by Amarie Avant
“My daughter, you’ve controlled the conversation most of today, now, you need to listen. I don’t have the means to clean this up. But I have a crew more than capable of fixing things. There’s a man waiting for Salvador at his home. I do not call the authorities for anything, Donavan. Because if something had happened to my daughter . . .” Alexander gulped down the threat of murder. He turned to Donavan. “You saved my daughter’s life. I should’ve conducted a background on Esparza from the beginning. But it’s too late for regrets, and we don’t have time to talk about mistakes. So, in approximately two minutes, I’ll have a team here. One will transport Esparza home, where he will die an unfortunate accidental death. The others will clean this mess. And the two of you will take my money so that Baudelaire can be set in order sooner than . . . whatever the two of you vaguely mentioned during the dinner party. There’ll be new marble sweeping throughout the place, covering this area, and I’m sure more places where others have died. The Baudelaire estate is the most fitting place for death.” He shrugged, clearly unable to see her enchantment with the place.
“Thank you, Daddy,” Avery hugged him again then clung to Donavan’s arm.
“You don’t have to,” Donavan said.
“I do. And you have my blessing with Avery for the rest of your life.” Alexander turned to his daughter. It seemed to take enough out of him to come to that compromise. “Sweetheart, before you go forgiving me. I threatened the lives of Donavan and his parents. That is why he went into the army. Please know that I did not have a thing to do with the tea. I sent you to Sunnymead to help you, Avery. If you two will forgive me—”
“We forgive you,” Donavan said first.
Avery was still allowing her father’s words to sink in.
“AC.” Donavan tipped her chin. “He did stupid shit. We can’t go back into the past. Tonight, baby, I had plans to do something just as life-altering.”
She sniffled. “But our child is dead. You weren’t there through the pregnancy. My dad caused that.”
“No. I wasn’t there to help you through the labor and the rest of it, AC. But I’m the angry one that holds on to stuff, not you.”
She scoffed. “That’s not true.”
Rubbing a hand on her neck, Donavan said, “Well, what’s true is that we hold each other down. And we can’t work on our happily ever after with you holding on to resentment toward your father.”
Avery glanced back and forth at the both of them.
“Mr. Castle,” Donavan said, “There is one thing that we still need you to do. Our baby belongs here, next to Franny and her family. Franny is as much family to me as my parents and my sister.”
Alexander nodded.
Donavan turned back to Avery and gave her the look she often gave him when he was suspended from school. She took a deep breath and gave her dad another hug. “It will take me time to let it all sink in, Dad.”
“I understand. The two of you should go. My team isn’t fans of outsiders.” Alexander told them.
Avery stopped and took a deep breath. She ran into her dad’s arms again. “It’s starting to sink in that I-I almost di-died tonight, and Donavan saved me.” She clung to him as a child would. “And you are saving us now, Dad.”
Her father patted her back. Avery blinked a few times, glancing back at Salvador’s lifeless body. She’d made the biggest mistake with him. He’d had to be a friggen sociopath, just seemingly perfect from the start. She gave her father a weak smile before taking Donavan’s arm. The boy who she’d always fuss with over this or that had been her prince.
Avery and Donavan started out of the room. She sighed heavily. “My mom was so right about Baudelaire with all of its memories. Slaves died here. A few bad guys who worked for—the other side of her family—also died here after the Nate Turner uprising.”
“Since we’re opening a seasonal bed and breakfast,” Donavan said, “How about it is open during October. Holiday theme.”
She laughed, slapping a hand against his shoulder. “Hell, no.”
Donavan pulled her into his arms again. “Okay, doesn’t matter. We’ll just make happy memories here.” He kissed her so good that her foot tipped up.
Alexander cleared his throat. When Donavan glanced over, Avery did too.
“Will the two of you allow me a little more time to digest this, please,” Alexander said. “When Avery was just a baby, I swore to hate every man who looked her way. It’s hard for me to go back on my promises.”
Avery winked. “Don’t take too long; I’m slightly pregnant!”
Alexander clutched his chest, but his eyes brightened, he was proud of them. Donavan pulled her into his arms.
She giggled. “This has been such an awful day. I thought I’d brighten it a little. I missed my monthly. Oh, that’s actually something we should consider hashing out because I think when our son or daughter asks when he or she gets older about the birds and the bees,” she whispered, while they continued out of the room, “we did not get pregnant in the bathroom of the restaurant with the best clam chowder in all the Carolina’s—hint, hint—and we sure as shit didn’t get kicked out of said restaurant.”
He peppered her face with kisses. “AC, you are weird as fuck. I love that. Next baby will be conceived at your favorite Creole place.”
She pushed at his chest. “No, the one after that will. We have to get pregnant at the fried fish joint in Bishopville.”
He held her tight again, with them both laughing in each other’s arms. She had never thought she would, but for the first time, Avery felt okay with the fact that she’d have another child. And she’d still love the memory of Donavan Junior.
CHAPTER 40
Avery
That night, the air was cleared at the Baudelaire mansion. Donavan and Avery still regarded the place as home, and with Alexander’s financial assistance, Franny’s ballroom was beginning to be transformed into exactly what she’d described to them when they were kids. The remainder of the mansion was still undergoing massive upgrades. Alexander spared no expense. Johnson’s Construction more than quadrupled its employee headcount, and Alexander hired a museum curator to oversee the entire reconstruction process.
Avery and Donavan had agreed to pay Mr. Castle back for all the financial assistance whether he liked the idea of it or not.
The gas leak and subsequent explosion in Salvador’s home had not been completed with Alexander’s team’s usual meticulous precision. Salvador had unknowingly given the thoroughly skilled crew the capability to point the finger elsewhere and having someone to blame made the fire and police departments more accepting of other conspiracies. After all, it was discovered that Salvador had murdered Sondra Lopez, the daughter of a known drug dealer in Florida.
Much to Alexander’s dismay, Avery convinced her father to send insurance money to Salvador’s mother in Florida since Salvador hadn’t left her much of anything. She’d had to move in with other family due to the shame of what her son had done.
Learning that she’d dated a man who could abuse Carly’s coworker, Gina, let alone murder another woman had been a hard pill for Avery to swallow. But Donavan was her light at the end of the tunnel. He was her everything. He’d cut ties with Palmer once and for all, and Palmer had still promised to purchase the customary toaster as a wedding gift to them once they tied the knot.
Avery’s hand was engulfed by Donavan’s on a beautiful August day. The sun was warm on her skin. She was six weeks pregnant and glowing. The flowy, turquoise dress she wore blew in the wind, just as the willow tree swayed before them.
Josh stood before her, holding tight to her midriff. Carly had stood off to the side, unable to cope. Appearing to be asleep, Greg sat in a wheelchair beside them. He had covered his legs because he’d started to feel some pain when Donavan had helped him dress this morning. He ended up leaving his pajama pants on with his upper half sporting a dress shirt and suit jacket.
Donavan Junior’s tiny casket was already nestled between Franny
and her mother. This was the place that Avery would end up one day and Donavan too.
On the opposite side of Avery, her dad placed his arm around her. He gave her shoulder a little squeeze before she and Donavan began to pick up freshly sifted sand to place on top of the casket.
Avery hadn’t attended the first funeral. Only Alexander had when the baby’s coffin was placed in the Castle family plot. It had been a hard day for Alexander and sent him into a working frenzy. Avery waved him over, understanding now, that her own always confident father, wasn’t good with his grief. Alexander picked up a handful of sand, and it shimmered down onto the casket. Antonio came up with black roses, next Carly with a single lily. Everyone brought their own favorite flowers to leave the baby.
Verdrena dropped the bouquet of tapered tulips and doubled over in sobs.
“Honey, we have to be strong for our child.” Alexander tried to rub her cheek, but she pushed him away.
“You don’t understand . . .” Verdrena said.
“Donnie isn’t dead,” Greg mumbled his first words since Donavan had picked him up that morning. The sunflower clutched in his hands shuttered in the wind.
“How did you know!” She gritted out.
Donavan was floored. “What do you mean how does my father know?!”
Avery glanced up at him, startled. She hadn’t heard a single word, but the vibrations, the intensity of Donavan’s words had slammed against her chest. She glanced over at her mother, trying to understand the situation.
“Donnie Junior isn’t dead,” Verdrena murmured.
“Wh-what?” Avery’s knees caved. Donavan scooped an arm around her, holding her to his side.
“Dad?” She turned angry eyes on him.
“Don’t look at me!” Alexander followed his daughter’s lead and glowered at his wife. “Verdrena, what the hell do you mean Donavan Junior isn’t . . . I alone buried him! You were too distraught. Avery was at Sunnymead. And my daughter—she told me she’d rather slit her throat then see her son in a tiny box.” His voice died away. The image of him going to see Avery at Sunnymead Resort, and his feeble attempt to encourage her to help bury her firstborn son was burning like embers in his eyes.
Verdrena murmured, “I paid the doctor.”
Avery recalled all too well the words she had told her dad the day he had come to transport her to the funeral. The fleeting image of nurses subduing and drugging her flashed before her eyes. Then she realized she was lunging at her mother. Donavan clasped her around the waist and held her steady.
“Woman speak!” Alexander shouted.
“Dr. Blaine?” Avery couldn’t help but ask. There were so few people she’d trusted back then.
“No.” Verdrena shook her head. “The doctor who left the room to resuscitate the baby. Doctor Movehed. The nurse who came back inside was on the verge of tears because he was forced to break the news to everyone, but he was paid too.”
“Why!” Avery tugged at Donavan’s forearms, but his grip was impenetrable. Carly came to rub her shoulder.
Verdrena screeched. “You were a mess. The day Donavan left, sweetheart, your world was over. That baby was malnourished. The moment you came to me at five months, the same weight and talking about adoption, I knew I had to help you. I had to give him a chance. But I didn’t intend to do . . .” She paused to lick her lips. “I didn’t intend to do what I did, Avery. You were so sad the entire time of the pregnancy. I didn’t think you’d even make it, giving the boy up, so I did what I had to do to help you cope.”
“I hate you.” Avery murmured almost too angry to speak.
“I thought I’d tell you the truth after the psychiatrists helped you. Give you a chance to focus on yourself while you were at Sunnymead and leave! But you were there so long . . . so long that . . . I just assumed never telling you would be best. That’s why I invited Salvador to our house for dinner the other night. I’d hoped that you’d get over it . . . get over Dona—”
“Congratulations,” Alexander’s voice boomed. “You almost had our daughter murdered!”
Verdrena gasped. “Alex, you know that my children are the most important thing in my life,” she tried to explain. But so far, Verdrena had only further ruined her case.
Avery and Donavan were stunned. Everyone watched in shock as Verdrena attempted to claw herself out of the grave she’d dug. She kept her eyes on her daughter and said, “You’re too sweet, Avery. The moment you started going through labor, I knew you’d want to keep the baby, and you’d be a mess. And all I wanted to do was be your cheerleader; Mama loves you with everything that’s in me—”
“Where is my grandson, Verdie!” Alexander shouted just as Verdrena mumbled that she’d kept tabs on Donavan Junior this entire time; and how she knew his parents.
“He’s at the home Avery and I initially chose for him to go to.” She held her head high, searching for a semblance of empathy. She asked, “Sweetheart, you approved of that family, remember?”
Finding the same strength that Avery had the first time Donavan was suspended from school, she pushed him. Though his muscles were as unyielding as an ancient oak tree, Donavan let her go. Instead of slapping the black off her mother’s face, Avery ran toward the side of the house.
“Where is my son?” Donavan found himself asking. So far, he’d been too livid to speak. He’d never been in a predicament to hit a woman before, but Verdrena had taken him there. “Just tell me where my boy is,” he growled. Before Verdrena could answer, Donavan started to run after Avery.
“He’s in Myrtle Beach,” Verdrena called out.
“I’ll text you the address,” Alexander shouted after him. “Bring him home. I don’t give a damn what the legal ramifications are, bring him home!”
~~~
Avery ran around the side of the mansion and to her Audi. She knew for a fact that if she didn’t see her son soon, she’d be committed again. Only this time, she’d probably go in as a danger to others as much as she was a danger to herself. When she yanked on the door, it didn’t open. The car was locked. She pushed her hands over the pockets of her summer dress, but her keys and cell phone must’ve fallen out on her mad dash.
She didn’t even know where she was going, but she’d drive up and down the coast if she had to.
I’m gonna get my child.
My baby is alive.
I get to see my baby!
I have to find my baby!
The thoughts raced through her mind in rapid succession. She moved to the next car, frantically, which happened to be Carly’s Honda Accord. With her mind in such a frenzy it never dawned on her that she’d still need a key, she started to clasp the handle of the driver side door.
A hand rested on her shoulder, she pivoted in her sandals, fists already striking. She was inches away from Donavan’s nose before she realized it. He clasped her tightly balled hands, bringing them down.
“AC, calm down.” He ordered in a sharp tone, but his honey gaze was filled with passion for her. “We are going to get our son, right now.”
He pulled her to his Silverado. He was running at top speed, Avery hurried around her parent’s car to his truck, opened the door, and she sunk into the seat. Eyes closed, Avery tried with all her might to get the images of her going bat shit crazy out of her mind.
I get to see my son for the first time.
CHAPTER 41
Donavan
As Donavan drove, he glanced over at Avery. He’d asked her a few questions.
“Was she okay?”
“How did she feel?”
Repeatedly he’d asked, unable to contain the nerves churning in his own abdomen. Avery had been using her deafness as a crutch in her refusal to speak to him too.
“Dammit, Avery, he is my kid too!” Donavan shouted the words. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t looking because this was one of those times he needed to bark at her. Her shoulders jolted just as they would when he was forced to act like a dog in the past.
Avery glanced his
way and responded to his previous question. “I’m not okay, Donavan.”
Her gaze moved back across the lush green South Carolina land. He reached over and gripped her hand. Her fingers trembled as they entwined with his. Since she wasn’t much for conversation, he gave her hand a little reassuring squeeze that read she didn’t have to go it alone this time.
It took the breath right from his lungs with Avery tried again to wriggle her fingers free from his, then she consented to his tight hold.
“Thanks,” she finally murmured. “I’m sorry, Donnie. I just, I’m stuck in my head. I know that you and I have missed . . .” her voice broke, “years. I’m so sorry, Donnie. My family has fucked us over from the start.”
The drive to the beach was only fifteen minutes, and Alexander had sent the address. The damn place his son had lived for almost seven years was less than five miles away from where Donavan had played little league baseball.
As he drove, he imagined everything he’d missed.
His son’s smile.
First crawl. First step. Did his son say mom first or dad?
He was so consumed with what he’d missed out that Donavan almost missed the bend in the road.
The homes here were all unique, older homes, but kept up. Green foliage surrounded each one, giving the homes an aura of enchantment.
The moment he pressed down on the break, the passenger door flew open.
“Avery!” He shouted after her. “Dammit!”
Donavan undid his seatbelt and opened the driver side door in a fraction of a second. He got out of the car, started to run, and then froze just outside of the Carlson’s property. Avery was at his side, a ball of jumbled nerves. They stood there together in shock.
There were two kids on the front lawn.
A boy with thick, kinky dirty-blond hair and butterscotch skin. He wore a baseball mitt, and he placed a baseball in his pocket. He was signing to another child, older, maybe ten. The girl didn’t look like Donnie Junior. To Donavan, this appeared to be a typical meshed family. A small part of him was comforted by the fact that Verdrena had kept up with his son’s family because for most of his life, he’d use the term family very loosely.