Chapter 5
Dave's POV
The moment I saw Ava's face through the gate speaker, a familiar knot of annoyance tightened in my gut. What was she doing here? Avina hadn't said a word about her visiting. Ava always had a way of showing up, unannounced, usually with some vague "feeling" or "hunch" about something. My parents hated it. *Interference,* they called it. And I, for some reason, just felt... off when she was around. Her eyes seemed to see too much, even when she wasn't looking directly at you.
"Ava, hi. What a surprise," I managed, trying to keep my voice even as I buzzed her in. I watched her walk up the long driveway, her movements too casual for someone who'd just driven all the way from Pretoria without an invitation. My mind was already racing, trying to figure out how to get rid of her quickly, politely.
When she finally stood at the door, her smile felt forced, her questions about Avina too pointed. "She's... resting. She had a bit of a restless night," I'd told her, hoping she'd take the hint and leave. But no, Ava was never one to take a hint. She always dug deeper.
She came inside, and I could feel her eyes sweeping over everything, taking in the high ceilings, the expensive furniture. "It's a beautiful house, Dave," she said, but her voice held a strange, almost critical undertone. My parents had put a lot of work into this place, chosen every detail. For a moment, I felt a flicker of defensiveness. This was our home. Our new life. Why did she always have to make it feel... wrong?
I led her to Avina's room, careful to keep a natural pace, even though every step felt heavy. I could hear them whispering from the hallway. Ava's voice, low and insistent. Avina's, soft and tired. I tried to focus on tidying the dresser, but my ears strained.
"Was it about anything specific?" I heard Ava ask, her voice a low murmur. "Anything cold? Or a strange sound?"
A jolt went through me. Cold? Strange sound? Avina had been complaining about a headache, about feeling tired, but she hadn't mentioned anything like that to me. What was Ava putting into her head? My irritation sharpened. Ava always brought this... this feeling with her, this unsettling aura that made everything feel off-kilter. My parents always warned me about people like her, people who "stirred up trouble" where there was none. *Peace and quiet, David,* my father always used to say. *That's what makes a happy home.*
Avina's voice was barely a whisper. "No, nothing. Just… *dark*. And then a really loud buzzing."
Buzzing? What was she talking about? My mind raced, trying to make sense of it. Maybe it was the new security system acting up. That was it. Probably just a faulty alarm. But Ava's presence was clearly unsettling Avina, making her imagine things. My jaw tightened.
When Avina said, "This house… it's so quiet sometimes. It's nice to have company," I almost scoffed. Quiet was good. Quiet was what we needed. Quiet was what my parents ensured. Ava was the opposite of quiet.
I couldn't have her staying here, poking around, asking questions. Not now. Not when things were finally settling. My parents had been very clear about keeping things... orderly. My father had specifically told me how important it was for Avina to adjust without any "external influences." Ava was definitely an external influence.
A plan began to form in my mind. Something that would get Ava out of the house without causing a scene, and keep Avina distracted from whatever strange ideas Ava was planting in her head.
I stepped back into the room, forcing a friendly, concerned smile. "Honey, you look exhausted. Maybe a change of scenery would do you good. Why don't we take a drive to Mom and Dad's place this afternoon? A little fresh air, a good meal. You always love visiting them."
Avina looked surprised, but a faint flush of color returned to her cheeks. "Oh, that's a nice idea, Dave. I haven't seen them in a while."
Perfect. Now to include Ava. "Ava, it's a long drive back to Pretoria. Why don't you stay with us tonight? Then, if you're up for it, you can join us for the visit to my parents tomorrow? It would be lovely to have you there, too." I made sure to emphasize "tomorrow." My parents lived a good two hours away. That would keep Avina occupied for the whole day, and more importantly, it would get Ava out of *my* house.
Ava's eyes narrowed slightly, a look that told me she was thinking, analyzing. I held her gaze, trying to project sincerity. "It'd be nice," I repeated, almost pleading.
She finally nodded, a small, tight smile. "Okay, Dave. That sounds... nice. I appreciate it."
A wave of relief washed over me. She bought it. This would work. I just needed to ensure Avina was packed and ready, and that Ava didn't get any more ideas into her head before morning. The less time Ava spent unsupervised in this house, the better. My parents would be pleased that I handled this so efficiently. This house needed to remain peaceful, calm. Anything else was... unacceptable. I just needed to maintain control.
End of chapter.
Tbc.....