Page 83 of Our Darkest Summer

I nodded. “Yes, they can.” Although I didn’t yet know where this puzzle piece could fit into. Nor could we be sure it had anything to do with Lizzie.

Evelyn turned to her TV. “I learned that from this. Do you know Monk? It’s terribly good. And The Mentalist? I watch them all day.”

And just like that, the tone shifted. She began to talk about how Monk reminded her of her late husband, and how Patrick was so handsome, although sometimes a bit reckless.

I listened to her. Maybe because I thought no one else really did anymore, or because her voice had the same soft rustle my nan had. Flannel’s fur melted against my shoulder.

Then, a sharp ping.

I glanced back at Thomas, who pulled out his phone. His posture shifted. Subtle, but it was enough to notice. Then his eyes met mine, his face almost unreadable, except for the flicker of eagerness in his dark gaze.

“Ava’s home,” he said.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Thomas

I cutthe engine in front of Braxton’s house and re-read his texts.

THE MYSTERY CREW

BRAXTON

mom got home

I repeat MAMA LEE’S BACK IN TOWN

do u guys still want to talk to her or is that off?

???

As soon as we got these, we were out the door. Neither of us wanted to risk Ava leaving before we had the chance to talk to her. The three of us crossed the front lawn, passing Braxton’s red dirt bike and a bicycle left lying in the grass.

I rang the doorbell and glanced at Kinsley. “Don’t let your emotions influence your judgment.”

Her eyes met mine with slight annoyance. “I know how to do this,” she replied, her soft tone in contrast to the look she had just given me.

I arched a brow, but the sound of the door swinging open cut the moment short, and I stiffened. A woman with straight, dark hair and Braxton’s sharp features stood in the doorway.

“Oh, you must be Thomas.” Ava’s gaze flicked over me, assessing, before she adjusted the sleeve of her white T-shirt. “And you’re Kinsley.” She narrowed her eyes slightly, as if putting a face to the name.

Kinsley gave a small nod.

“And that makes you Connor.” Ava’s smile softened as Connor lifted a hand in greeting. “You look so much like your mother,” she added. I watched the way Connor’s face shifted slightly in surprise.

The statement settled strangely between us, filling the silence. I don’t think he had ever heard that before. Not from me, not from our father. Something twisted in my chest. I should have told him that, but I hadn’t. The rules Joshua forced us into, preventing us from talking about her, poisoned our childhoods.

“My name is Doctor Ava Lee, but call me Ava, please.” She shook our hands one by one. “I’ve heard a lot about all of you. Come in.” She stepped aside, fighting down a yawn. “Sorry, I’m still a bit tired.”

Kinsley hesitated. “We could come back later.”

I gently pinched her back.No, we couldn’t.

Ava waved her off. “I’ll have plenty of time to relax after our talk.”

We followed her inside. The house looked the same as I remembered it from the night of the party. Bright, airy, decorated in beach tones. She led us into the living room, where Braxton was already sprawled in an armchair, tossing a stress ball from one hand to the other.

“Take a seat,” Ava said. “I’ll just grab some water.”