Free Hidden Memories by Robin Allen Page B

know, I’ve been thinking about it for a while.”
    “We were supposed to discuss it first,” Sage scolded, picking up Ava’s garment bag and suitcase.
    “Well, I’m here,” Ava replied happily, her high-energy attitude typical.
    “Okay, come on,” Sage said, picking up several suitcases and leading the way to the car. They loaded the trunk with Ava’s mix of luggage—two garment bags, three suitcases and an old trunk. The trunk reminded Sage of the months following her father’s death in Vietnam, when they’d moved in with her maternal grandparents. Sage treasured those memories, the time before her mother married Aaron Hicks, forever changing their relationship.
    “Okay, what’s going on?” Sage asked as she turned the corner onto Peachtree Street.
    “Nothing much. I’m just tired of being at home. Ma and Daddy are driving me crazy. They bug me all the time.” Ava scanned the radio stations until she heard a rap song she liked. She turned up the volume and leaned back in the plush leather seat, popping a pretzel in her mouth.
    “I thought you were moving in with Jamilla.”
    “I was. Bought kitchen stuff, a bedroom set, everything. Then she up and changed her mind on me.”
    “I’m sorry, Ava,” Sage said.
    “Ma was so happy when I told her I wasn’t moving. You should have seen her.”
    “I bet she was.”
    “But I can’t afford to move into an apartment by myself. And I don’t want to live with them anymore. I’m tired of going to the Hall, and they hassle me every day about not going.”
    “So what about your job?”
    “I quit yesterday.”
    “I thought you liked working there.”
    “I did. But I don’t want to be a secretary forever.”
    “So what do you want to do?”
    “Design clothes—and everyone says Atlanta is the place to be.”
    “What do you know about being a fashion designer?” A memory of Ava making dresses for her baby dolls flashed in Sage’s mind.
    “I’ve been taking classes for a while. I never told Ma. She would have had a fit,” Ava said, licking the salt off a pretzel.
    “Is that why you left?”
    “Why are you tripping, Sage? You left home when you were seventeen. At least I’m twenty-two.”
    “My reasons for leaving were very different.”
    “When are you going to tell me why you left?”
    “I’ve told you why. I wanted to go to college, and they didn’t want me to go.”
    “You still could have said goodbye to me and Aaron.”
    “Why are we talking about me? You’re the one who just left.”
    “Maybe because you haven’t told me everything.”
    Ignoring her innuendo, Sage said, “Well, I’m not surprised that you’re tired of living at home or that you want to be a designer, with the crazy way you dress, but I am surprised that you would leave Brandon.”
    Ava stopped munching on the pretzels.
    Sage turned down the radio. Without looking at her, Sage had felt something change in Ava when Brandon’s name was mentioned. “What about Brandon? I thought you two were serious,” Sage persisted.
    “So did I!” Ava said, as tears threatened to fall from her pretty brown eyes.
    “What happened?” Sage asked gently.
    “He broke up with me. He doesn’t want to be tied down.”
    “I know it hurts, baby. Believe me, it will get better.” Sage reached over and patted Ava’s leg. “Men, they’re so damn unpredictable.”
    “Yeah, well, I’m going to find a new boyfriend.”
    Sage turned into her driveway. She lived in a three-bedroom house with a two-car garage in the heart of Buckhead, one of Atlanta upscale areas, just minutes from downtown. Sage had purchased the blush-colored, two-story brick house brand-new and selected the fixtures, carpeting, wallpaper and cabinetry. Sage pressed the garage door opener and pulled inside.
    “I just love your house,” Ava said, as they carried her luggage inside the house, up the spiral stairs to the second floor that had two bedrooms, a large bathroom and a loft area with a view of the living