they walked in silence. There was no use for small talk at this point, though Ava had reassured her everyone at home was healthy and thriving.
At the diner, the hostess sat them on the deck, near the firepit. They each ordered a hot chocolate and the eggs benedict.
“Mom and Elianna have taken over your old room,” she said.
“Joanna texted.”
“That doesn’t mean you can’t come home and make it your room again.”
“I know.” But it sure felt that way. “But you didn’t fly down here to talk about my old room.”
Ava sat quietly for a moment, gripping her mug. “I don’t think I can do it.”
“Do what, Aves?”
“Marriage. The house, the bills, adulting.”
“Ava, you were adulting at ten.”
“I was a smarty-pants. Living securely with my parents. But, Em, this is for real. I don’t know if I can marry Jamie. Is hethelove of my life? Or am I in love with love? One of my friends seems to think I am. And on top of everything else, you’re not coming to the shower. Why aren’t you coming?”
“Because of my job. I’ll send a present. And the rest sounds like a dumbCosmoarticle or one of those relationship podcasts hosted by no one who’s actually ever made a relationship work. Who’s this friend? Dump her.”
“Kaitlyn Bernard.” Ava made a face. “And you’re right, I’ve been reading online articles about marriage, and, Emery, no one seems to think it’s a lasting gig. I woke up three days ago, panicked. I thought I’d shake it, work myself out of it, but it sank deeper. We had an appointment to look at a house, and oh my gosh, it was a stunner. Like a dream home for someone who’s worked ten or twenty years. Or fifty. It’s bigger than our house. You should see the back deck with an outdoor fireplace and dining, all facing three beautiful acres, trees and landscaping everywhere. A pool. I can’t do landscaping, Emery. Plants die in my care.” Ava’s hand trembled as she held up her phone, showing Emery a picture of the home in Gates Mills. “And the price. Did you see the price?”
“Jamie’s a successful lawyer, Ava. He made partner. Don’t you know how much he makes?”
