Page 124 of How You See Me
Caught off guard, Josie’s head whips to me. I shrug, giving her permission. There’s no reason to keep it secret now.
“I do, actually.”
“Really?” Ava perks up.
“Did I hear the L word?” Mom appears on the screen behind her to help her sit up, showcasing how fragile Ava’s gotten.
Mom props her up with a pillow, tightening a few strings wound around my rib cage. They loosened and squeezed throughout the hike, following along with Ava’s mood. Most of the time she was happy and involved, but there is no ignoring how much she struggles. She’s still fighting, and it costs her more and more every day.
We pause at the last overlook, the best view of the park so far.
“I can’t wait to paint this place,” Josie says absently, taking a few last shots of the towering rocks in the distance. “My next show will be filled with all the amazing places we’ve visited.”
“Haysie, are you going to her show?” Ava asks.
Josie looks away, already knowing the answer, and I wish I had a different one.
I switch the phone camera view back to me. “I’d love to, but I need to visit California and get back home to you before my leave ends. Her show starts on Sunday, and I report back to work early Monday.”
“Oh.” She chews on a fingernail, thinking. “You don’t have to go to California.”
Josie steps in front of me, saving me from the growing lump in my throat. “Yes, he does. There’s a special little girl who wants to experience the ocean, and he’s going to make sure she does.”
I squeeze her waist in thanks.
“Besides, I’ll have more shows if this one goes well.”
“Is it a big one?” Ava asks.
“The biggest. My agent will have no problems selling my work after this . . .ifall goes as we hope.”
“You already said that. What would make it not go well?”
“If no one likes my paintings or I only sell a few. I need to sell them all.”
“She will,” I add, hoping she feels my support the same way I feel hers.
“Will you call me after and tell me how it goes?” Ava asks, her voice sounding more strained than before.
Josie’s muscles go languid under my palm, touched by the question. “You’ll be the first person I call.”
“Hey,” I jokingly complain. The request means Ava has accepted Josie into our family, and I can’t put into words how much that means to me. I’ll gladly take runner up . . . this time. “What about me?”
Josie pats my abs. “Sorry, babe. Girl talk comes first.”
“Fine. But I’m second.”
With Ava still on the call, we hunt for a rock to add to her collection before stopping by the gift shop. She picks out a T-shirt and a stuffed coyote wearing a tiny Red Rock State Park logoed shirt to match hers. Josie drifts off to browse the postcards while I examine the silver charm bracelet that caught my eye when we arrived.
I grab one, plus charms to represent the places we’ve visited so far—hot air balloon, cowboy hat, music notes, and the red rock formations—setting my phone aside longenough to pay. Before I give the bracelet to her, I’ll have to find something to represent Dollywood, the fossil dig, the go-karts, and whatever we do next.
When I get back to the call, Mom’s on the screen again.
“Hey. Where’s Ava?” I ask, chest tightening.
“She’s okay,” Mom says, reading my worry. “She had a coughing fit and got sick.”
“Is that normal?”
