Edge of Desire

Chapter 8

Just Miles

It was becoming rather clear to me that I needed to get out of here. Avery was onto us. She sensed something was up. I dropped her off at work and her conversation with me was stilted at best.

“Is everything okay?” I asked.

“Fine.”

She was always so talkative that I was surprised at her lack of dialogue. When we arrived at SoftwarePlus, she hopped out and said a quick, “Thanks for the lift.”

I sat there and stared after her as she scurried into the building. A traffic cop tapped on my window and told me to move my car. That’s how long I’d sat and stared after her.

On the drive home, my decision was made. I would leave on Wednesday and head to Montana. It would be gorgeous now since it was summer, and the solitude would do me some good.

Caroline was pouring herself a cup of coffee when I walked in the kitchen. I tossed the keys on the counter and announced, “I’m leaving on Wednesday.”

“Wednesday? Do you have to go so soon?”

“You know I do. She suspects something’s up. She barely spoke on the way to work and that’s not like her at all.”

“I know. Justin said as much last night. I don’t want you to leave though.”

“Well, one of us has to and it’s not gonna be her. Something’s going on with her, sis.”

“What do you mean?”

“The other night I heard screaming, and it was coming from her room. I woke her up from this nightmare she was having. I know PTSD when I see it. I have it myself.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I have PTSD from a lot of things, mostly from being in prison. But I think she has it too.”

“Oh no! Not Ava.”

“And another thing. You know the other night when she dumped her lasagna?”

“Yeah,” Caroline laughed.

“When I went to help her, I reached down, sort of fast, and she cowered.”

“Gosh, I wonder what happened. That worries me.”

“I don’t know but my guess is it has to do with a man, and she won’t talk about it. Don’t ask her. If she wants to talk, she’ll talk.”

“Okay.”

“The whole situation here will be better without me.”

“Damn. I was just getting used to having you around.”

I hugged her. What a great sister I had. I did my best to avoid Avery until my departure day.