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She nods. “Thanks. We like it.”
“Looks like they got that addition done too,” I add.
“Oh yeah, we just had them include the construction cost of adding a new bedroom to the renovation budget, so it worked out quite well.”
A high-pitched, shrill scream erupts from the back of the house, which catches me off guard. I wasn’t aware this was a family event. “Are there more people here than just you and Granny?”
Avery twists her pouty pink lips. “You could say that.”
“Oh,” is all I say. “If you’re having family over, I don’t want to impose.”
“Don’t be silly, Tyler. You’re our guest of honor.”
“I—I am?”
“Yes. Now come on. We don’t want to keep them waiting.” Avery takes me by the hand and pulls me through the house, but stops me just short of reaching the kitchen.
She pauses for a moment to take a deep breath.
I give her hand a squeeze. “You okay?”
She turns toward me and sighs. “I’m sorry. I thought I could do this, but I don’t think I can.”
There’s a change in her demeanor. She’s gone from overly happy to see me to apprehensive.
I furrow my brow. “You’re not making any sense, Avery. Can’t go through with what?”
She opens her mouth to say something, but quickly closes it as two little bare feet slapping against the wood floor come charging toward us.
A little girl wearing a pink dress stretches her hands up into the air as she runs toward us. Her two blond pigtails bounce as Avery scoops her up into her arms. “Momeeee. Whet’s eat.”
“We have to wait a minute, Maddie.” Avery’s voice softens when she speaks to her. “I want you to meet someone special. Can you tell the nice man, hello?”
Maddie looks at me, smiles, and greets me. “Helwhoa.”
My mouth drops open as I stare at the little girl who is now in Avery’s arms. She can’t be more than two or three years old, but I’m not really good with kids’ ages so that’s a total guess.
Avery stands there, holding the girl, while staring at my face, gauging my reaction. I don’t know what she expects me to say. Once I quickly do the math, it takes me back that she would have a child with someone else so quickly after I left, but I’m in no place to judge her for her actions.
“She’s beautiful,” I tell Avery.
“Thank you. I think she looks a lot like her daddy.” Avery’s eyes meet mine and for some reason I just know.
There’s a ping of acknowledgment down deep in my gut that hits me hard in that moment. It’s not difficult to figure out why Avery was so nervous moments ago and nearly changed her mind about me staying for dinner.
I might as well ask the obvious question that I know Avery’s waiting for me to say.
I lick my suddenly dry lips, as I stand there still in shock. “Is she . . . mine?”
Avery swallows hard, then nods. “Yes.”
“How . . . When . . .” So many questions rage through my mind that I don’t even know where to begin, but I can’t hold back the biggest question on my mind. “Why didn’t you tell me about her? Didn’t you think I had the right to know that I had a daughter?”
“Of course I should’ve told you.” She bites her lower lip. “I guess I was afraid that you’d reject her like you did me and I couldn’t risk my little girl’s heart getting crushed like mine did. I’ll do anything to protect Maddie, but she’s getting older and now that she’s beginning to talk pretty well, she’s been asking more and more about you. She deserves to know her father. You and I both know how important a father is.”
Those words are like a solid punch to the gut and make me feel even more like a piece of shit for leaving than I did before.
“Avery . . . I’m . . . I . . .” It’s hard for me to express exactly what I’m feeling.
