That evening, Jack was asleep on the couch with Aubrey in his arms. The baby rested her head on his chest, her mouth slightly open. There came a knock at the door.
She hesitated before giving Avice a small smile. “Actually, could I talk to you about something? Out here on the porch?”
She reached forward and closed the door behind Avice and her expression changed. “So...” she said, dragging the word out. “I have a situation.”
She gave her a warm smile. "I have a friend," she began, "who's really interested in Jack. Really interested. So interested, in fact, that he sent me to find him. You might know my friend, actually. His name's Knox. Ring any bells?"
Avice visibly paled, and she began to wring her hands. "What the hell do you think you're going to be doing, huh?"
She gave her a sympathetic smile, but it seemed false, as if she were putting on a show. "Well, you see, now I'm in a tricky situation. I have two options. Either A., I can run back to my friend and tell him everything I know. Or B., I can stay here." Her smile softened and she leaned against the wall. "I really loved Tuck, you know. Here was this sweet, gentle guy who seemed to hold this... this sadness. I love sad guys. I always want to fix them. Make them better." Her warm eyes flickered up to Avice's. "But here's the thing. He has you now, and as much as I hate to admit it, he seems quite fond of you. There's no place for me to fill here." She smiled and straightened up, stepping towards Avice. "But... if you were gone," she said softly, "well, then I would have a place. A hole to fill." She placed her hands together, folding them neatly. "So, my dear, I leave the choice to you. Either you leave permanently, or I let my little friend know about what I've discovered."
Avice visibly panicked, her eyes widening. "Don't.. Don't do this. Please.. Please. I couldn't live right without him.. We even have a child now.." She shook her head. "I'm begging you."
"Oh, yes. The child. If you'd like, you could leave her here. I know he'd take good care of her." Elyse regarded her with a raised brow. "But I have a job, Avice. I have a very important job to do and very few things would distract me from it. I'm offering you a way out, which is more than I do for a majority of my clients. It isn't personal, I promise." She checked a nail idly, but it was an act. Her eyes were deadly and focused, gleaming in the early evening light. "If you choose to leave," she said, "you will tell Tuck that you wanted to leave. You don't want him to follow you. You will not tell him that we talked and you will not try to leave him any clues. Break his heart. You can do it in a letter if you prefer, but there should be no loose ends. It's the kindest thing to do, ultimately, rather than letting him believe that you may come back."
