Chapter 4 - Another Family
But for Ava, it had begun six weeks earlier.
The first time Wade closed the office door.
Before Wade, Ava and Diane had a routine.
Tuesday pizza.
Thursday laundry folding with bad reality TV.
Saturday pancakes if David was away.
Sunday video calls with David when his schedule allowed, even if Diane rolled her eyes and said, “Your father doesn’t need a status briefing.”
Ava loved both parents in different ways.
She loved Diane’s warmth when Diane was not afraid of being alone.
She loved David’s steadiness even when he was far away.
She hated the divorce but understood pieces of it.
Adults could love each other and still become bad at living together.
That was what Diane said.
David said, “Your mother and I both love you more than we dislike the paperwork.”
Ava liked that better.
Then Wade came.
At first, he was funny.
He brought Diane flowers, called Ava “kiddo,” fixed a stuck cabinet, and told stories about renovating old houses.
He said he admired military families.
He said David sounded impressive.
He said Diane deserved someone present.
That last sentence made Ava uncomfortable.
Because it was kind of true.
And kind of mean.
Wade moved fast.
Engagement after eight months.
Wedding planned in six weeks.
“Why so soon?” Ava asked her mother.
Diane smiled too brightly.
“When you’re older, you’ll understand not wasting time.”
Ava wanted to say that people who were not wasting time did not usually rush everyone else out of rooms.
But she did not.
She tried to be good.
She tried for Diane.
Then Wade began making comments when Diane was not nearby.
“Your dad still checking in like a commander?”
“He’s my dad.”
“Yeah. Some men love control from a distance.”
“He doesn’t control me.”
Wade smiled.
“Not yet.”
Ava told Diane.
Diane sighed.
“Ava, he’s trying to bond. You take things so literally.”
Another time, Wade found Ava in the office printing a school project.
He stood in the doorway.
“You need to knock before coming in here.”
“It’s Mom’s office.”
“It’s our office now.”
“My printer is in here.”
“You can ask.”
Ava frowned.
“For my printer?”
He stepped inside.
Not close enough to touch her.
Close enough to make the room smaller.
“Your mom and I are building a marriage. That means some boundaries change.”
Ava told Diane that too.
Diane said, “He’s just trying to make the house feel like his.”
“But it’s our house.”
Diane went quiet.
That was Ava’s first warning.
Something about the house had become fragile.
The second warning came from a folder.
Ava went into the office to find tape for a science poster and saw a blue folder on the desk.
She would not have opened it if her name had not been on a sticky note.
Ava access after closing.
Closing what?
She took a photo.
Then another.
Then heard Wade’s voice in the hallway and shoved the folder back exactly where it had been.
That night, she asked Diane, “Are we moving?”
Diane looked startled.
“No.”
“Are you selling the house?”
“What? No.”
“Are you sure?”
Wade entered the kitchen before Diane answered.
“What’s this?”
Ava looked down.
“Nothing.”
Wade smiled.
That was the first smile that truly frightened her.
It was not angry.
It was delighted she had revealed where to press.
After that, Wade watched her more.
Diane called it “trying.”
Ava called David.
Not the full story.
Pieces.
“Do you think Mom would sell the house?”
David paused.
“Why?”
“Just wondering.”
“Ava.”
“She’s getting married fast.”
“I know.”
“Do you like him?”
A longer pause.
“I don’t know him.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It is the most honest answer I have.”
Ava wanted to say, I’m scared.
But she heard Diane downstairs laughing with Wade, that brittle laugh she used when she wanted life to sound fine.
So Ava said, “Never mind.”
David said, “You can always tell me.”
“I know.”
She did know.
But knowing and speaking are different when you are twelve and afraid your words might blow up your mother’s happiness.
On the wedding morning, everything cracked.
Diane was upstairs getting ready.
Family members were outside setting decorations.
Wade was supposed to be at the church with his father.
He was not.
Ava heard voices in the office.
She crept near the door.
Wade said, “After today, she signs. She promised.”
Harold answered, “This is moving too fast.”
“You said that with Maren too.”
Ava’s hand went cold.
Harold said, “Don’t say her name.”
“I’m saying you panic every time a woman has a house and a daughter with an attitude.”
Ava lifted her phone and hit record.
No video at first.
Just audio.
May you like
Then the door opened.
Wade saw her.
