“Better?” he asks as he sucks his fingers into his mouth, inducing another wave of aftershocks in her body.
“Temporarily,” Avery replies as she gazes at the hard-as-steel bulge preparing to burst from the waist of his pants. “It will hold me over until we get home.”
Under his breath, she hears him say, “Naughty girl,” as he reaches for her bag and sweater, hands them to her, then takes her hand and escorts her from the house.
They arrive at the diner fifteen minutes later and stand at the host’s desk, waiting to be seated. She directs them to a private room off the back hidden around a corner, but instead of entering Avery rests against the wall and takes a few deep breaths.
“Logan, what if they hate me?”
“They won’t hate you, sweetheart. They may be confused and upset, but none of this was your fault. And if they make you feel uncomfortable, we’ll leave okay? You can still have a relationship with your father,” he says as he gently tucks some loose hair behind her ear. “Come on, you can do this. I’m here with you.”
Logan opens the door to the private room and steps in behind Avery. Conversation flows around the full table, but her attention is clutched by the two men at the end of the table.
“Mr. Connelly?” Logan asks, his vision focusing on the same men at the end of the table. Shaking his head in confusion and a hint of betrayal, he takes her hand, looks at her and then back to the man sitting beside Joseph. “Austin, I swear I didn’t know.”
“Didn’t know what?” Austin inquires. “I didn’t realize you were joining us.”
Avery is rooted in her spot, unable to speak as seven pairs of eyes focus on her, narrowing in question.
Joseph stands from the table and walks over to the entrance of the room, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. Avery makes sure that her clammy hand never leaves Logan’s grasp.
“I believe I can answer that for you, Austin. Everyone, this is your sister Avery.”
“Sister? What the fuck, Dad?!?” Austin hollers, his voice bellowing across the room as he stands from his seat.
Avery glances nervously at Logan, biting her lower lip, letting her teeth sink deep into the tissue as the room fills with hushed chatter, the murmurs overtaking the small room. She works to keep the tears at bay.
Thankfully, Amy speaks up, instantly taking charge of the situation.
“Sit down, Austin. Yes, she is your sister - your half-sister. And if you all would stay put, your father and I will explain everything to you. Let’s help Avery feel welcome; we’ve been searching for her for a long time,” she clarifies. “Let’s not scare her off.”
Avery continues to stand frozen, but when she feels a tug on her hand she glances up at Logan and he smiles down at her.
“Where would you like to sit?”
She looks around the table at the random spattering of open seats unsure if she’s willing to sit apart from Logan. Luckily, one of the females at the table removes her bag from the chair next to her, opening two seats next to one another.
“You two can sit here,” she says quietly.
Moving in that direction, Avery sits down beside her, taking notice of how similar she looks to her mother. Long straw-colored hair, chocolate brown eyes, pale skin, and cute tortoiseshell frames perched on her nose. She’s cloaked in a black turtleneck and a long brown wool skirt. She looks a bit dowdy for someone with such striking features.
“Thank you,” Avery murmurs as she sits down.
Settling into the chair next to Avery’s, Logan says, “It’s, uh...nice to see everyone,” before interlacing their fingers together.
The woman across from Avery, who also has the same brown eyes and blonde hair as her mother, only with her blonde locks in a short wavy bob, gazes at her in astonishment as she mutters, “Christ, she looks just like Jameson.”
Realizing she spoke the words out loud, she shakes her head and turns her attention to the head of the table, glaring at her father expectantly.
“Avery, would you like anything to drink?” Logan asks, leaning close to her ear, his concerned voice wrapping around her like a life raft.
She responds with a shake of her head, knowing that her trembling hands couldn’t handle a glass of liquid at the moment.
“You all are probably not aware that there was a time your mother and I were separated.” Gasps ensue and Avery can hear Austin begin to form a question, but Joseph stops him cold. “Please let me finish before you ask or say anything. This isn’t easy for any of us. I love you all and I love your mother, don’t ever question that.”
Avery glances around the table and instead of seeing anger or confusion, she sees the faces of the children that love and respect their father. Willing to stand behind him and follow his lead.
“As I explained to Avery, while I was separated from your mother I had met a woman. It happened only once and that moment made me realize that all I needed was back at home waiting for me. I told your mother everything that happened and she forgave me. You have to understand that I hated myself for how weak I was, but I was so lost. I was only thirty, with three kids and a wife, and I lost the sense of who I was. Your mother took me back and I thank my lucky stars every day that she has such a forgiving heart.” He grabs her hand and kisses the back of it in a sweet gesture.