For several long seconds, we sat there in silence, and I thought I might pass out before he finally looked back up at me.
“Avery, why are you hiding these?” He didn’t open them; otherwise, he would know why. “Does Danny know about this?” He held one up in the air.
I shook my head once.
“I remember your dad writing music all the time, but I didn’t think anything of his was left behind.” His jaw was firm. “Do you have any idea what these would mean to your brother?”
A tear sprang loose down my cheek. My safety net was breaking. “You don’t understand.”
“What is there to understand, Avery? You lied to me and to Danny!”
My body shook as I tried to fight off the sob threatening to crack through me. I went to leave, but he caught my wrist and pulled me back down.
“Avery, tell me what the hell this is all about because I need a good reason why I shouldn’t give these to him the moment he gets home.”
My eyes shot open, red and puffy. “You can’t! Please!” I never thought I’d have to beg him to believe me.
“Why? What is the big deal?”
“Because no one knows!” I finally broke, falling off the bed onto my knees. “No one can ever know!”
He climbed off the bed and knelt beside me. “Know what, my love?” His voice was softer this time.
I repeatedly rocked my head back and forth. “I shouldn’t have said anything. It wasn’t his fault.”
“You’re scaring me, Av. What happened?” He stroked my back.
“He was sick. He didn’t mean to.” My steady breaths came faster and faster, and suddenly, I was spiraling. My fingers began to tingle, and a familiar chill ran up my spine. “No. No, no, no,” I cried.
Liam’s arms circled around me. “Avery, look at me. You need to breathe. Okay? Breathe!”
It was too late. My panic attack took hold of my body, and I was no longer in control.
28
Avery
Ten Years Earlier
Icould see my dad’s face in the crowded auditorium when I stood and bowed. No one was clapping harder than him. He even cried. He never cried. But he was also smiling, so he couldn’t be sad. Right? I didn’t want him to be sad. He was always so happy. That was my favorite part about him. And he was smiling and crying and laughing…because of me.
I bowed again and exited the stage. When my teacher released me, I ran through the back hallways until I reached the entryway. It started to fill up as the theater doors opened, and I waited for him to come out.
“That was lovely, Avery.”
“What a beautiful rendition of a classic favorite. Well done.”
“Great job, Avery. Your father has taught you well.”
My father emerged from the sea of people and spotted me immediately in my ring of admirers, handing out compliments.
One man patted his shoulder when he reached my side. “Well, David, it looks like you’ve raised a future star. She’s quite the musician.”
“An angel with talent,” someone added.
I smiled up at my dad, only to see his own had faltered.
“She’s incredible. Just like you said she’d be.” A woman handed my dad a business card and nodded at me. “I look forward to working with you, Avery. You should be very proud of yourself.”
