“Where is she?” I ask.
“I don’t know. I gave her my number and told her to call me that we really wanted Ava in our lives. I don’t know if she will. She honestly thought you knew about her,” she whispers.
“Umm, who’s Ava?” Brody asks, reminding me there are other people in the room. I just ignore him and continue to stare at the picture in my hand.
“What if she’s not even mine?” I ask.
“Callie asked her that same question. She actually looked like she had slapped her. She says she has no idea what pictures you saw, but she was never in anyone else’s bed. I don’t know why, but I believed her,” Leighton says quietly. I know what I saw in those pictures. I saw my wife and my best friend in bed. There is no way that never happened. “And there’s no way that little girl isn’t yours. She looks just like you. Well, actually she looks a lot like Callie too. This family seems to have really strong genes.”
“Maya has a baby?” Brody asks her. I look up to see her nodding her head at him.
“I know what I saw. There’s no way I was wrong about that. She cheated on me.” I keep saying to myself. Could I have really been fooled by a fake picture? I guess I should have had someone check it out, but I really didn’t want anyone to see the picture. “What have I done? Her name is Ava?” I ask. Callie nods her head and looks down at the picture.
“I asked her not to leave town, but who knows what she will do. I think we kind of shocked her when we met,” Callie says.
“How did you meet? Why were you talking to her?”
“Actually Ava came over to the table. Apparently she loves babies. It was really crowded, so we asked them to sit with us. She looked really uncomfortable, but she stayed.”
“I have to find her,” I say, standing up and running a hand over my face. How do I find someone that I told I never wanted to see again? I don’t blame her if she never wants to see me again, but I don’t think I can go another second without seeing my daughter, if she is my daughter. “What was she driving?” I ask Callie.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t even think to pay attention. I am so sorry. Maybe she will call me,” she says sounding hopeful.
“I don’t know why she would. I was pretty mean to her a few years ago. I need to get out of here, please call me if you hear anything,” I say before walking into my bedroom. I grab another envelope from the top. The one I never wanted to look at again. I’m not sure why I ever kept it, but now I’m glad I did. I need to know if it’s real or if I just missed out on the most important years of my daughter’s life because of something that wasn’t even real. I grab the envelope and head back into the living room before walking out the door. I don’t know where I am going. I just know I need to get far away from them before I lose it.
I head straight to my truck and get in. I’m about to start the engine when the passenger side door opens and Collin jumps in.
“You can ignore me, scream at me, or I might even let you hit me, but I’m not about to let you leave by yourself right now. Just pretend I’m not here,” he says after shutting the door.
“Okay, let’s go for a ride.”
Maya
“What do you mean we have a problem?” Trent asks.
“I was almost out of town when Ava got really hungry. So I pulled over and we stopped at Ms. Betty’s to get some lunch. It was really crowded,” I say.
“Please say you didn’t see Jaxon,” Trent says, sounding almost suspicious.
“No, but his sister and future sister in law were there. Of course Ava found them first thing and started talking to them.”
“How did Molly not recognize you?” he asks.
“It wasn’t Molly. Apparently Molly isn’t really their daughter. She was switched at birth or something. I don’t know,” I say, thinking how I didn’t even know that was an actual thing that could happen.
“Are you serious? He has another sister.”
“Yep and this one looks exactly like them, exactly like Ava. She was actually pretty nice, given the circumstances. And she’s married to Ash,” I say, wondering if he knew anything about Ash getting married.
“Ash got married,” he says, sounding as surprised as I was.
“He did and they have twin newborns. Those babies couldn’t have been over a couple of months old. Anyway, Ava told them her name, then my name, and they definitely knew exactly who I was.”
“Who else did you say was with her?” he asks calmly.
“Leighton something. I don’t remember. Soon to be Taylor, though, I definitely remember that. She is marrying Brody soon,” I say.
“Brody’s getting married too? Wow, things have definitely changed around there. I’m still not understanding the problem, Maya. Jaxon has never wanted anything to do with Ava. Why do you think he would want to now?” he asks.
“Because they said he didn’t know about her,” I say, hoping Ava isn’t picking up on anything I am talking about.
“I thought you sent him pictures of her when he wouldn’t talk to you.”
“I did, but apparently he has some other pictures of me, and he never looked at the ones I sent.”
“What kind of pictures?” he asks.
“Pictures of us,” I say, not wanting to say what we were doing in those pictures. I’m sure Ava wouldn’t have any idea what I was talking about, but I still don’t like talking about it with her in the car.
“Pictures of us, huh,” he says sounding distracted. “Are you on your way home?”
“I was, but now I am pulled over in a parking lot. I need to think about some stuff. I’m really confused right now. I don’t want to keep Ava from meeting some of her family. She has cousins. She needs them in her life,” I whisper over the phone. I grew up an only child and never had any cousins around. If it hadn’t been for Jaxon and the rest of the Taylors, I never would have known what a big family felt like. They were the best, until he cut me out of it.
“Baby, come home. We can talk about it when you get here. I don’t think you should go running back to him just because of what two strangers said.”
“I know, I’m just tired and confused. It’s really late now anyway, what’s one more night?” I say.
“Maya, it’s not that late and I don’t mean to sound rude, but just because he saw a picture of us in bed together that had to be fake, doesn’t mean he should have not looked at what you sent him. It’s his fault he didn’t know about Ava,” he says, sounding angry.
“I know, you’re right. I am pulling out now and we will be home in a few hours,” I say, trying to keep my cool.
“Okay baby, come by when you get back. I have really missed the two of you,” he says before hanging up.
I have no idea what is happening right now. Trent has been my best friend for the past five years. I know he has always wanted more, but I haven’t. I know he is getting tired of me not returning his feelings, but the truth is I lost my heart a long time ago and I never fully got it back.
I know Trent is a great guy, he was with me when I had Ava, he has been with me through all of her firsts, but now……I don’t know what to think because I know for a fact I didn’t mention what was in those pictures………but he did. I know one thing, I can’t go back home tonight, not yet.
I pull the folded up napkin out of my purse and can’t believe I am actually about to do this. I turn around to look at Ava who is just looking out the window. This may be the biggest mistake of my life, but right now I need to keep Ava safe and for the first time in almost five years, I’m not sure Trent is the one who can help me do that.
I take out my phone and dial the number she scribbled on the napkin. It rings three times before a woman answers.
“Hello,” she says.
“Hey, is this Callie?” I ask.
“This is Callie, who is this?”
“It’s Maya. I think I need your help. Is there somewhere I can meet you maybe, not with Jaxon? I know it sounds bad, but I just need to talk to someone and it can’t be him,
not yet,” I say, praying she will keep her word.
“Of course, we just got home. Do you want to come by? I promise Jaxon isn’t here,” she says, sounding sincere.
“That sounds great. What is your address?” I ask, hoping I haven’t just made the biggest mistake of my life.
I pull up to the address she gave me and realize it’s the same place Ash has always lived. I think Brody may have lived with him at one time, but I’m guessing he has moved out by now. There are three vehicles in the drive, and I am hoping one is not Jaxon’s.
I get out of the car and grab Ava out of the backseat. I can’t believe I am doing this.
“Mommy, where are we?” she asks, yawning.
“Do you remember the nice girls we had lunch with? This is Callie’s house. We are going to visit for a little while,” I say, hoping she doesn’t throw a fit while we are here. She adores Trent and is probably ready to go see him.
I grab her in my arms and hold on tight to her before heading up the steps. I’m about to knock on the door when it opens and Callie is standing there with the biggest smile on her face. “I am so glad you called. Hi Ava, how are you?” she asks, looking at her like she is the greatest thing in the world. Maybe this won’t be so bad after all. Ava smiles at her and actually reaches her arms out to her.
Callie looks at me surprised before reaching out her hands and taking Ava in her arms. Callie looks up at me and smiles before holding onto Ava as tight as I was walking up here. “Thank you,” she mouths. I nod my head at her and walk inside after her. As soon as I look up, I want to turn around and run. I am staring at the most unfriendly eyes I have seen in a long time, Brody Taylor’s eyes.
“Be nice,” I hear Callie whisper to him.
“Maya, long time no see,” he says to me.
“Hi Brody,” I say. “Anybody else here I need to know about?” I ask.
“Just Leighton and Ash,” Callie says right before Ash walks into the room.
“Hi Maya,” he says. “This must be Ava. It’s nice to meet you,” he says walking over and running his hands over her head. I don’t know what has happened to him, but this is definitely not the Ash I know.
“Can I go see your babies?” Ava asks, finally raising her head up from Callie’s shoulder.
“You sure can,” she says smiling at her. “Leighton, will you take Ava to see the girls?”
“Sure.” They have a ton of toys to only be two months old,” she says, taking Ava from Callie. “We’ll be in the nursery,” she says, walking by me. I nod my head at her and try to smile, but I’m pretty sure it was more of a grimace.
“So, where have you been for the last five years?” Brody asks, breaking the ice.
“Atlanta,” I reply quietly. “I tried to tell him.”
“I know,” Brody says surprising me. “Of course, we only found out this afternoon.”
“He really didn’t know?” I ask.
“No, the envelope was still sealed. He opened it this afternoon and found out he has a daughter. Of course, he’s not sure she’s his,” Brody adds.
“Brody,” Callie says quickly.
“I would never cheat on him,” I say, feeling the tears building in my eyes. What a mess I am in now.
“Can you explain the pictures?” Brody asks me. I take a deep breath.
“I didn’t know about the pictures until this afternoon. He never asked me about those. But, I think I may know who sent them. That’s why I’m here. I need help and my first priority will always be keeping Ava safe.”
“Who sent the pictures, Maya?” Brody asks.
“Trent, but I really have no idea how he got them. I never slept with him,” I say, before the dam breaks and I can’t stop the tears from streaming down my face.
“Why do you think Trent sent them?” he asks. That’s definitely the million dollar question. Why would Trent send them? I don’t know that he did, but I do know that he knew about them. So either he sent them or Jaxon told him about them and he never told me. Either way, I’m not sure who I can trust anymore.
“It’s a long story and as much as I’m not ready for this, I need Jaxon to be here. I’m only saying it once, but I also need some answers.”
“I can call Jaxon to come over and we can leave and let you two talk,” Callie suggests.
“Y’all can stay. I need someone in my corner, and right now that someone has to be you. I know you don’t know me, but I know you will do anything to have Ava in your life considering the circumstances that brought you here. Y’all already know everything anyway,” I say. Mostly because I am scared of how I am going to react when I see Jaxon, the only man I have ever loved, the only man I will ever love, and never be able to have. “I don’t want Ava here though. I know he has a right to meet her and he will, but right now, I need her to be safe, and I don’t want her to hear any of this.”
“What if Leighton takes her to my parents? We don’t have to tell them what’s going on, or who she is. They won’t mind,” Brody says. I nod my head because I know she will be safe with them.
“Okay,” I whisper.
“I’ll go talk to Leighton,” Brody says, walking out of the room.
“Are you in some kind of trouble?” Ash asks quietly. That’s a good question, too. I don’t think I’m in any trouble, but I also didn’t think Trent would ever hurt me or keep anything from me, so now I am just really confused.
“I don’t think so,” I say, shaking my head. “I’m just really confused and I’m not quite sure what has been going on. It’s a long story and I’m pretty sure Jaxon isn’t going to like it.” They both look at me with pity and nod their heads at me. Great, now they feel sorry for me. I guess that’s okay, since I kind of feel sorry for me too right now.
Brody and Leighton come back into the room with Ava and Callie’s girls. I hope Ava doesn’t throw a fit about going with her. I can’t believe I am about to send her to Bo and Cindy’s house, my in-laws, but I know if I’m going to get everything out in the open tonight, I don’t need her here to overhear anything.
“Hi, baby girl,” I say to Ava. “I need you to go with Leighton for a few minutes, okay.” I say, squatting down to look her in the eyes.
“Why, mommy?” she asks quietly.
“I just need to take care of some adult stuff. She is going to take you to see Callie’s parents for a little while. They are really nice and I know you will love them. They have dogs and horses and lots of other stuff. I will come get you in a little while.”
“Okay,” she says turning around to look at Callie. “Are they coming, too?” she asks, pointing at the babies.
“They sure are, so you will have sit between them in the car and take care of them, can you do that?” Leighton asks smiling.
“Yay!!!” she says, clapping her hands.
“Thanks for doing this. Can I have your number in case I need to drive you crazy with texts checking up on her?”
“Of course, Brody give it to her while Callie and I put the girls in their seats,” Leighton says. Brody gives the baby he has in his hands to Callie and they walk outside to load the babies. Brody grabs my phone and starts typing into it before I can grab it from him. I really hope he’s not seeing my last phone call was to Trent just a few minutes ago.
“I’ll take her out and grab her booster out of my car,” I say, grabbing Ava’s hand and taking her outside.
After the kids are all loaded, I am standing here with Callie watching my baby girl drive off with some girl I met a few hours ago. What am I doing here? We turn around and walk in silence back inside the house.
As soon as we hit the living room where Brody and Ash are sitting, Brody stands up and hands me my phone.
“Anything you need to tell us?” he asks. I shake my head at him, knowing he did in fact see who I just talked to before coming over here.
“It’s not what you think. He’s a friend, my only friend for the past five years. I’ll explain everything, but I think Jaxon needs to be here.”
/> “I’ll call him now,” Brody says, grabbing his phone out of his pocket.
Jaxon
“So they really are real?” I ask again.
“They are definitely real. I’m sorry man. I wish I could help you more. I can run the prints on them and see if anything comes up, but that old, even keeping them safe in the envelope, I can’t make any promises,” our forensics guys tells me.
“Run the prints. At least I can say I tried. Thanks man for doing this and keeping it on the down low,” I say.
“No problem. Let me know if you need anything else,” he adds before heading back to the lab.
“You ready to head back home?” Collin asks, while we are walking back to the truck. Am I ready to go home? I have no idea what I want to do right now. Maybe I need to go find a bar and get into a good old fashioned fight. It’s been so long since I have punched somebody, which would probably be the one thing that would make me feel better.
I’m about to turn on a street that would probably be the worst place I could possibly go, as pissed off as I am feeling right now, when my phone starts ringing. I pull it out and see that it’s Brody.
“Hey man, I’m fine,” I answer. I know Callie is probably the one that put him up to calling me. That girl has been such a mother hen since coming into our lives a little over a year and a half ago. She has some crazy idea that she needs to keep her nose in all our lives and make sure we are all always perfectly happy.
“Where are you?”
“Nashville, why?” I ask. He is sounding very off and very nervous right now and I have a really bad feeling in my gut that I know why.
“Can you come back to town and head over to Callie and Ash’s?” he asks quietly and calmly. Something is definitely up with him.
“Sure man, what’s going on? If Callie put you up to this, tell her I’ll be fine and I will even come by and see her in the morning. It will be at least an hour before I can make it home, and that would be flying there.”
Forgiving You: A Switched Series Novella (The Switched Series Book 3) Page 2
