Chapter 30
thirty
LOS ANGELES, CA
Avery arrived at the ribbon-cutting at the last possible moment, right before the photo op was scheduled, purposefully avoiding any small talk or sympathetic comments for Teddy. She had come for one reason: to find a moment with her parents to tell them the honest truth.
“On three, everybody, big smiles,” the photographer directed the group.
Avery gave a fake cheery smile as she silently practiced the speech she was going to give her parents as soon as she could get them alone.
Now that she’d heard from Teddy, time was of the essence.
She had to come clean to her parents before anyone else figured out the Beckett connection.
Next to her, her dad was holding a comically large pair of scissors suspended over a blue ribbon while various hospital executives looked on with delight from behind the photographer.
The photographer released them once she got the right shot, and the group moved into the hospital foyer for refreshments and tours of the new space.
“Avery, you have to try this cake,” someone from the hospital team insisted, shoving a plate of heavily frosted sheet cake into her hands. Avery’s stomach churned as the sweet cloying scent of it hit her nose. Her nerves had left her with no appetite at all.
“Oh, um thanks,” Avery took the paper plate, not wanting to be rude. The woman looked at her eagerly, waiting for her to take a bite.
“Can I get a second slice? I’m sure my parents will want some too,” Avery lied through her teeth. Her mother would never waste calories on a piece of sheet cake, but at least she’d have an excuse to get her parents’ attention.
The hospital staffer returned with a second plate and Avery snatched it out of her hands. “Thanks so much,” Avery plastered on another fake smile.
My fake smile is getting almost as good as Teddy’s.
Teddy. Just his name flashing in her thoughts left her feeling cold and clammy. She looked down at her hands, now both holding servings of cake.
Might as well get this over with.
“Mom, Dad, come eat this cake with me,” she said in an unnaturally loud voice.
Her mom, who was standing a few feet away engaged in a polite conversation, looked at her quizzically and reached for the long strand of pearls around her neck. Sharon expertly excused herself from her conversation and corralled her father.
“Avery, are you okay? I know it’s been quite a week. But let’s not make a scene,” Sharon whispered, her eyes narrow.
Avery let out a huff of breath and cocked her head at her mother. God forbid a scene. Always appearances first, family second.
“No, not really. I need to talk to you guys,” Avery replied in an equally hushed voice.
“Let’s go in here,” Avery’s dad suggested, smoothing his royal blue necktie down his chest as he pointed toward an empty, bland conference room off the main foyer.
Avery followed her dad into the room and closed the door firmly behind her, double checking that it was shut, and no one could hear them. She’d learned her lesson.
They sat down at one end of the conference table and her parents looked at her expectantly, her mother’s hands folded neatly in her lap, her dad’s arms crossed. She unceremoniously plopped the cake down on the table, no longer pretending that any of them were going to eat it.
Avery tugged at her silky floral print skirt, the smooth fabric itchy against her skin, and cleared her throat. “Well, I guess I’ll start with the podcast, I know how Blake Beckett found out Teddy’s secret.”
She carefully monitored her parents’ reactions as she told them the whole story, expecting them to look disappointed, maybe even angry. But there was no yelling, no head shaking. They silently nodded, and said only “Hmm,” and “Go on,” their eyes never straying from her face.
Their quiet concern left her head spinning. Is it because we are still in a semi-public place? Are they keeping it together now, but then I’ll have to pay for it with passive aggressive digs for months?
Her dad shook his head as she relayed the night at the club with her brother. “Unbelievable,” he muttered, shaking his head in disgust.
“Daddy, I’m so sorry. I should have known better. You’ve always taught us that our wealth and success have given us a target on our backs. I let my guard down.”
“I’m not upset with you, Avery,” his face softened before reverting to a grimace, “I can’t believe that Sam Beckett would do that to you.
To me. I’ve referred him all over town. In fact, I put in a good word for him to get the contract to build this very hospital years ago. And this is how he repays me?”
“And they aren’t even particularly charitable,” her mom added.
With her parents fixated on the social sins committed by the Beckett family, maybe she could take it one step further and slide in the fact that she and Teddy had been faking it all along? They seem to be taking it all in stride and she had their attention.
“There’s more,” Avery took a deep breath, clenching her hands in her fist. They might not be upset about the leak, but what she was going to say next was even worse. “Teddy and I aren’t together anymore, in fact we never were…really.”
“What are you talking about?” her mother asked, her eyes bulging.
Avery rolled her eyes at her mom’s shock. “Oh come on, Mom, can you really be that surprised? You had been badgering me for so long about meeting someone special.”
“Don’t blame this on me,” her mother scoffed, clearly offended. “I only wanted you… I always want you to be happy.”
“I know you care about me, but you’ve spent years trying to make sure our family has a sterling reputation. I know your interest in who I was dating was important to you because of how it reflected on you, on the family, not only because you care about my happiness.”
Avery paused, looking up at the ceiling. Breathe, Avery. Focus. Remember, this is about coming clean with them, a fresh start with no secrets, taking my place in the world as an adult.
“And I wanted so badly to raise the money for the projects I proposed to the board,” Avery admitted.
“I wanted to get you off my back, Mom, but I also wanted to take advantage of Teddy’s popularity to raise the money for the sports complex and scholarships, and now I’ve messed it all up, even our partnership with Aurelia Strap. ”
Avery’s voice quavered, “I just wanted you both to be proud of me. To make our family’s legacy even stronger by using the foundation to be a real changemaker. Now I’ve made it worse. I’m going to break my word to the sports complex, the sponsors, the team, and damage our family’s reputation.”
“Nonsense,” her dad said, leaning over to give her shoulder a squeeze. “I’ll tell Aurelia Strap the truth. That Teddy is not making public appearances at the moment. Zack and his wife can fill in,” her dad said, alleviating at least one of her worries.
“Really?” Avery asked.
“Really,” he confirmed. “Stuff like this happens all the time, especially when dealing with these egomaniac drivers. You have plenty to worry about right now, but don’t let that be one of them. You won’t let the sports complex and the kids down, I have faith in you Avery.”
“Thanks, Dad,” she said, tears welling in the corners of her eyes.
“Of course, we are proud of you,” her mom added quietly.
“You impress me constantly. I’ve never been so impressed with someone in my life.
You don’t have to do any of this, you don’t have to work a day in your life, but here you are, focused on your career, and on making a difference. I’m in awe of you.”
Avery’s heart swelled. She couldn’t believe her ears. She knew her parents loved her, but this was something else. Pride. Respect.
“You mean that? You always act like I’m wasting my time working, like I should be focused on finding a husband and settling down. I didn’t think you understood me at all. I didn’t do anything to deserve this life. I want to at least do what I can to use my platform for good.”
“I might not understand you, but I’m proud of you. And I’m sorry I don’t say it enough,” her mom pulled a tissue out of her purse and dabbed her eyes.
Avery stood up from her chair and walked over to her mom and put her arms tenderly around her. “I didn’t mean to make you cry, Mama. I know you don’t want your mascara to run.”
“Hey, I’m proud too, nothing makes me happier than having my daughter work with me,” her dad joined their embrace, putting his arms around both of them. “Now, what do you say we get out of here?”
Avery nodded in agreement and wedged herself out from her parents’ arms.
“Wait!” Her mom grabbed the plastic fork from the cake plate and scooped a huge gob of frosting into her mouth.
Avery gasped. “Mom! You’re eating carbs?! It’s not even your birthday.”
“Well, it would be rude to lie about having tried it,” Sharon explained, going for a second bite.
Avery shook her head. “I’m truly shocked.”
“It’s only cake, not the devil,” Sharon said, smiling. “Come on, here have some, it’s actually quite good.”
Her mom forked another bite and handed it to her.
Avery bit into the moist chocolate cake, letting the icing melt on her tongue. The sugar tasted like relief.
“Dad, it's your turn,” Avery laughed, handing her dad the next bite.
Instead of returning to the event to shake hands, Avery stood hovering over the conference table, eating cake with her parents and giggling until every last crumb was gone.