Chapter 4 - THE RELEASE
Eric had signed the family-content release two years earlier.
Ava learned that in Coach Grant's conference room.
Not the whole contract.
Enough.
During the divorce, Tracy's account had already become profitable.
Not huge.
Enough to matter.
At the time it was called Miller Home Days.
Recipes.
Home organization.
Cheap clothes.
Ava occasionally appeared.
Eric hated the constant filming.
Tracy accused him of resenting the income because her account had begun making more than his remodeling work during slow months.
Both accusations contained some truth.
Their divorce mediator wanted rules.
No filming at Eric's house.
No medical content without both parents' agreement.
No posting Ava's school schedule.
No sponsored content requiring travel during Eric's custody time without written consent.
Then a broader clause:
Each parent acknowledges ongoing incidental appearance of the minor child in content created during the other parent's custodial time.
Eric signed.
Ava stared.
“What does incidental mean?”
Eric rubbed his forehead.
“It was supposed to mean family videos.”
“You signed it.”
“Yes.”
“Did you ask me?”
He said nothing.
“Dad.”
“You were thirteen.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“No.”
There.
He had not asked.
Tracy said:
“Ava liked doing videos.”
Ava turned.
“Sometimes.”
“You asked to be in the makeup challenge.”
“Yes.”
“You wanted the Chicago creator trip.”
“Yes.”
“You picked our Christmas reel.”
“Yes.”
Ava's voice sharpened.
“That doesn't mean I wanted you filming every bad thing that happened to me.”
Tracy went quiet.
Then Eric admitted something worse.
The divorce settlement required Tracy to contribute up to twelve thousand dollars a year toward Ava's extracurricular activities from content revenue.
Cheer.
Tumbling.
Travel team fees.
Summer camp.
Eric had liked that arrangement.
He was rebuilding his business after the divorce.
Money was tight.
Competitive cheer was expensive.
When Ava wanted private coaching last year, Tracy paid.
Eric did not ask how much of the page's income depended on Ava.
He liked not having to say no.
Ava looked at him.
“You thought if the videos paid for cheer, it was okay.”
Eric shook his head.
“Not this.”
“That isn't what I said.”
He stopped.
Ava continued.
“You didn't want to look too closely.”
Eric's face changed.
“Yes.”
There.
His choice.
Not equal to Tracy filming her.
Still part of the machine.
Coach Grant excused herself to handle dismissal.
The three Millers remained.
Ava said:
“I’m staying with Dad tonight.”
Tracy folded her arms.
“That isn't a permanent decision.”
“I didn't say it was.”
“You have school clothes at my house.”
“I'll get them later.”
“Ava—”
“No.”
The room went quiet.
Tracy looked at Eric.
He looked back.
For once, neither parent decided for her immediately.
Eric said:
“Okay.”
Tracy's eyes filled.
She hid it by looking at her phone.
Ava noticed.
Of course she did.
The phone had been in her mother's hand nearly the entire time.
“Give me that.”
Tracy looked up.
“What?”
“Not forever.”
Ava held out her hand.
“While we're talking. Put it down.”
Tracy stared at the phone.
Then placed it face-down on the table.
Ava felt something change.
Small.
Real.
Then the phone vibrated.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Tracy ignored it.
The fourth vibration made her look.
Ava saw the sender before Tracy flipped it back over.
BROOKE ELLIS
Ava knew the name.
Brooke had managed Tracy's account until the previous year.
Tracy and Brooke had supposedly “grown in different directions.”
The preview read:
Please tell me you didn't use the cheer footage.
Ava looked at her mother.
Tracy went pale.
Eric noticed too.
“What's that?”
Tracy picked up the phone.
“Nothing.”
Ava almost laughed.
“You are still doing it.”
“What?”
“Deciding when we get the truth.”
Eric held out his hand.
“Tracy.”
She stared at both of them.
Then unlocked the message.
Brooke had sent another.
If you posted Ava crying after what Willow House told us, call a lawyer before you call me.
Ava frowned.
May you like
“What's Willow House?”
Tracy closed her eyes.
