More Than Pride by Kell, Amber (good books to read for beginners TXT) 📕

“I’d also like to throw Tegan a party this year,” he continued. “I hoped we could have it at your place.”

“Josie and I would be happy to host. Have you settled on a theme? A guest list? A date?”

“No. I sort of hoped that you girls would just do whatever needs to be done.”

I smiled. Now I knew why Booker had wanted to talk to Jemma in person.

“We’d be happy to throw Tegan a party,” Jemma said. “Tegan’s birthday is June third, so maybe we can have the party on Saturday the fifth. How about I check with Josie, and we come up with a plan. I’ll email you the information, so you can take a look before we put anything in play.”

Booker looked relieved. “Thanks. I’d appreciate that. I know Tegan will enjoy a party, but the whole thing seems sort of overwhelming.”

“No problem,” Jemma said.

He took a long sip of his beer.

“So, do you know anything about the missing teen?” I asked. I supposed that just because Booker worked at the marina didn’t mean he knew anything, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to ask.

“Not really,” Booker said. “One of the guys said that he might not be the only kid missing, but he didn’t elaborate, so I’m not sure who he was talking about if, in fact, it’s true and there’s a second victim.”

“So maybe Zane was with someone when he went missing,” Jemma stated.

Booker shrugged. “I’m not sure. Maybe. I’m not even sure that particular rumor is true.” He looked at his watch. “I need to get going. I’m supposed to meet up with Tegan.” He hugged Jemma and me. “Thanks again. I really do appreciate the help.”

After Booker left, Jemma and I decided to order an appetizer to go with our wine. While we were waiting for the appetizer to be delivered, Jemma got a text from Artie.

“Artie says that he hasn’t seen Zane since Friday at school. He said they sometimes hang out on the weekends, but Zane told him he was busy. Artie had no idea what he’d been busy doing, and he had no idea why Zane wouldn’t have called and invited him to go paddleboarding with him if that’s what he had planned since they generally went together.”

“So Zane’s behavior was atypical leading up to his disappearance. I wonder what he was doing.”

“I don’t know, but the odds are that whatever he was doing this weekend that would cause him not to hang out with his regular crowd most likely is what’s behind the abandoned paddleboard.”

Jemma and I decided to return home after we’d eaten our appetizer. Jemma was tired after her trip, and I wanted to look in the boxes Warren had sent, so after we arrived on the peninsula, we each went our separate way. I had so many conflicting emotions surging through my mind as I looked more closely at the financial paperwork that Warren had sent. It seemed odd to me that not only was I Ainsley Holloway, but that I was Ava Macalester as well. I really wasn’t sure what to do with that. In a way, having two identities made me feel fractured.

The boxes contained photo albums, framed photos, letters, and diaries. There were also a few pieces of jewelry, a family bible, and other odds and ends Warren had saved when he’d cleaned out my parent’s home. The note Warren sent explained that he had a warehouse full of furniture and other items he’d been saving for Avery and me if we ever made an appearance and that I was welcome to come and take a look at any point.

He also restated that he really felt bad about dropping the ball and not following up to make sure that Avery and I were okay. He said that Marilee seemed like a decent person, and he had no reason to believe she was anyone other than who she presented herself to be. I guessed I understood that. Warren was a busy man with his own life and his own family. When his cousin had died prematurely, he’d done as was expected of him and took over the financial reins of his estate. Marilee had seemed willing to raise the girls, and as far as Warren knew, that was exactly what she was doing.

Warren had expressed a similar sentiment when we’d spoken during our video chat. Part of me wanted to blame him for not making sure Avery and I were okay, and part of me understood why he would have assumed we were. Warren also told me that he planned to initiate his own search for Avery. Maybe with all his money and resources, he could actually find her. I planned to continue looking, but the more people who were committed to a problem, the more likely the problem would be solved.

Taking a necklace from one of the boxes, I ran a finger over the modest diamond. It was a delicate piece with a small stone and didn’t look like the sort of thing my father, who’d had a lot of money his entire life, would give to the woman he loved, but perhaps the necklace had been given to Adora before she met and married my father. The boxes of keepsakes Warren had sent contained several pieces of jewelry with larger stones that I’m sure were of greater financial value, but this tiny diamond on the delicate chain seemed to speak to me. Slipping it around my neck, I worked the clasp. Once it had settled on my chest, I fingered it, trying to conjure up a memory of the woman who’d given birth to me. I was sure there were memories stored somewhere in my mind from before her death, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t seem to access them. Maybe I was trying too hard. Perhaps I just