She was sure that some of the campers had to know about her personal life just because there were a dozen or so local kids at the camp, including Noah who had set up and broke down the chairs for the ceremony, but none of them had said anything to her about it.
Ava nodded. “I was.”
“And I also heard that you didn’t get married because your fiancé was cheating on you.”
“Where did you hear that?” It shouldn’t surprise her that her ex’s infidelity was common knowledge. But she did want to know how kids at the camp knew.
Blake’s eyes widened and she shook her head. “No one was gossiping about it, or anything, I just...when we first got here your sister came in and told Mrs. Barnes about the letter you got and she was pissed. She said that she was going to find your fiancé and cut off his balls with a rusty butter knife and watch him bleed out and then stab and kill him.”
Yep. That tracked. It didn’t surprise Ava at all that Viv had told Amanda, and apparently two complete strangers, that information.
Before she could figure out how to address her sister’s colorful commentary, Blake continued, “I’m only asking because, um...” She bit her lip and Ava could see that the girl was having a very difficult time saying what she wanted to say. “I um...last summer I walked in on my step-dad, um, cheating on my mom,” she blurted out.
Oh boy.
“With my mom’s best friend, Aunt Bree. I mean she’s not my real aunt. But my mom and her have been friends since they were kids and they are like sisters.” The words came rushing out of Blake’s mouth so fast Ava was trying to keep up.
Ava made sure to keep her expression and tone neutral as she asked, “Did you tell your mom?”
Blake’s eyes filled with tears as she shook her head no. Ava’s heart broke for her. It was obvious that this young girl had been carrying around a huge secret and it had weighed on her. “I tried, but, I just...I couldn’t do that to her. I couldn’t break her heart like that. She always says that James saved her, that he saved us. And she loves Aunt Bree so much. She’s my godmother. My mom and her talk every day. They are always together.” Huge crocodile tears started falling down her cheeks as she lifted her arms with her palms facing up. “I should have said something, but...I didn’t...I... didn’t know how. But every time I see my Aunt Bree and my mom together...it feels like I’m betraying my mom by not telling her!”
“It’s okay, sit down.” Ava guided Blake to a large tree trunk that had fallen down and was now a makeshift bench. The two sat down and Blake leaned against Ava who had her arm around the teen. “Telling your mom isn’t your responsibility. You were put in an impossible situation so there is no should have. You didn’t betray your mom. Bree and James did that. Not you.”
Blake sniffed. “I was so happy when my mom said that I had to live with my dad because I thought then I wouldn’t have to think about it. But it’s not working. That’s all I can think about! He’s cheating on her and she has no idea! But I don’t know how to tell her!” Blake broke down in sobs and Ava just held her and let her cry.
When the tears dried up, Blake sucked in a shaky breath as she sat up straight and wiped her face. “Sorry, I only told you because I wanted to know if you would have wanted someone to tell you? About your fiancé cheating.”
Yes. But there was no way she was going to tell Blake that.
Instead of answering the question, Ava asked, “Since you don’t feel comfortable telling your mom, is there someone else you can tell? Maybe your dad?”
“I don’t know...maybe...” Her face scrunched up. “He’s weird about my mom, though. I think he might still love her. He hasn’t had a girlfriend or even dated anyone since they got divorced.”
Really?
Ava knew that the information Blake had just shared had nothing to do with her, but she couldn’t help but feel like the wind had just gotten knocked out of her.
There was a crackle of leaves and both Ava and Blake looked up and saw Noah standing at the mouth of the trail. His face was filled with concern as he looked at Blake. “I don’t want to interrupt, I just wanted to check and make sure that you were okay.”
Blake wiped her face and hopped up. “Yeah, I’m good.”
Ava stood and Blake threw her arms around her neck and gave her a hug. “Thanks for listening to me.”
“Anytime.” Ava smiled as Blake stepped back. “And just remember, none of this is your fault.”
“Thanks. I actually feel better now that I told a real adult.” Blake smiled and ran across the clearing to Noah.
He smiled and Ava heard him ask if she was okay as he pulled her into a hug. Blake nodded and the two headed down the path.
Ava wasn’t sure how she felt about the information she’d just been given. She felt horrible for Blake carrying the weight of that secret around with her, but she couldn’t advise her to tell her mom without knowing the woman. Don’t kill the messenger was a saying for a reason.
The last thing she’d ever want was for Blake to somehow get blamed for anything.
That was the biggest takeaway Ava had from her conversations with Blake. But there was a lesser takeaway that Ava was doing her best to ignore because it was inconsequential, or at least she was doing her best to convince herself it was.
According to Blake, Asher still had feelings for his ex-wife and hadn’t had a girlfriend since their divorce.
It shouldn’t matter to Ava if that was the case, but somehow it did. Hearing that Asher still loved his ex and had not moved on in seven years had caused her to have a completely disproportionate and inappropriate physical reaction. Which made no sense whatsoever and told Ava that she needed to get a grip on reality.
She and Asher’s “connection” was something she’d built up in her own head over the years. It wasn’t real. Nothing she felt for him was real.
Even if it felt like it was. Which it did. It felt very real.
