Chapter 27
The Replacement
Owen whistled along to the radio with the windows rolled down in his truck, basking in the early summer afternoon. Avery came home today, Ava had slept in his bed last night, and his contractor had called to say they were ahead of schedule with the plumbing at the bed-and-breakfast.
Life was good for Owen Fowler.
He arrived at the summer camp and cut the engine, eager to lay eyes on his son for the first time in two weeks.
His eagerness evaporated at the sight of someone glaring at him through his open window.
Tori stood just outside his door, glaring at him with her usual red lips pursed.
Her red heels sank into the dirt beneath her—always dressed to impress, even at a kid’s summer camp.
Where he found Ava irresistible in red, Tori inspired distaste in him.
He climbed out of the car to get their conversation over with. He’d been avoiding her texts about their impending date. A date that wasn’t happening.
“Good afternoon, Tori,” he tried for a casual greeting.
“We have different definitions of a ‘good’ afternoon, Owen. What the hell were you thinking, taking Ava Hanson on a date to the watermill last night?”
“Excuse me?” Owen’s good mood plummeted.
“The whole town is talking about how your truck was at the trail for the watermill last night, taking some blonde hussy up there. We all know the reputation for that place.”
Owen would’ve laughed at her use of the word ‘hussy’ if he wasn’t so confused by her anger. And offended on Ava’s behalf.
“I don’t see how that has anything to do with you.”
“You agreed to take me out, Owen. That was the deal. What’s everyone going to think if they see us out together after you’ve been whoring around the town with another woman? I’ll be a joke in my ex’s eyes.” Her cheeks flushed pink.
He felt bad for leading her on, but not that bad. She’d backed him into a date using her position of power in the Historical Society, and he agreed out of misdirected anger.
“To be clear, I have not been ‘whoring’ around town with another woman. She and I are dating. I apologize for my part in this. I should’ve never agreed to your proposition knowing I had feelings for someone else. But you also put me in an unfair position by asking.”
Tori huffed in exasperation. She lifted her foot with effort out of the soft ground to step closer. Owen smothered a laugh at the clumps of dirt flying off the thin heels of her shoes as she struggled to remain upright.
She poked him in the chest. “You will fix this, Owen, or I will make sure renovations on your precious bed-and-breakfast grind to a halt.”
“How do you propose I do that? I’m not following through on the date. You said it yourself—that wouldn’t be a good look.” Owen crossed his arms, leaning further away from Tori’s sharp nails in case she attempted to poke him again.
“You will find me a suitable date in your place. And Matt doesn’t count.”
Owen could hear the shouts and laughter of kids at the camp entrance.
He was ready to see Avery and salvage what was left of his good mood.
The fastest way to get out of this conversation with Tori was to agree.
Though he didn’t have the first clue who to convince.
He was pretty sure she’d exhausted her options in town by this point.
“Fine. I will find a replacement,” he agreed.
“See that you do.” She sniffed. “I expect an update by this evening. No ignoring my texts this time.”
Owen stopped himself from rolling his eyes at her haughty tone. He was starting to understand why she was divorced. “I’ll be in touch tonight. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to pick up my kid.”
He stalked away. After a few paces, he turned on his heel. “And one last thing. Never threaten my business or insult Ava again. Got it?”
She stared at him in shock. Owen didn’t give her a chance to respond. He spun around and pushed her from his mind as he rushed to the check-out table at the camp entrance. He was ready to get Avery and get the hell out of here.
“Good morning. Who are we here to pick up today?”
“Avery Fowler. I’m his dad, Owen.”
The counselor scanned the clipboard. “Ah yes. Avery. Great kid, we’ll miss him around here. We hope to see him next year.”
Owen gave him a close-lipped smile, not interested in small talk.
“Wait right here, Dad, and I’ll get Avery for you.”
Owen scanned the parking lot, hoping to avoid any more run-ins with Tori. With any luck, her shoes had gotten stuck in the ground. He grinned at the thought.
“Dad!” Avery yelled from behind.
Owen faced the entrance. Avery’s backpack bounced on his shoulders as he ran toward him. He grunted from the impact of Avery throwing himself against his stomach, wrapping his arms around his waist in a hug. His frustration vanished.
“Hey, bud. I missed you like crazy.” Owen hugged him back, reaching up to ruffle his hair.
Avery huffed in annoyance but didn’t back away like he normally would. He released his hold on Avery and tugged the backpack off his shoulders then hefted it up on his own shoulder.
He turned to the counselor. “Need anything else from me?”
The counselor shook his head. “You’re all set. Hope you had a great time, Avery, and we’ll see you next year.”
They said their goodbyes, and Owen led Avery to the truck with a hand on his shoulder. He could swear Avery was taller. “What are they feeding you at this camp? I think you’ve gotten taller since I dropped you off.”
Avery puffed up his chest, drawing himself to his full height. “Can we measure when we get home?”
Owen laughed at his enthusiasm. They kept record of all Avery’s height measurements on the kitchen doorframe. “Sure thing.”
They settled in the truck and Owen rolled the windows up so he could talk to Avery without distraction.
“It smells like perfume in here. Did Aunt Summer burn incense in here again to clear it of ghosts or something?”
“No. I told her she wasn’t allowed to do that anymore. Not after the Palo Alto incident.”
Owen took the scenic route home, enjoying the extra time with Avery as he listened to his stories from camp. Avery pulled out a target practice sheet to brag about his archery skills and made Owen only slightly concerned with tales of flipping canoes during afternoon water time.
“Did you make any new friends?” Owen asked. Avery made friends wherever he went. He took after Maddy’s social nature.
“Yeah, there was this new kid, Carter, from Augusta. He hung out with me, Aiden, and Zach a lot. He was really good at kickball. We won every time.”
“That’s great,” Owen said. They drove past the welcome sign for Cedar Falls, entering the city limits. “I’m glad you had fun.”
“Yeah,” Avery responded. His feet swung back and forth, bumping against the seat as he came down from his excitement.
They approached town, and Owen flipped down his visor when the glare of the sun lit up the truck, sending a strip of paper fluttering to the floor. Avery bent down to grab it from the floorboard before Owen could.
“What’s this?”
Avery turned the paper over to reveal the photo strip Owen took from the cabin. The sequence of images capturing Ava and Owen when they were teenagers.
“That’s an old photo I found while you were at camp. Back when I was a teenager.”
Uncertainty filled Owen when Avery stared at the pictures, saying nothing. His eyebrows pinched as he pieced together what he was looking at. He hadn’t intended to have a conversation so soon about Ava. But Avery was a smart kid, and he’d make the connection soon enough.
“How old were you?”
Owen glanced at the photo still gripped in Avery’s hand before returning his eyes to the road.
“Think I was about eighteen. You haven’t seen many photos from me back then, huh?”
Avery shook his head. “That looks like Ava. Aunt Summer’s friend.”
And there it is. Anxiety bloomed in Owen’s chest, at the truth he had to reveal to Avery. “It is Ava. We used to date when we were younger.” Owen held his breath, waiting for Avery’s reaction.
“You guys look really happy,” Avery said. His voice sounded so small, and so uncertain, like his worldview was changing in an instant. “Hey, Dad … did you miss me while I was gone?”
Owen jerked his head to look at Avery, surprised by the question. “Of course I did. The house is too quiet without you. I don’t know what I’m going to do the day you finally move out.”
Avery still stared at the photo strip in his hand. His features smoothed out, but he worried his lip between his teeth, as if debating his next words. Something he usually only did when he was about to confess to something. Owen let Avery work out his thoughts without interfering.
His swinging legs turned into absently kicking at his backpack in front of him.
“You don’t have to be alone, Dad. Carter was telling us about his new stepmom. He said he liked her a lot and his dad was happier. His mom is gone a lot. Like Mom,” Avery said.
Owen’s heart ached at the longing in Avery’s voice, and how sweet his son could be. They’d never discussed the idea of Owen dating or getting married. He kept his dating life private, not that he had much of one.
Except now I have Ava. And Avery knows we dated.
“You know your mom loves you so much, right? She’s not gone because she doesn’t love you. We have a different relationship than most parents your friends have.”
Avery continued staring at the picture, his thumb twiddling with the bottom corner. “Yeah, I know. But if you wanted to be with someone, I think I’d be OK. It could be nice.” Avery shrugged.
Owen pulled into the driveway and put the car in park. Neither of them attempted to leave just yet. Owen reached across the bench seat to put a hand on Avery’s shoulder. “Hey. Look at me.”