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"Sounds good"

We head over to the diner and order some lunch The conversation see an effort I can’t pick on her for that I’ve asked her to try and she is, which means I am It’s a tay street

"When’s your next race?" she asks, spooning salad into herout of town?"

I shake o out of town in about a fortnight for a few races"

She nods "I’ve applied for a few jobs"

I raise reat actually"

"I’ to try harder, Nate I swear"

I keep ardless of everything, Lena is my wife, and she isn’t a bad woman I have to support her

~~~~

NATE

Avery: Hey, how r u?

Nate: Good U?

Avery: I haven’t seen you for a few days?

Nate: Sorry, been busy

Avery: Okay Well, I just wanted to see how you were I’m sorry about the other day with the pool Kelly can be a littlecontrolling

Nate: It’s no worries

She doesn’t answer back and I flipit onto silent I shouldn’t feel bad abut texting Avery, but I do I do because I can’t get her out ofup It’s not fair on Lena or Macy for me to feel this kind of confusion over another wo I can do is not talk to her, and erous forI as up beneath me, and I just stare The ocean is beautiful, and it was Moical that I would come here every year on the anniversary of her disappearance and think about her A tear slides down my cheek, and then another I close my eyes and smile at the precious fewthe ti, Benny, home

"Avie, baby," my momma calls "I have a surprise for you"

I skip out of o Myand bright, her face flushed with happiness

"What is it?" I ask, leaning up on hs

"Is it a cake?"

She shakes her head and rolls her eyes "You and cake No, it’s not food"

"Is it a toy?"