During the next few weeks, I almost felt guilty for feeling somewhat...happy.
Ava was making me happy. Of course she always did as my best friend, but even more so as my...girlfriend? I assumed that's what we were. We didn't label it yet, but we were acting like it. I didn't feel the need to label or clarify anything yet.
I didn't even really bother telling my family at her. But Ava told her mom and dad- she is an only child-that we were more than friends and her parents were ecstatic. Ava's parents, John and Corinne, were very accepting and loving people.
It was a transition from going to just being best friends with Ava to actually having us be romantic and sexual with each other. Well, the sex felt natural. Just the talking part, when we were fucking or fooling around. And the texting. Should we talk as normal or be flirtatious with each other? I noticed we were both taking more of the flirtatious route. We wanted to spend more time with each other too. I wanted to get out and do things with Ava, more than just our coffee dates. Which was unheard of for me since April went missing.
A few weeks went by and it was then the night before Thanksgiving. Ava texted me asking if I would be down to go out. I said yes, to get my mind off the obvious that was going to be tomorrow- Thanksgiving without April. And that was a very tough pill to swallow. Everyone would be there except for her. Unless some kind of miracle happened, but I didn't have hope of that.
I put on a pair of black skinny jeans with rips, a plaid shirt, and a leather jacket over it. Ava was going to pick me up and we're going to head to a local bar and restaurant, Brew.
Of course, with it being the night before Thanksgiving- the biggest party night of the year- it was packed. Ava and I stood by the bar with our drinks in hand.
"Can we stay for just like an hour?" I asked Ava, over the noise, "It's packed here."
"I'm right there with you. Let's leave soon." Ava agreed with me.
Then I heard a very familiar voice say, "Josephine! Hey!"
I turned to see Amira walking toward me, a beer in hand. She had on dark wash jeans, a black button down, and blazer. She had on jewelry and her black hair was straight and in a ponytail. A far cry from when I saw her in her police uniform recently. And her more tomboy-ish appearance back in high school.
Amira is a beautiful woman, no denying it. She has deep brown skin, big brown eyes, and beautiful features. She was tall- around 5'8, and slim but athletically built.
"Hey, Amira." I said, giving her a quick hug.
"It's good to see you out having fun." she grinned at me, and then turned to Ava, "How are you?"
Amira and Ava knew each other- when I was dating Amira, Ava was my best friend. Crazy how things change. Now Amira was more like my friend and Ava was basically my girlfriend.
"I'm good!" Ava gave her a polite smile.
We all stood there for a second, and finally Amira asked me, "Is your family doing anything for Thanksgiving?"
"My mom is hosting dinner. We are going to try to have as nice a dinner as possible." I said, "How about you?"
"My parents are hosting dinner, I am going to be going to their house." Amira said, and then I heard someone yell, "Amira! Come back, I want to dance!"
She turned to look over at who called her and turned back, "Sorry, that's Elena. My new girlfriend. I'll have to go back to her." she said with a smile.
"Oh, I didn't know you had a girlfriend!" I said, "Good for you."
"Thanks." Amira grinned, "What about you, Josephine, dating anyone?"
I looked over at Ava. She gave me a small nod and smile. I grabbed her hand. "Yep. This girl right here." I said, looking at Ava.
Amira looked between the two of us. "Congrats, you two look great together." she said, "I better get back to Elena." she then walked away and turned back and grinned at us.
"Do you think she was actually happy for us?" Ava asked me. She look gorgeous in a black long sleeve body suit tucked into light wash jeans and she had on white Vans.
"I think she was. Amira doesn't do any fake shit." I said.
Ava nodded and then looked up at me and smiled. "So we are officially dating, huh?"
"Only if you're okay with it."
"More than okay with calling you my girlfriend." Ava said, and then kissed me right in the middle of the bar.
"Do you want to come to my house for Thanksgiving tomorrow?" I asked her. I didn't care if my mom would want her to or not.
Ava look slightly surprised. "Yeah, of course." she said, "My parents are going to my Aunt Peggy's. They won't mind if I don't go."
"Great. You'll sit right next to me tomorrow." I said.
The next morning, Thanksgiving, my mom was downstairs already cooking away. My mom has always loved to cook. Even though she has always been absent emotionally, our fridge is always stocked.
"Mom, Ava is going to come tonight for Thanksgiving." I said.
My mom paused. She was cutting up carrots for the stuffing. "Oh...okay. She can't eat with her family?"
"I wanted her to eat with us. Considering she is my girlfriend." I said.
My mom looked at me and gave me a small smile. "Oh, that's great honey. She's more than welcome."
My mom is confusing. Emotionally unattached, yet always very supportive if I have a girlfriend.
Once again, like the last dinner, my entire family was going to be there. And it was going to be just as weird as the last one without April. Thankfully though, Candace and Kenny were not going to be there. I wondered if they were eating together. My mom's sister, my Aunt Melissa, and her wife, my Aunt Jolene were going to be there though.
Ava showed up, wearing a long sleeved, short cranberry colored sweater dress that framed her body beautifully. I wanted to skip dinner and take her up to my bedroom.
I introduced her to my two Aunts. "Aunt Melissa, Jolene, this is my girlfriend Ava."
They both gave her a hug as my mom called, "Everyone take a seat! Dinner is ready."
We took a seat at the long dining room table. All of the food was set out.
Katie sat next to me and Ava said on the other side. She whispered to me, "So, you and Ava. It's a thing?"
I nodded and she grinned at me, and placed her hand on mine.
Once again during Thanksgiving I had that conflicting feeling. That conflicting feeling of being so happy with Ava there- but missing April like crazy. I couldn't let myself fully be happy. I mean, how could I? My older sister was gone. Missing. Hopefully alive. I look around at my family at the table- my mom, dad, Scott, Katie, Kylie, and my aunts. And then my beautiful girlfriend. I wondered where April was, if she was even eating this year for Thanksgiving. Halloween had always been her favorite holiday. I wondered if she celebrated that.
We were in the middle of eating when my mom's phone started vibrating. "Excuse me, I have to take this." my mom wiped her mouth with her napkin and got up from the table.
"Who is calling, honey?" my dad asked her, but she had already walked away. He shrugged and ate a little more turkey. Tonight had been the most lively I had seen him since April went missing.
My mom came back a few minutes later and sat down. "Office Timo called." she said.
We all turned toward her. The lead officer in April's case.
"And?" Scott asked her.
"You know how April and Candace had a third roommate?" she said, "Gabrielle. They think that she could have something to do with all this."
We all looked at my mom. Not knowing what to say.
All I knew is, if she did- Gabrielle was a dead woman.