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The thought has me slowly standing.
I touch each headstone as I leave, making my way through the garden and toward the steps to the house. The front doors are already open, the estate oddly quiet for the early evening.
Nina and Mase are normally home by now, and I pause briefly, wondering where they are.
I’m just crossing the threshold when Lance starts down the stairs with his bags.
Everything—including my heart—seems to come to a halt.
Everything but him as he continues past me on his way toward the door.
“Lance,” I rush out.
He stops reluctantly, stepping back a step and kissing my forehead. He doesn’t give me his eyes, keeping his lips on my skin. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me these last few months.”
I open my mouth to speak, but he slips away from me before I can even catch a look at his face, taking the steps before I can think, before I can stop him.
“Mummy, stop him!”
I snap my head around to Ave, her tears heavy streaks down her face. “Ave, baby, I—I…”
I hear Lance’s car start up in the garage, thoughts of whether he’s allowed to drive, of going after him, of the fear of what I’d say if I did… the car rumbles its way out of the drive.
“Why did you let him leave? He was so happy, and now he’s sad. Why doesn’t he want to be here anymore?”
I shake my head as my heart bleeds in my chest. “Ave…”
“What did you do?” she cries. “What did you say to him?”
I stare at her with wide eyes, her hurt threatening to swallow me whole.Ave. Focus on Ave.“Baby, we’re tired. We can put on a film and get some tea, have an early night. We’ll figure it out tomorrow, okay?”
She flops down to the stairs, her hands covering her face.
I quickly wipe the tears that have fallen and rush to her, wrapping her in my arms.
Lance has gone.
He’s gone, and it’s all my fault.
“Did I do something wrong? He wouldn’t tell me. He just said he had to go home because he wanted to. That’s all he’d say, but I could see how upset he was.”
I close my eyes as her body shakes with her sobs. Of course he wouldn’t put the blame on me. “No, Ave, you didn’t do anything. You’re perfect. He loves you so much. It was me,” I tell her. “I told him it was time to go home.”
She leans back, the distance harrowing as she frowns up at me. “Why?”
“I told you he wouldn’t be here for long, baby. I said—”
“That was before. I thought—” She hiccups. “I thought you were going to fall in love, and it could be like this forever.”
My chest caves, opening up like a cavity and letting in everything I fight to keep out. “Ave, please, I’m sorry.”
The front door creaks open, Nina appears in the doorway with one of Freya’s glass trays covered in foil. Mason steps in after her, followed by the children.
Nina pauses when she sees us, quickly handing the tray off to Ellis. “What’s going—”
“I want to be on my own,” Ave yells, standing, her tears still falling.
“Waverley,” I plea.
