Chapter 1

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Ava Beck exclaimed, her blue eyes widening in disbelief as she stared at the email notification on her phone.

Ava Beck, a legend in the adult film industry, had been nominated for yet another award, this one for a scene she had shot over a year ago. Her heart raced, not from the excitement of potential recognition but from the stark reality that her past was about to collide with her carefully constructed present. The email, with its glittering award icon and congratulatory text, was a glaring reminder of the life she had worked so hard to keep separate from her role as a single mother to her fifteen old year son, Max. She quickly swiped it away, hoping to bury it amidst the sea of notifications and messages, but the gravity of the situation lingered, a dark cloud over her sunlit afternoon.

Her thoughts drifted to Max, who was currently at soccer practice, blissfully unaware of the dual life his mother led. She had always been open with him about her career, but the potential of her adult life becoming fodder for schoolyard gossip was a nightmare she couldn’t bear. Ava knew she had to tell him about the nomination before someone else did, but the words felt heavy in her mouth, sticky and hard to form. She took a deep breath, inhaling the crisp scent of freshly cut grass from the nearby field, and steeled herself for the conversation she had been dreading.

As she pulled into the driveway of their suburban home, Ava noticed the garage door was open, and Max’s bike lay haphazardly on the lawn. He must have come home early, she thought with a mix of relief and dread. The sound of laughter echoed from within, and she recognized the voice of one of his friends, a boy named Jake who she had met a few times at school events. Ava’s heart sank as she realized that she might have to navigate this minefield with an audience. She took one last moment to compose herself, the engine of her car ticking down in the quiet of the afternoon, and stepped out into the world of suburban serenity, the weight of her secret pressing down on her shoulders like an invisible burden.

Entering the house, she was greeted by the aroma of burnt popcorn, a scent that never failed to make her smile despite the chaos it often signaled. She found Max and Jake in the living room, engrossed in a video game, their eyes glued to the screen and their thumbs dancing over the controllers. The sight of them, so innocent and oblivious, only served to amplify her anxiety. With a forced smile, she called out, “Hey, Max! Can we talk for a bit?” The laughter died down, and the room grew tense as the boys looked at her, sensing the shift in the atmosphere.