“We can’t just leave her. What would people say?” Ivy countered, tapping her fingernails on the table. “And if we have any hope of keeping the company in the family, we need to try to reverse the damage that has been done. Though it would be a miracle if any reputable college considered a transcript from whatever sorry institution she’s been attending.”
“What if I don’t want to go with you?” I slapped the table as my frustration boiled over. All day everyone had been talking about me. Talking at me. Not bothering to talktome. “You don’t know me. I’m doing fine on my own.”
“Is that so?” Ivy raised a brow.
“She got an offer from a talent manager,” Wes said, and it took me a second to remember it wasn’t a lie. That opportunity felt so far away.
Nolan huffed. “Just like her father.”
I locked eyes with my grandfather. Unwavering. “Yes.”
“Don’t take it as a compliment. We gave him his space, we won’t make the same mistake again,” Ivy said, pushing out of her chair and onto her feet. She turned to Walker, who remained blank faced, apparently desensitized to family drama. “Is that all?”
“That’s everything for now,” he said, shutting the leather folder containing the will.
Ivy nodded and headed for the door. “Let’s go then. Come on, Avery.”
“Give it a day. I’ll talk to them when you pack. Convince them it’s the best choice,” George whispered, lightly squeezing my arm.
“Okay, I’ll see you soon.”
I followed after my grandparents out to their car and tried to tune them out as they discussed my fate. They bickered aboutwhat school would take me for my final semester and which room to clear out for me to stay in.
“You missed the turn,” I said, my head whipping around, gaze snagging on the Caper sign as it grew smaller behind us.
Nolan didn’t bother to look at me when he said, “We’re headed to the airport.”
“But I told them I’d see them at the house. I have stuff I need.” My guitar. My clothes. Dad’s books. I believed George could convince them. She just needed a chance.
“There’s no need to spend more time with that woman. She got her claws into Hudson. It’s for the best that you’ll be heading to Hartford with us,” Ivy said.
“You don’t know her!”
“I know my son wouldn’t speak to me for decades before he—” Her voice threatened to quiver, unable to finish the sentence. She smoothed the fabric of her dress, rumpled from her burst of frustration, and her mask slammed back into place. “He didn’t have all his ridiculous ideas before he met her. I don’t know what lies you’ve heard, but you’ll learn that we can offer you great opportunities.”
I never got to give Caper a proper goodbye. A few weeks later, I learned Ivy and Nolan sold the house and knew that I couldn’t go back. The only place I’d ever thought of as home was gone.
19
Avery
October 2025
Ihave to pull over at a gas station halfway through the drive home. As I pull under the brilliantly lit canopy, a notification captures the dash screen.
Wes
OK? Is it the tire?
I unblocked his number while the mechanic I accidentally yelled at changed my tire. Having a way to reach each other seemed like the first logical step toward friendship.
Me
Just refueling! See you tomorrow.
I’m not okay. I wasn’t there for him. None of us were. He was hurting and we were right there. My hand slams against the steering wheel over and over.
All I can think about is how trapped I felt working with Emelia. Saying yes over and over again because it felt like the best option, but that’s nothing compared to what he’s gone through.
