“So? What’s your point?”
“My point is, Ty has a right to know he’s gonna be a daddy. The question is, who’s gonna tell him, you or me?”
She got up and came around the desk, thrusting her finger at Luc. “I told you that in confidence. Now you’re gonna use it against me, to hurt me...”
He grabbed her shoulders and leaned in to kiss her forehead. “I’m not trying to hurt you. I’m trying to help you, sweetheart.” He turned to walk out.
“Luc, wait, you’re not going to tell him, are you? Please, I need more time to...”
He regarded her carefully before responding. “I’ll give you two weeks to come clean with him. If you don’t tell him about the baby, I will.”
Chapter Twelve
It wasn’t easy, but Ty finally convinced Luc to give him Avery’s parents’ address. Luc and Avery had visited the Collins home once while they were dating and Luc had formed a casual relationship with them that involved reciprocal holiday cards every year.
Ty sat in his economy rental car, staring up at the imposing residence. It was a formal estate with perfectly manicured grounds and iron gates at the end of the long circular drive. Fortunately, the gates were open now, which permitted access without an awkward explanation over the intercom.
He didn’t know what he expected to gain from meeting her parents, but he hoped the encounter would give him some insight into Avery’s reluctance to get involved with him. He knew she was angry about the episode with Lisa, but after talking to Luc, he suspected there was more to it than she was willing to admit.
He pulled up to the front door and got out of the car, running up the stairs quickly, before he lost his nerve. According to Luc, her parents were intimidating at first, but in time they came around. He only hoped they would warm up to him as quickly as they had Luc, especially without Avery to act as a buffer.
He pressed the button for the intercom and a female voice responded, “Collins residence, how can I help you?”
“Hi, my name’s Ty McCall. I was wondering if I might speak to Dr. Collins?”
“Which Dr. Collins?”
Avery’s mother was a psychiatrist, her father a cosmetic surgeon. “Both if possible.”
“Were they expecting you, sir?”
“No, but I’m a friend of their daughter. I’m only in town a few days and I was hoping to meet them. I know I should have called first, but...” He was afraid they wouldn’t agree to discuss their daughter with him over the phone so he decided the element of surprise might work in his favor.
“One moment, please.”
Ty turned around to survey the neighborhood. There were massive trees on all of the estate lots, maximizing the homeowners’ privacy. Even with a lucrative recording contract, Ty couldn’t imagine living in a house like the one Avery had called home as a child. He wanted a sprawling stone and wood bungalow on a couple hundred acres with horses and—
The door opened and a matronly woman wearing a black and white uniform smiled up at him. “I’m sorry that took so long, sir. Won’t you come in?”
He removed his cowboy hat, holding it against his body like a shield as he crossed the threshold. He looked around, barely suppressing the urge to whistle under his breath. The high ceilings were decorated with moldings that looked like they belonged in an upscale hotel and the furnishings appeared to be hand carved wood with gilded accents. The windows were adorned with silk and velvet draperies that puddled on the wood and marble floors.
An attractive woman with a chic silver bob rounded the corner. She was wearing a black business suit and her high heels tapped against the polished floor as she walked toward him. She smiled, extending her hand.
“Ty McCall. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Collins. I’m sorry I didn’t call first.”
She waved her hand in the air, flashing a large diamond and French manicured fingernails. “Nonsense, any friend of Avery’s has a standing invitation in our home.” She gestured toward the living room. “Please, have a seat.”
“Will there be anything else?” the housekeeper asked her employer.
“Ty, can I offer you something to drink?” Dr. Collins asked.
“No thank you, ma’am. I’m fine.”
Dr. Collins smiled at her housekeeper. “That will be all, Tina. But if you wouldn’t mind telling my husband we have company?”
“Of course, right away.”
Ty felt guilty at the mention of Avery’s father. He was probably intruding on their valued downtime. “If he’s busy, I don’t want to bother him.”
“He’s just catching up on some paperwork in his study, nothing that can’t wait.” She gestured toward an upholstered chair across from the sofa. “Please, have a seat. Tell me what brings you by.”
He settled on the chair she indicated and cleared his throat. He had no idea how to broach the subject of Avery with her parents. How could he probe them for information they may consider highly personal? “I’m sure my being here must seem a little odd to you, Dr. Collins.”
“Only my patients call me Dr. Collins. Please, call me Anna.”
“Okay, Anna.” He set his hat down on the ottoman in front of him and laced his fingers. He was about to offer an explanation to justify his visit when Avery’s father entered the room.
He was a tall, well-built man with close-cropped silver hair and a subtle tan. He wore tailored dress pants, a light blue golf shirt, and stylish silver-rimmed glasses perched atop his head. He regarded Ty carefully before extending his hand. “Have we met?”
Ty accepted his outstretched hand, trying to resist the urge to squirm under his close scrutiny. “No, sir. My name’s Ty McCall. I’m a friend of Avery’s.”
He smiled, shaking his head. “Ty McCall, that’s right. I was just reading about you in the newspaper. It seems you and Trey opened to rave reviews last night.”
Ty smiled, relieved that his first concert had been well received by fans and critics alike. “It was a special night, my first concert in a venue like that. It was exciting and a little overwhelming to say the least.”
“I imagine it was. Can I offer you something to drink, Ty?” he asked.
“No, thank you, sir. I’m sorry to intrude on your day off, but I was hoping I might talk to you both about Avery?”
Dr. Collins settled on the sofa, extending his arm across the wood frame behind his wife. “You met Avery through work, I assume?”
“Yes, sir. She’s my publicist.”
“Please, call me Grant. You’re lucky to have Avery in your corner. She takes her job very seriously.”
Her mother frowned. “Too seriously sometimes, if you ask me.”
Grant laughed. “I don’t think we’re in any position to judge Avery’s work ethic, do you, Anna?”
She looked at her husband, a sad look darkening her green eyes. “I don’t want her to repeat our mistakes, do you?”
He shifted uncomfortably and looked at Ty without responding. “So tell us, how is our little girl?”
“Do you see her often?” Ty asked, trying to understand the dynamics of Avery’s relationship with her parents.
“Not nearly as often as we’d like,” Anna said. “We have to plead with her to come home during the holidays.”
“Avery went away to boarding school, correct?” Ty asked, wondering if he was overstepping his bounds by bringing up what may be a sore subject.
Grant crossed his legs. “She went to one of the finest schools in the country.”
“One of my biggest regrets,” Anna said, setting her glasses down on the coffee table in front of her. “People always tell you to enjoy every moment you have with your children because they grow up too quickly. I only wish I’d heeded that advice. Avery and I never had the chance to bond with her being away at school. I’ve always regretted that.”
“Does she know how you feel?” Ty asked quietly.
Anna offered a small smile. “You’d think it would be easy for someone in my profession to express the
ir feelings, wouldn’t you? I don’t know why it’s so difficult for me to talk to my own daughter.”
Ty couldn’t imagine what it must be like to have a strained relationship with your own parents. His family had always been so close, regardless of the geographic distance that separated them now. “I appreciate your honesty, Anna.” He glanced at Avery’s father, who settled his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “I feel I should be honest with you. I didn’t come here as Avery’s friend and this isn’t a casual visit.”
Grant’s eyebrows drew together in a frown. “Then why are you here?”
Ty leaned forward. “I’m gonna be honest with you. Your daughter is the most beautiful, intelligent, amazing woman I’ve ever met in my life.”
Anna smiled. “You’re in love with her?”
Grant shook his head. “I’m beginning to see where this is headed. You’re here to ask for our daughter’s hand in marriage?”
Was he? Yes, that’s what he wanted, to know that if Avery were willing to marry him that he had her parents approval. “I do love your daughter, sir.”
“Tell me a little bit more about yourself, Ty,” Grant said.
Ty expected the inquisition. He knew Avery’s parents weren’t the type of people to blindly give their consent without having all the facts. “You know that I’m a musician, born and bred just outside of Nashville. My parents and my younger brother still live there. My oldest brother is in the military and my other brother is a police detective in Arkansas.”
Grant nodded. “Those are admirable career choices. Can I ask why you chose music?”
Ty laughed. “I didn’t exactly choose music, sir. It sort of chose me.”
Grant smiled. “I’ve met a lot of musicians who’ve said the same thing.” He winked. “In my line of work, I’ve met some pretty high-profile entertainers.”
“I can imagine.” Ty knew he probably seemed like a minion compared to the legends he’d met. The idea of their daughter settling down with a musician who had yet to make a name for himself was probably less than appealing to two high achievers like Anna and Grant Collins.
“I admire someone who follows their dream in spite of the obstacles,” Anna said quietly. “It shows you have confidence, focus, and determination. That says a lot about the kind of man you are.”
“I agree,” Grant said. “You’re making your dream come true and if you can believe the critics, you have a very lucrative career ahead of you.”
Ty dipped his head, feeling humbled by their unexpected praise. “Thank you. I certainly hope so. This is the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do. In fact, I can’t imagine myself doing anything else.”
“I read that your debut single is in the top ten,” Grant said, smiling. “That’s no small feat.”
“I feel incredibly blessed that the country music fans have taken to the song.”
“It seems you’ve got the best people in the business in your corner… Luc, Trey, Avery,” Grant said. “It’s difficult to imagine things won’t turn out the way you want them to, son. As long as you continue to work hard and believe in yourself, good things will continue to happen for you.”
“I certainly hope so. There are a lot of people counting on me. I don’t want to let anyone down.”
“Do you have a back-up plan?” Anna asked. “If your music career doesn’t work out as you hope?”
Ty chuckled. “Well, I have a degree if that’s what you’re asking, ma’am. Although I wouldn’t say I’ve ever thought of that as a back-up plan. My parents have been ranchers all their lives, but they’re selling off the land and planning for their retirement.” He hesitated, knowing he mustn’t sound like the kind of husband they’d envisioned for their only child. “So I guess the answer is no. Not succeeding in this business is not an option for me.”
Grant and his wife looked at each other and smiled. “That kind of determination will see that you do succeed, Ty. If you had a back-up plan, you might be tempted to resort to that when things got tough.”
Ty was surprised and relieved that his response seemed to please them. “I can assure you, when I commit to something, I give it one hundred and ten percent, sir.”
“Does that include your relationship with my daughter?” Grant asked. “Have you considered how you’re going to be able to give her one hundred and ten percent when you’re on the road all the time, pursuing your career?”
Ty knew it wasn’t going to be that easy to win them over. He’d anticipated they would put some obstacles in his path. “I have thought about that. Fortunately, Avery understands what it takes to make it in this business. She supports me and my career wholeheartedly. She’s as determined to see me succeed as I am.”
“That’s good to know,” Anna said. “Tell me, how long have you and Avery been seeing each other? She hasn’t mentioned you during any of our phone conversations. Not that I’m surprised. She’s never been very forthcoming about her personal life.”
“To be honest, we met a couple of years ago, but we just reconnected recently.”
“So you haven’t been seeing each other very long?” Grant asked.
“No, sir.”
“Then how do you know she’s the one, Ty?” Anna asked.
Ty chuckled. “Would it seem ridiculous to say it’s a gut instinct? When I met her a couple of years ago, I knew there was something special about her. Then when we reconnected I had to assume there was a reason she came back into my life.”
Anna smiled. “I admire a man who’s smart enough to trust his instincts and act on them before it’s too late. Too often we don’t act on our impulses and look back years later with regret.”
“Have you ever been married, Ty?” Grant asked.
Ty knew this question was coming and he’d mentally prepared for it. “Yes, sir. In fact, I’m in the process of filing for divorce now.”
Avery’s parents glanced at each other, seeming less than thrilled with his latest revelation. “No offense, but I don’t think you’re in any position to be thinking about marrying our daughter or anyone else right now,” Anna said, setting her glasses back on. She was clearly slipping from the mother role into the more familiar role of therapist. “Perhaps it would be prudent for you to take some time to analyze what went wrong in your first marriage before you consider entering into a second one.”
Ty felt certain she was going to whip out a file and start making notes at any moment. “I can certainly understand why you would feel that way, ma’am. But my marriage has been over for a number of years. I’ve had a great deal of time to reflect on the mistakes I’ve made and I can assure you I won’t make the same mistakes again.”
Grant leaned forward. “Do you mind if we ask what happened with your wife?”
Ty knew the only way he would win them over was to present himself as an open book, someone with nothing to hide. “I don’t mind at all. Abby and I were high school sweethearts. She got pregnant, so we got married our first year of college.” He looked down at his clasped hands.
Anna raised her eyebrows. “You have a child?”
“Yes, ma’am. Although Melanie isn’t biologically mine, I do consider her my daughter.”
Grant frowned. “I don’t understand. Melanie is the child Abby was carrying when you married her?”
“Yes, sir. I believed she was my biological daughter. I didn’t find out the truth until Melanie was eighteen months old. By that time, we’d already bonded...” Ty felt the familiar tightening in his chest whenever he talked about that time in his life, like his heart was breaking all over again.
“But you continued to be a father to Melanie, even after you found out the truth about her paternity?” Anna asked.
“I do my best to try and be a part of her life. Her mama’s not in the picture anymore. She lives with her maternal grandparents now, but I try and see her every weekend.”
Grant smiled. “That’s very commendable, Ty. It sounds like that little girl is very lucky to have you in her life.”
; Ty shrugged, feeling troubled that people often praised him for adding value to Melanie’s life. In his mind, she had given him more than he would ever be able to give her. Having Mel in his life had made him a better man. “The way I see it, I’m lucky to have her.”
Anna smiled at her husband. “Not a lot of men would feel that way in your situation.”
He propped his elbows on his knees. “In answer to your question about Abby, my marriage has been over ever since I found out she lied to me about Mel’s paternity. I remained in the marriage for financial reasons.” It was important to Ty that Avery’s parents didn’t paint him as a saint because of his devotion to Melanie. He wanted them to know the kind of man he was, flaws and all.
Grant glared at him. “Are you telling us your wife is supporting you and that’s the only reason you’ve stayed in this marriage?”
Ty held his hand up. “No, sir, that’s not what I’m saying at all.” He didn’t want Avery’s parents to come away from their meeting with the misguided notion that he was a saint, but he didn’t want them to think of him a deadbeat either. “My in-laws were concerned about some of the choices Abby was making. They thought she might be inclined to jump into another ill-advised marriage.”
“But she couldn’t do that if she were still married to you?” Anna asked.
“That’s right.”
Grant leaned back and folded his arms. “So you worked out a financial arrangement with your in-laws? They agreed to support you as long as you didn’t divorce their daughter?”
Ty could only imagine their opinion of him, based on the conclusions they were drawing. “No, my in-laws have never given me a dime, sir.”
Anna shook her head. “Ty, I’m confused. You said there was a financial arrangement in place that motivated you to stay in this marriage, yet you’re not receiving any financial compensation?”
Ty chuckled, wondering if he had any reason to be amused when he seemed to be losing ground with each word he uttered. “I apologize for making this seem so complicated. It’s really not. The fact is, my parents had fallen on some hard times a few years back and they were going to lose everything. They couldn’t get a bank loan, so my father-in-law stepped up and offered them a ten-year loan with very favorable terms if I agreed to stay married to their daughter.”
Reckless (Nashville Nights) Page 15