Starting Now (Blossom Street #9)(57)

Making friends hadn’t happened overnight, but gradually, as she extended herself, she found connections with others. By being open she’d been the one to receive this precious gift of friendship. There was Sharon Jennings from the hospital, and Libby had connected with Abby Higginbotham in HR, too. They’d met for coffee in the hospital cafeteria a couple of times and had laughed together.

Phillip, too.

Her spirits faltered as she thought about him—not that he was ever far from her mind.

Phillip had been another surprise, but instead of appreciating him for the gift he was, she’d blown it, which was fairly typical of most of her relationships with men. She had no one to blame but herself, but this time she felt deep regret, and an even deeper sense of loss. She couldn’t help wondering if it was too late to make things right with him. She’d like to try but was afraid.

On her way out the door of A Good Yarn, Libby checked her cell to be sure she hadn’t inadvertently missed Sarah’s call. The paralegal had said she’d get back to her about the job offer after she’d spoken to her husband. Libby expected her to phone at any time.

No calls. Surely she’d hear from Sarah by the end of the day.

After stopping by The French Cafe for two take-out lunches, Libby got into her car and checked the address Lydia had given her for Ava’s grandmother’s house. She followed the tin voice from the navigational guide to Jefferson Street, and parked in front of a plain white house.

The first thing she noticed was that the yard needed mowing. Where once there’d been flowerbeds, there was now nothing but tall weeds. The contrast between this house and the one next to it was striking. The lawn next door was well groomed, with vibrant flowers hanging from baskets across the porch. Two boys sat on the front steps of the neighbor’s house, one holding a basketball.

Libby opened her car door and climbed out. She walked down the cracked cement walkway leading to the front door and rang the doorbell. No one answered right away, so she knocked against the wood.

One of the boys from the house next door ran across the lawn toward her. “Whatever you’re selling, we aren’t buying.”

Libby smiled at the youth, who looked to be fifteen, maybe slightly older. “I’m here to see Ava.”

“What for?” he demanded. He tucked the basketball under his arm and regarded her suspiciously.

“I’m a friend of hers. Just tell her Libby is here.”

He broke into a smile, revealing slightly crooked teeth. “Are you the lady who took her to a restaurant lunch the other day?”

“That’s me.”

He relaxed right away. “Oh, hi, I’m Jackson.”

“Ava’s brother.”

“That’s me,” he said. “Come on in. I’ll get Ava for you.” He opened the front door and led the way into the house. “Ava!” he shouted. “You’ve got company.”

Libby stood in the middle of the living room and looked around. A couple of empty beer cans sat next to an overflowing ashtray by a recliner. Her attention went to the kitchen. The table still had dirty breakfast dishes on it—crusted bowls and a cereal box, plus an empty milk container that was on its side. The sink appeared to be filled with unwashed dishes.

The bedroom door opened, and Libby saw Ava walking toward her. Ava broke into a smile as soon as she saw her. “Libby, what are you doing here?”

“I thought we were going to meet up at the yarn store?”

The teen’s face went slack. “Grandma said I can’t go there anymore.”

“Oh dear, then I guess that means I’ll just have to come to you. Have you had lunch yet?”

Ava shook her head.

Jackson spoke. “She didn’t eat breakfast, either.”

Instinctively Libby knew why. If Ava stopped eating she’d lose weight and her grandmother might not guess she was pregnant. “Oh, Ava, you need to eat.”

“Grandma says she’s getting fat and she is,” Jackson muttered. “Doesn’t seem right, though, because she barely eats anything.”

Libby resisted the urge to hug the poor girl. She wanted to help Ava, to protect her, but her options were limited.

“Would you like to go out for a while?” Libby asked. “To the park or the waterfront?”

Ava’s eyes brightened and then just as quickly she dropped her gaze. “I can’t. Grandma grounded me.”

“What did you do?”

“Nothing,” she insisted.

“She was mad because Casey’s mom came to visit and she took it out on Ava,” Jackson explained. “I told her that wasn’t fair, but then Grandma grounded me, too.”

A hint of a smile showed in Ava’s eyes. “Only Jackson ignored her.”

“Grandma’s at work; she won’t know if I go over to Peter’s or not, right?” He looked to Libby for confirmation.

“My father always knew,” Libby said. “I don’t know how he did, but he did.”

“Spyware,” Jackson said. “But Grandma can’t afford anything like that.”

Libby wasn’t entirely sure what he was talking about, but she could guess spyware had to do with hidden cameras watching every move she made. Libby doubted her father had had access to that type of technology when she was a teenager. “Maybe,” she said. “I did bring lunch, though. Are you hungry?”