Chapter 6: Secrets in the Night
Awa stood outside the small café where she had agreed to meet Stanley, fidgeting with the strap of her bag. The cool evening air wrapped around her as she stared down the street, waiting for him to appear. The tension from earlier in the day still clung to her—Tina's strange closeness with Forrest, Beatrice's innocent questions, the unshakable sense that something was shifting beneath the surface of her life.
But when Stanley appeared from around the corner, a warm, familiar smile on his face, Awa felt a sense of comfort wash over her. His presence was steady, reassuring in a way that she needed right now. He jogged the last few steps toward her, a small bouquet of wildflowers in hand, the petals slightly rumpled but beautiful in their simplicity.
"Hey, you," Stanley greeted her, his tone soft, as if he could sense the undercurrent of her stress. He held out the flowers with a boyish grin. "I know I messed up by not picking up earlier, so I figured these might help my case."
Awa crossed her arms, though a smile tugged at her lips. She wasn't really mad—just a little let down earlier—but it was hard to keep any pretense of irritation going when he looked at her like that.
"Flowers, huh? You're lucky I like them," she teased, accepting the bouquet and bringing them to her nose, inhaling the sweet scent. "But seriously, I was worried. You didn't call, and I needed to hear from you."
Stanley's expression softened. "I'm sorry. The place where I was had terrible signal, and I didn't realize until after I got back into town. I should've checked in sooner. I didn't mean to leave you hanging like that."
Awa let out a small sigh, shaking her head. "I know, I know. I guess I just missed you."
Stanley's hand slid around her waist, pulling her into a gentle hug. "I missed you too. How about I make it up to you by taking you to that little Italian place you love?"
Awa laughed, feeling the stress of the day beginning to melt away. "Alright, you're forgiven. For now."
They spent the rest of the evening walking through the city, enjoying each other's company. Stanley's easy-going nature had always been one of the things Awa loved most about him—he made her feel grounded, especially on days when everything else seemed chaotic. They talked about small things, their conversation light and playful. By the time he dropped her off at her apartment later that night, Awa felt like she could finally breathe again.
When Awa stepped through the door of her apartment, she was greeted by the sight of Tina in front of the mirror, meticulously applying makeup. Her sister was dressed in a sleek, form-fitting dress, her hair styled to perfection. It was late—later than Awa expected Tina to be getting ready to go anywhere.
Awa raised an eyebrow, smirking as she set down the flowers on the kitchen counter. "Going out this late?" she asked, her tone teasing but curious.
Tina, who had been adjusting her lipstick in the mirror, glanced over her shoulder with a grin. "Yep. Got a date tonight."
Awa leaned against the counter, crossing her arms. "A date? With anyone I know?"
Tina's grin widened, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Actually, yeah. You do know him."
Awa's curiosity piqued. Tina was never shy about her dating life, but this felt different—there was a spark in her eyes, something Awa hadn't seen in a while. Before she could press for more details, Beatrice came running into the room, her little feet thudding against the hardwood floor.
"Mommy!" Beatrice squealed, launching herself into Awa's arms. "Can we watch the princess movie now?"
Awa chuckled, scooping up her daughter. "Yes, we can watch the princess movie. But what's Aunt Tina doing all dressed up?"
Tina waved them off with a laugh. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Go watch your movie, and I'll catch up with you two later."
Awa smiled, though she couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of unease. Tina wasn't a kid anymore, and Awa had long stopped trying to police her sister's love life. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was a little off. But as Beatrice tugged on her arm, demanding her attention, Awa let it go. It wasn't her business, after all.
"Alright, go have fun," Awa said, giving Tina a playful wink before carrying Beatrice into the living room.
An hour later, Awa and Beatrice were curled up on the couch, watching the animated princess movie that had become a regular favorite in their home. Beatrice was entranced by the glowing screen, her little body nestled against Awa's side.
Just as the princess on-screen began her dramatic rescue of the prince, Beatrice looked up at her mother, her brow furrowed in thought. "Mommy," she began, her voice soft but serious, "do you think Mr. Forrest would make a good dad?"
Awa blinked, caught off guard by the question. Her immediate reaction was to laugh, though there was a flutter of something else beneath her amusement. "Forrest?" she asked, feigning surprise. "He's way too young to be anyone's dad, sweetie."
Beatrice, however, didn't seem convinced. Her lips pursed in a pout, her eyes wide with curiosity. "But he was so nice at the café before. And he has a big dog. I like big dogs."
Awa chuckled, ruffling her daughter's hair. "I'm sure he does make a good dog owner, but that doesn't mean he'd be a good dad."
But as Beatrice's disappointed expression lingered, Awa found herself thinking about it—about Forrest. There was no denying that he was handsome, in an intimidating, sharp-edged way. And despite her initial unease, there had been something surprisingly gentle about the way he interacted with Beatrice earlier.
Awa shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away. What was she even thinking? Forrest was barely out of high school, and he belonged to a family that was surrounded by mystery and danger. There was no room for daydreams like that. And yet...
Awa sighed softly, her mind betraying her as it wandered further down that path. She had to admit—being with someone like Forrest, someone so confident and striking, would probably be exciting. And despite herself, she couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to be in the arms of someone like him, someone who could command a room without even speaking.
"Maybe," Awa said suddenly, her voice soft and contemplative. "Maybe Mr. Forrest would make a good dad... in some ways atleast." Awa added with a blush.
Beatrice's face lit up, her smile wide and bright. "Really? You think so, Mommy?"
Awa nodded, laughing at her daughter's excitement. "Sure. He seems nice enough. But let's not get too carried away, okay?"
Beatrice giggled, cuddling closer to her mother. "Maybe Aunt Tina can make Mr. Forrest my dad tonight!"
Awa froze, her body going rigid as the words registered. The casual, innocent way Beatrice said it sent a shockwave through her, and in her moment of distraction, the coffee cup in her hand slipped. It fell to the floor, shattering on impact, the sound ringing sharply through the living room.
Beatrice jumped at the noise, but Awa barely noticed. Her mind was spinning, her heart pounding in her chest. Aunt Tina? Her mouth went dry, her thoughts scrambling for an explanation. Beatrice must have overheard something—something about Tina and Forrest. But how could that be?
Awa knelt down, her hands trembling slightly as she picked up the pieces of the broken cup, ignoring the hot coffee that had splattered across the floor. "Beatrice," she said slowly, trying to keep her voice steady, "what do you mean? Who is Aunt Tina with?"
Beatrice, still sitting on the couch, shrugged innocently. "I don't know. I just heard Aunt Tina talking about Mr. Forrest."
Awa felt the ground shift beneath her, the puzzle pieces finally falling into place. Tina's late-night date. The way she and Forrest had acted at the café. The lingering looks, the casual touches. It wasn't just her imagination.
A cold, hard knot formed in Awa's stomach as she stood up, the shards of the broken cup forgotten in her hands. Her mind raced, questions swirling around her. Tina and Forrest? How long had this been going on? Why hadn't Tina said anything?
More importantly, why did it bother her so much?
Awa's chest tightened, a strange mix of emotions rising to the surface—anger, confusion, and something that felt uncomfortably close to jealousy.
Without another word, she left the mess on the floor and scooped Beatrice up into her arms, holding her tightly as if doing so would somehow make sense of everything.
But nothing made sense anymore. And for the first time in a long time, Awa didn't know what to do.
The night dragged on, and Awa found herself lying awake long after Beatrice had fallen asleep. She stared at the ceiling, her mind restless with thoughts of Tina and Forrest. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw them together—laughing, flirting, maybe even... no, she didn't want to go there.
But no matter how hard she tried to push the thoughts away, they kept coming back, gnawing at her, refusing to let her rest.