“We’re all volunteer firefighters just like our dad. The town isn’t large enough for its own firefighters, except for dad who runs the department.”
“Oh, I had no idea. That’s very admirable of you all.”
He nods and as he scoots his chair from the table, the rest of the Connelly clan stands as well.
“So, how do you feel?” Jameson asks as they leave the restaurant.
Logan is walking ahead with Austin, most likely inquiring about the school rebuild and Avery walks behind the group.
Jameson’s question takes her by surprise and her confusion is detectable when she nervously replies, “What do you mean? Of course, I’m happy to meet all of you; I’ve never had a real family like this before.”
Wrapping his large hand around her arm, he halts her movement.
“No, Avery. Don’t let them fool you. How does it feel to destroy a family just so you can have one?”
And then he stalks off, anger seeping from his body in his rigid stance.
“Don’t listen to him, Avery. He’s upset. Growing up he never liked surprises.”
Avery turns toward the voice coming from the private room they just exited. That’s when she notices Amy’s petite figure shielded by the door.
“I’m sorry, Amy. I never considered how this would affect your family. I was too wrapped up in the notion of meeting my father and spending time with him.”
Amy steps forward, out of the shadowed weight of the door.
“Avery, you’re a special girl that deserves to be in the lives of her father and siblings. Don’t forget that your father and I have searched for you since the day we knew you existed. There was never any question that we loved you and wanted you to be a part of our family. Jameson and the others are just struggling to understand how the father they grew up with could be this man, who in their eyes, cheated on their mother. But, sweetie, it was never like that and I’ll speak with them to make sure they understand that, too.”
“I just never expected for any of this to happen, you know?”
“I know. You’re a smart girl with a kind heart, always putting others ahead of herself.” She looks off down the hall, toward the exit and smiles. “I think you’ve met someone that understands you and wan
ts you to have everything your heart desires. The way that man looks at you reminds me of how your father looks at me.”
Avery follows her gaze and smiles when she sees Logan heading their way.
“I love him.”
“He loves you, too. Logan’s a good man and a good friend to Austin. We can’t wait to welcome him to the family,” she says as she pets Avery’s cheek lightly, a hidden gleam in her eyes before she slides past Logan and heads toward Joseph.
“Hey, babe. Everything okay?”
Looking up at his handsome face, his chiseled jawline and two-day scruff, Avery can’t help but release a contented sigh; Jameson’s comment forgotten for the time being.
“Everything is perfect.”
Chapter Nine
AVERY TRAILS BEHIND LOGAN into the house, her mind seemingly elsewhere. He didn’t want to bring up the interaction he witnessed between her and Jameson. Logan could tell her brother said something that upset her, he could see her eyes widen and her chest expand in a sharp intake of breath from the other side of the restaurant, but Austin assured him that Jameson just needed time to adjust to the thought of the man he loved and respected fathering another child.
She follows Logan into the bedroom where she promptly settles on the chair in the corner of the room, shoes left on the floor and her knees brought to her chest. She’s in self-protection mode.
Logan walks to the chair and kneels in front of her, bringing her feet to rest back on the floor.
“Tell me what’s bothering you. I know you’ve got something on your mind.”
He waits for her to answer, but she continues to look outside, avoiding eye contact with him.
“Avery.”