All of the evidence so far was supposition and conjecture. As a member of the Kenner County Crime Unit, Ava wouldnt convict him on circumstantial evidence that could be explained away with one interview with the suspect. Even when the evidence had cut her to the core.
Ben hadnt told her about his activities. Seeing pictures of him with the Wayne organization had been devastating. It was as though he had led an entirely different life than the one hed had with her. Seeing her husband in those pictures reminded her that she didnt really know him. The strain of that realization more than his potential part in Del Gardos and Julies deaths had caused her to go into early labor.
Other than lying to her, the worst crime Ben had committed against Ava was leaving her and their baby. A tear breached the corner of her eye and trickled down her cheek.
Oh, sweetie, Im sorry. I shouldnt let that son of a gun make me mad. Emily hurried across the floor and wrapped Ava in a hug, smoothing her long red hair down her back. Hell come home, you wait. Hell come home and explain everything to you.
Ava let her sister hold her, taking comfort in the arms around her. Despite her doubts about Ben and his role in the organized crime world, she missed him lying beside her in their bed. She missed waking up next to him in the morning. She missed sharing the joyous moments of carrying his child, and she hated that he was missing all the changes, as well.
More tears threatened to fall, but Ava gritted her teeth and willed them to dry. She swallowed several times before she could speak. Well be fine. Dont worry about us.
But I am worried. Its not like you to be so down.
Im sorry, its just hard having your home searched over and over for any scrap of evidence leading to the whereabouts of a husband accused of being in a crime organization and responsible for a murder. She pushed away from her sister and shoved a hand through her hair. Everyone at work has been super nice about it all. They talk about the baby to my face, although I know theyre talking about the case behind my back. Another wave of emotion blocked Avas throat, forcing more tears from her eyes.
Emily reached out to brush the moisture from Avas cheek, smiling at her with that gentle, itll-be-all-right look shed given her as a child with a skinned knee. But they do talk behind your back and thats what bothers you?
Ava raised a hand. No, theyre just trying not to stress me. They care what happens to me and my baby. Theyre my friends and its their job to find the truth. She turned back to the windows and stared out at the brightness lighting the sky above the Strip. I just wish I knew the truth, she whispered, swiping at another errant tear. She forced a strained smile to the corners of her mouth and squared her shoulders. I shouldnt let it bother me.
Shouldnt let it bother you? How could it not? The bastardmanis the father of your child. Emily hugged her from behind.
Yeah. Ava stepped away from Emily and dried the tears from her eyes. I dont know whats wrong with me. Im not normally this weepy. She couldnt give in to raging hormones. Her baby needed a mother who was strong and determined to see her through life without a father. I guess Im just tired from my walk.
You shouldnt have gone so far. Two miles is a bit much when youre as far along as you are.
And as big as I am, is what you meant to say, isnt it? Ava grinned. Go ahead, your turn to tease me. I did enough when you were pregnant with your two.
Emilys mouth twisted. Its funny how they drive you nuts and you look forward to having a spare minute without them, but then you miss them so much you can hardly stand it when theyre gone.
When is Drew bringing the boys back from his mothers? Ava asked. Drew was Emilys ex-husband.
Day after tomorrow. Emily gathered her keys and purse. Id have taken them myself if Theresa hadnt quit the day before we were supposed to leave.
They couldnt find another blackjack dealer to fill in?
I wish. I miss my boys when theyre gone. Emily sighed. Ill be home by two-thirty. Ill have my cell phone on vibrate. If you need me, leave a message. Ill check it every fifteen minutes.
Dont worry. It isnt as if the babys due yet.
You never know. Babies have a way of coming when you least expect, and you were having premature contractions just a week ago.
I havent had one since Ive been here.
Dont take any chances, sweetie. Emily kissed her on the cheek and opened the front door. And dont open the door for anyone but me.
Ill be fine. Ava shooed her outside and held the door. Youre such a worrywart.
Im just a concerned sister. Now go lie down.
Yes, Mother. Ava smiled and waved as Emily drove off. Then she turned and trudged back into the house, her body tired, her mind churning up old memories of her and Ben, a constant reminder of what shed lost.
Ever since hed disappeared, Ava had called herself every kind of fool. Shed fallen into the same trap as her mother.
Falling in love with a bad boy was always a mistake. They never stuck around for the duration. Her own father had been a sexy devil with dark hair and green eyes. Emily took after their father. Ava resembled their red-haired mother, but she got their fathers green eyes instead of their mothers pale blue.
Her mother had been lured into believing her father had mended his gambling ways and finally settled down to raise their children. Hed promised to love, honor and cherish her until death. In her fathers case, until he could no longer fight the addiction. Gambling.
When hed disappeared, hed left her mother heartbroken and destitute with two small daughters to raise by herself.
Shed gone to work at a casino using skills her husband had taught her and working her way up to card dealer in less than two years. The hours were terrible, but the money put food on their table. She traded babysitting with another mother working the day shift. Theyd struggled. And they wouldnt have had to if their father had lived up to his promises.
Ava swore shed never marry anyone remotely connected to gambling. Shed never marry a liar or a man who didnt honor his promises. Ha! Eating your own words didnt taste so great. Shed committed sins against every one of her promises to herself.
Her feet hurt and the small of her back ached, testimony to walking too long that day. Shed have to relax or risk going into labor early. The doctor had warned her about overdoing it during her last month. The baby needed the last few weeks of pregnancy to fine-tune its developing organs.
Ava switched off the lights, intent on going to bed. Instead, she eased her body into the lounge chair. She should put on her nightgown and climb into the four-poster in the guest bedroom, but she wouldnt be any more comfortable lying down as reclining. The baby already weighed heavily on her internal organs. She couldnt imagine getting any bigger.
As she flipped through the channels, she came across an oldie and would have skipped right past it, but she hesitated when An Affair to Remember blinked onto the screen. Before long, she was bawling her eyes out. With tears streaming down her face, she finally shut off the television and lay staring up at the ceiling until her eyes burned and she blinked. Once, twiceGive it up, girl. She closed her eyes.