“Life took you a long, long way from Blessings, didn’t it, Hunt?”

He nodded. “Not what I planned, but you know what they say about best-laid plans.”

Ava wanted to ask. But she also didn’t want to ruin this ease between them.

“I sure was sad that I didn’t get to tell you goodbye before you left, but I was even sadder when I realized something had happened. You all felt like family to me, and all of a sudden I’d lost a friend and didn’t know why.”

Hunt was silent for a long while. Almost to the point that Ava feared she’d made him mad.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up,” she said. “Don’t be angry with me.”

“No, no, it’s nothing like that,” Hunt said. “I guess by not talking about it, I’m still protecting a family who betrayed me, which makes no sense, does it?”

Ava’s heart skipped. Betrayed? Oh my God!

“I’m sorry. Please. Say no more. It’s none of my business.”

Hunt glanced at her, judging her obvious reaction of shock.

“I don’t want to do or say anything that will ruin the friendship you still have with them, that’s all.”

Now Ava was struggling not to cry. The hurt in his voice was evident.

“You’re my friend, too, Hunt. I love all of you.”

“Warts and all?” he said.

She nodded. “Warts and all.”

He reached across the table and took her hand.

“Thank you, Ava. I dreaded coming home. In my mind, I’d already lost the others, and now I was losing Mom. She was all the family I had left and now she’s gone. What happened happened. They won’t deny it, but it’s not my story to tell. One of them took something from me that changed the course of my life, and the others lied for the thief. Dad told me what was done was done, and to figure something else out. Mom and Birdie weren’t part of it. Birdie didn’t even know it happened until the other day, but she was just a kid and I guess they didn’t tell her.”

Ava’s eyes welled. “Did Marjorie know?”

“I told her later what happened to me. I don’t know if they ever told her the truth, and now it doesn’t matter. As soon as I get the place fixed up, I’m out of here.”

“I’m sorry that happened, but I’m even sorrier that I’m going to lose you all over again,” she said, then stood and began gathering up the trash from their meal. “I need to let you get back to work.”

Hunt stood. “No, ma’am. You cooked. I’ll clean up.”

Ava managed a smile.