“Mom, this is Avery. Avery, this is my mother, Mary.”
Mom grinned, pulling Avery in for a tight hug. “You are a pretty little thing,” she said as she pulled back, looking her over.
I could tell Mom was shocked that the friend I had brought home was female. I could have told her I was seeing someone, but I hadn’t called her since the accident.
“Pleasure to meet you.” Avery’s voice shook, but she kept a smile on her face. It occurred to me why she was nervous. She wasn’t judging me, or even my parents. She wanted this to be perfect because she loved me. Guilt panged in my gut from what a jerk I had been for most of the trip.
“I expected you earlier,” Mom said as she made her way toward the kitchen. I slid my fingers in Avery’s and gave her hand a gentle squeeze as we followed. Mom’s back was to us, but I could tell by the sound of glass clinking she was refreshing her drink.
“You didn’t know I was coming until a few hours ago.”
“It’s my fault. I made him stop at least a dozen times,” Avery said.
Mom smiled at Avery, but once she glanced in my direction, her lips pressed into a hard line.
“Well, at least you made it.” She shook her head in disapproval as she picked up a tea towel, folded it, and dropped it back on the table.
“Did we miss dinner?” I asked, rubbing my thumb over the back of Avery’s hand.
Mom laughed. “You know I don’t cook.”
“I’ll order something, then. We haven’t eaten. You have a menu for Wok n Roll?”
Mom pulled open a kitchen drawer, sifting through a few menus before holding one out to me. Avery’s eyes lit up at the thought of Japanese food.
“They don’t deliver anymore. You’ll have to pick it up,” Mom spoke as she swirled the amber liquid in her glass.
“No problem.”
“Are you hungry?” Avery asked, her voice almost shrill.
“Whatever,” Mom said, waving us away. “Just something, I’m not picky.”
I pulled Avery from the house, unable to walk fast enough. Once we sat in the car, Avery touched my knee.
“You okay?”
I nodded, pulling back my cheeks to form some sort of a smile.
“You don’t have to pretend for me. It’s okay. We can leave if you want.”
I looked down. “If you’re looking to marry into a new family, mine isn’t it, Avery. I shouldn’t try to cheat you out of that.”
“You’re my family, remember? And I’m yours.”
I kissed her knuckles and started the engine, pulling out of the drive and onto the road. “We should stop by Dad’s.”
“Is he close?” Avery asked.
I breathed out a laugh. “Just down the road.”
She smiled, and I made a detour to my father’s home. I hadn’t let him know I was coming. Part of me had been afraid that after Avery met my mom, she’d want to go home.
When I pulled off the main road onto the dirt path leading to his trailer, I felt like I had been gone too long. I grabbed Avery’s hand and squeezed.
“You look happy,” she observed with a surprised grin. “Thinking about dinner?”
I parked my car next to my dad’s flat-black Impala and turned off the engine. “But you’re getting ready to meet the best damn cook this side of the Mason-Dixon.”
My father stepped out onto his porch as we exited the vehicle, his grin widening as he recognized who had come to see him.
“My boy,” he called out proudly as he hurried toward me with open arms. I grunted as he pulled me in for a bear hug that knocked the air from my lungs.
“And who is this?” he asked as he pulled back from our embrace.
“Dad, this is Avery. Avery, this is Silas, my father.”
“Wow,” she said. “The resemblance is incredible.”
“Your name is Avery?” Dad asked, fighting a laugh. “You’ve got to be shittin’ me.”
“God has a sense of humor,” I said.
“He sure does. That’s how you got this ugly mug,” he shot back, winking at Avery.
The worry in her eyes had all but disappeared, and she seemed more like the girl I’d fallen in love with.
“We don’t look that much alike,” I said. “My hair isn’t gray.” I laughed as my father hit me lightly on the chest with the back of his hand.
“Watch it, boy. I can still kick your ass,” my father warned. He grabbed Avery in a playful hug, lifting her from the ground as she squealed.
“You wish, old man.”
With Avery’s feet firmly planted back on the grass, we fell silent as he took us in.
“It’s been too long, Josh.”
“I know.” I nodded in agreement as I looked over his old Impala.
“But I see you’ve been taking care of Mabeline.” He nodded his chin toward my car. “I must have taught you somethin’ right.”
“Avery, if he’s half as good to you as he is to that car, you’re one lucky lady.”
She looped her arm in mine and snuggled against my side, and I felt a little taller, seeing her so happy, and maybe even a little relieved to be around my dad.
“He’s a good man. He works hard. I’m very lucky. You should be very proud.”
“I am.” Dad’s smile wrinkled the skin around his eyes. “Did Josh ever tell you about the time he grabbed the neighbor’s horse fence and pissed himself?”
“We gotta get back to Mom’s,” I said, rubbing my hand roughly over my hair.