Page 87 of My One

“I did,” my mom said. “I found out that he’d apparently died, and contacted his family. We had a burial for him and everything.”

“It was better that way to make everyone think I was dead, so Doug wouldn’t know the truth.”

“And you came out here to the Bahamas?” Nic asked. “Started a new life?”

Avery Senior smiled tightly at my mom. “I did, but I never remarried.”

“Doug died thinking he killed you?” Nic inquired.

“He did,” Avery confirmed.

“So, Doug’s really dead?” I probed. After everything that I’d learned in the last thirty minutes, I wasn’t sure what to believe anymore. I still needed to know how my mother was sitting on the opposite couch.

“Yes.” Mom sighed.

“But I had to identify your bodies,” I explained.

“Arnold did me a favor.”

“But the pictures,” I went on.

Mom nodded. “Exactly. It was only a picture. We did my makeup to make it look like I was dead.”

“But, howaren’tyou dead?” I questioned. “I mean, I’m happy you’re still alive. I’m just confused. And how did you know he”—I point to Avery Senior—“was alive?”

My mom and Avery looked at each other and smiled. “I thought Avery was dead for over twenty years, then he found me on Facebook.”

I snorted. “Of course.”

“Aw, the power of social media,” Nic chimed in.

“Yes,” Mom replied. “He sent me a message, but I didn’t think it was him at first.”

“It took some persuasion.” Avery Senior smiled at her, and I saw the look on his face. It was the same way I looked at Nicole.

“Can you blame me? You were supposed to be dead,” Mom countered.

“No, of course not,” he replied.

“So, you decided you wanted revenge on Doug?” I accused.

Mother gasped, bringing her hand to her chest. “What? Of course not.”

“Then how did he die and you’re here?” I asked.

“Avery told me what happened the night he supposedly died, and when Doug and I got into the accident, he died on impact. I was banged up, but still lucid, and I made a quick decision to fake my death so I could be with Avery. I knew the sheriff, and luckily, he was the first on the scene. He made it happen with Arnold too.”

“But if Doug died, then it wouldn’t matter who you were dating,” Nicole countered.

Mom smiled warmly at my wife. “Doug wouldn’t matter anymore, but the world thought Avery Moore was dead. I wouldn’t be able to have him come to California or anything.”

“But you could have just moved here,” I contradicted. “Like you did.”

“But you see”—she leaned forward and placed her hand on my knee—“it’s not just about me.Youdeserved it all.”

“Then why not just pay me?” I wasn’t upset that she faked her death, I was just confused. It didn’t make sense to me.

She shrugged. “I wanted a new life. I didn’t want people to look at me, sad that my husband died. And I wanted you to find out the truth.”