“And what is that?’
Avery chuckled. “This is beginning to sound like a therapy session.”
Dr. Wang nodded. “Consider my license to practice in this lovely state,” she said nudging her chin, which was becoming increasingly arrogant by the moment, toward the wall. “Avery, Donavan. I’m going to help you. I won’t refuse you, Avery. It will be an honor for me to assist you in this endeavor. It’s just, you must understand. I’ve mentioned the invasive procedure—the surgery, the risk factors, the significant amount of therapy to learn and re-learn a sense of hearing. It is a lot easier for people who have had less hearing loss than yourself. In most cases, if a patient hasn’t been properly educated for this procedure, then the answer is no. People wait years to have this surgery, so they have the time to build a proper foundation. But I believe your health insurance—like some golden unicorn—bumped you up the process. We’re at ground zero. However, we do have your background of learning music. Still, this process will take a lot of time.”
“I understand.”
“There will be three months of working with a speech-language pathologist and audiologist afterward, which is a general guideline in the brochure. See, it’s not just me putting a band aid on a problem, metaphorically speaking, it’s time,” she repeated again, with emphasis. “We will all work together afterward to ensure you are ready to hear.”
Avery smiled as she did.
“Thank you.” Donavan spoke.
“Don’t thank me yet. While I understand the Castle name has a lot of pull around here. And even with shifting around our list and the platinum health insurance, I’m not sure you’re ready yet.”
Avery’s eyebrows crinkled together. “What?”
“I’d like you to see a therapist as well, Miss Castle. With a number of my patients, I strongly advise therapy. “I’ll give you a recommendation for a therapist in your area and send you two on your way.” Dr. Wang looked directly at Avery. “I’ve shown you photos of my children, Avery, and I can understand a mother’s desire to bring about happiness to her son. I will set a tentative date for the surgery.”
“But . . .”
Donavan’s hand tightened around Avery’s. She turned to him.
“Just a few sessions is all she’s asking, AC.”
Yeah, but I’m giving up my entire belief system by doing this. I’d rather get it over with. Avery fidgeted with her fingers and addressed the doctor. “If that’s what I have to accomplish to prove I want this for not only my son but for myself, then I will.”
42
Avery
The ride home was a long one. She’d used a manual breast pump a few times during their travels. Since they hadn’t been away from home in ages, they had an early dinner in Raleigh, but it was now dark. In an attempt to stay awake, she stopped staring at the YouTube video on the screen of her iPhone and rubbed her eyes.
“Babe, I already said you can go to sleep.” Donavan reached over to caress her cheek.
“Nah, we’re both tired.” She continued with the videos
“You were a YouTube junkie last night even after Junior had to go to bed. Watch some pretty inspiring stuff?”
“For the most part.” She glanced out the window.
He squeezed her thigh. When she provided her attention, Donavan said, “Hey, what’s wrong? This has been a day filled with the excitement of innovation and technology. Felt like we were in a futuristic movie at the clinic back there.”
“Ha, Donavan.” She gave him the smile he was looking for. “That’s what the secretary said when we arrived at the clinic. With an even more chipper demeanor.”
“Oh yeah.” He feigned surprise, rubbing the stubble at his jaw. “What’s wrong, though?”
“Sheesh. There’s no pulling the wool over your eyes. Last night, while you were hanging out with your friend, Tripp. . .” She couldn’t help watching him keenly at the moment. Why? Something in her stomach churned at the thought. “Anyway, Junior and I watched the cochlear video. Then a few other YouTube videos. The happy stuff, where little people were hearing for the first time, or transitioning from hearing aids and crying because sound never felt so perfect.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “You sound a little condescending?”
She huffed. “I’m not trying to, Donnie. It’s just that after Junior went to sleep, and while I was waiting up for you, I did something stupid.”
“You read the comments?” he asked rhetorically while shaking his head.
She bit her lip. “Junior and I loved the responses from the website. But the ones for the uploaded videos, they were bad. Some of them talked about deaf being . . . a disease. While others were defending the fact that the ASL community and those who chose not to make the leap and have the surgery still have an identity.”
She couldn’t tell him that the latter was the reason why she kept reading the darn comments. What some of her people were saying about not stripping themselves of who they were was the exact reason she was hesitant. Did Dr. Wang perceive that?
Avery knew that if they were given the chance to have the procedure right then and there, for her son, she would have completed it with no hesitation. After all, it was the thinking about it and considering deaf culture that had made her ruminate over the process for so long.
“Just a bunch of assholes.” Avery glanced at him. “Damn, you read the right-wing comments. You indulged in the petty-pie, AC.”
She didn’t notice his joke because she was too concerned with watching him veer toward the freeway exit. “Hey, where are you going? Donavan, we need to get home.”
“Just need to stop.” He replied, watching the road.
Donavan pulled into the parking lot of a grocery store and maneuvered around until he found a spot away from a lamp post. There weren’t too many cars. He placed his arm around Avery, beckoning her over.
“Babe, we can’t leave our kids so long.”
“You cooperate with me. I cooperate with you.” He readjusted the chair.
She pursed her lips but climbed over to straddle him
His callused palms clasped her face. “I don’t want you sitting there for hours, bad shit running through your mind. Avery, really, sweetheart, fuck what anyone has to say.”
Pouting she clasped her breast and gave an excuse. “But I’m sensitive and hormonal.”
“AC, you’re a strong, black woman.” He looked her dead in the eye. “But I know you, and I understand how you feel about deaf culture. You started your own club in elementary school with just three other folks, and shit, I scrambled to learn sign language just to be in the club.”
Though the thought of having no identity had just been shoved down her throat by an infinite number of YouTube commentators in response to other cochlear patients, a smile blew up on her face. “Hey, I thought you learned sign language to argue with me?”
“C’mon, AC. I’m not some one-note kinda guy. There are many reasons to be fluent in your language. Arguing with you was a bonus. Making sure Louis—”
“Who?”
“Louis.” Donavan’s gorgeous face darkened. “That little fuck off was the only other guy in your club.”
Avery’s head fell back, and she roared with laughter. “Wooooow, that was twenty years ago, Donnie.”
“That was eighteen years ago. Get it right.” He clamped a hand on her ass. “Well, we both know, AC, that you have your own identity. Not just sign language, but that miraculous stubborn knack you had when it came to picking up music. You’re better than everyone else.”
“Thanks,” she murmured.
“No. I’m serious. You don’t let any motherfucker hurt your feelings, girl. Only I get to hurt you.” His hands crept beneath her skirt, then his finger splayed over her anus, rubbing the tight bud.
“Oh, I’m not ready for you to hurt me.” Her cheeks warmed.
“We have an entire life to work our way up to that.” He clasped the back of her neck, his mouth descending on to hers. Their sloppy, ha
ppy kisses became ferocious with passion. Expertly their tongues danced. Avery snaked her hands in between them, unzipping his jeans to remove his cock.
“You want me to fuck you, right in front of this store?” he asked, as her hand began sliding up and down his shaft. Placing his immensely larger hand over hers, he paused her movement. “Unless I’m deep inside of that pussy, I ain’t cuming, sweetheart.”
“Oh yeah?” Curving the angle of her wrist, Avery continued to slide her silky palm and fingers up and down.
“You better be wet for me.” He lifted her by the waist. She reached beneath her skirt and pushed her panties to the side. Hissing against his ear, Avery slid down on him.
“That wet enough for you,” she murmured, biting her lip, enjoying the thickness of his cock surveying deep into her.
“Wetter than the ocean.” He grabbed her thigh, pulling her leg over his shoulder and then the other until she was in a pretzel position.
“Donavan, oh my, fuck . . .” A succession of curses flew from her lips. His cock was slamming against her core so deep that it hurt. The pleasure of pain made her walls spasm, and his erection drowned in even more of her wetness.
“Shit,” he growled, “Now that’s the fucking ocean.”
“Oh shit, oh . . . Donavan. You’re so deep,” she screeched. “It hurts, fuck, I love it . . . it hurts.”
He clasped a hand over her throat, squeezing softly. “This right here is the only pain you take, AC.” His cock banged into her tightness. “This is the only hurt for you. Alright?”
“Yes, yes,” she groaned. Her heaving breasts filled with milk. He reached down, tearing the front collar of her shirt. His tongue licked at the sweet liquid on her nipples.
“Now it’s gonna hurt you some more, baby. You ready?”
“Hell, yeah.”
Donavan’s biceps were massive boulders as he pumped her up and down on his cock. Each thrust slammed against her cervix, bringing with it a delightful pain, and she called out his name.
She clutched one hand out at the driver’s side window and the other against the headrest. The angle of being folded in half was awkward, but she took every thrust, begging for more.
Their eyes met as a powerful climax exploded through Avery’s body.
Donavan leaned back and licked his lips. It took sheer concentration to watch his beautiful mouth move. “That’s right, AC, milk Daddy’s shaft.”
Her strong contractions massaged and squeezed at his erection, absorbing the eruption that flowed deep into her body, delicious and slow; almost as if her sex were drinking him in.
Kissing her forehead softly, Donavan repositioned her legs around his waist. Donavan’s hand caressed her cheek. He signed, “See, that’s the only pain you allow.”
43
Avery
One Week Later . . .
They had less than a month before closing the bed and breakfast. Dressed in jeans, a camisole, and cowboy boots, Avery stood outside at the farthest side of the muhly grass that looked like vibrant emerald pillows with the Baudelaire estate off in the distance. Right behind it was the lake, which Avery thought would’ve made an even more enchanting focal point . . . until that moment as she gasped in astonishment.
Antonio had his camera and pod, and Carly was playing assistant to him. In other words, flirting like they’d done since day one.
Her brother was completing a photoshoot for possible postcards and refrigerator magnets. If there was one thing Hayden Flint had left besides a momentarily broken Carly, it was one really good promotional and sales idea.
“Oh, these are even better than the ones from the Gem magazine that your sister wouldn’t stop raving about,” Carly said, clicking through the camera.
“Thank you.” Antonio twirled his wrist, offering a half-hearted bow.
Avery took the camera and continued to glance through the photos. Carly and Antonio headed over to a blanket where she’d left a few of the Danishes she’d made this morning for him.
“I know the two of you aren’t carrying on a side conversation in my presence?” She arched an eyebrow staring back and forth at them.
Carly glanced down at the ground. Her frizzy blond hair masked the smile on her face. Antonio winked. “Maybe . . . You haven’t asked me to be God Father. this might be my revenge.”
“Oh, revenge? And not because you’ve been in love with Carly since you didn’t have hair on your—”
“Hey!” He cut a stiff hand in front of his throat.
“I was going to say pits.” Avery cackled. “Armpits, but whatever. And you, I guess you’re over Mr. Flint.”
Carly sighed.
“Good, took you long enough.”
“So, you’re okay with us?” Antonio asked.
“Okay with what? Antonio, you aren’t a kid anymore. The three years Carly has on you isn’t so bad anymore. However, I will issue a reminder to the two of you.” She spoke with authority. “It might be the beginning of summer break for all of our children.”
“I only have one,” Carly cut in.
“Then stay away from Antonio.” Avery winked. “As I was saying, before I was rudely interrupted, it’s just about summertime. Fall in love if you must. But Antonio Castle, the knucklehead, is expected to return to school in the fall.”
“Duly noted.” Antonio gave a two-finger salute.
Avery headed over to the blanket. Feeling her cell phone ping in her pocket, she ignored the rest of their conversation and pulled out her phone. Donavan texted saying Tripp had scored tickets to a professional MMA match and was going to be gone for much of today. With Junior and Joshua off for summer, and summer school beginning next week, they planned on playing videogames until their eyes burned. Avery decided to allow it for their first day off, since last night was Junior’s last baseball game. They were in the house, and so she quickly checked to see if either one of them was messaging about Anya waking up from her nap when there was another ping.
LACHELLE: We need to talk ASAP! Have someone call me.
Antonio tilted his head, gathering her attention. “Sis, what’s up?”
“It’s LaChelle. Can you call him for me?”
He hopped up from the blanket and walked over to her. “Of course, I’ll call Michelle.”
“Don’t play. I think something is wrong. He, for one, never texts me or emails to inquire if I’m still alive and kicking or ask my opinion on a musical score but . . .” Pensive, Avery dialed his number and handed the phone to Antonio.
Focusing intently on her brother’s lips, Avery waited for him to say something. His mouth tensed. He was listening to LaChelle. “Okay . . . okay. I’m going to show her now.”
“What happened?” Avery pointedly signed.
“Carly, grab my MacBook, search ‘DC Are Us Blog.’ ”
Impatiently, Avery’s snapped, “What did LaChelle say?”
“We’re going to see now.” He draped an arm over her, handing back her phone. They all sat on the throw blanket. Carly’s bottom lip dropped.
Avery was aware that she was speaking under her breath in shock. She saw Carly mumble, “Piano protégé Avery Castle sells out the entire Deaf Community.”
Avery grabbed the laptop from Carly’s hands and began to scan a question and answer prompt between what must’ve been DCAU, Deaf Culture Are US and . . . A hitch of air pulled into her lungs as Avery read the lines of the interviewee—Maxine Winters!
There were photos of them at winter formal, cheering for their football team and other events over the years, which made Maxine a credible source and apparently, Avery’s best friend. Before the Q&A, the DCAU had written a short snippet about how the blog had followed Avery after the release of her album. They loved her. With her brain moving in overdrive, she scrolled back to the section prior to the interview and read:
“The entire deaf world revered a young, seventeen-year-old Avery Castle for her ability to rise to new feats while navigating the hearing world. We are such a small society that whe
n one of our own breaks through, I almost hear angels sing.”
She paused, the sarcasm seeping through the net. The night Donavan had stopped their car so that they could chat about the YouTube videos last week in Raleigh roamed through her mind. She was stronger than this. Mouth screwed tightly, Avery continued to read how the owner of the DCAU went from being enamored by her accomplishments to disgusted.
“DCAU—Did Ms. Castle speak with you about deciding to hear?”
“Maxine Winters—Avery just didn’t feel like being a disease anymore. Those are the words she said to me. Please forgive me, I don’t agree with her choice of response. I honestly don’t know what has gotten in to Avery. It’s like we aren’t even best friends anymore. She was working on another album after the success of her first. I think that might be what went wrong. I’m not big on the entertainment world, but she told me things fell through with this new album. That has to be the reason she pushed me away. Now, she just wants to be—and again these are her words—normal.”
Carly’s movement on her right caused Avery to turn. She had no problem reading Carly’s lips this time. “That lying bitch.”
Her brother had to be reading as well as he stood just to the left of her. She scrolled past all the disgusting and deceptive words that Maxine wrought, not wasting her time on another sentence. Though an alarm went off in her brain telling her not to do it, Avery scrolled toward the comments.
Her heart fell.
The post was flooded with responses.
“She’s not an inspiration to us. English is her first language after all!” One comment read, which was probably one of the nicer ones, given that it didn’t have cusswords.
To the Deaf Community, ASL was their first language and important to them after a history of discrimination against the use of it.
Make Me Stay II: A Second Chance Romance Page 25