AVERY SAT IN a booth in Berky’s diner, reading a fashion magazine. She sighed with a smile when she heard a comment from someone in the diner.
” Isn’t that Mr. Reed’s new wife?”
Not yet sweetheart, soon. Avery remarked silently.
She felt thrilled. Before she’d left the smart house for Berky’s, she’d noticed in the mirror how much her skin was glowing. Surely, the rich life looked good on her.
But, she didn’t want to get too comfortable and forget her motive behind destroying her supposed bestie’s home.
Auxanger had called her earlier, telling her to meet him at the diner and order however amount of food she likes, bills on him.
Knowing her father and the amount of money that could fit in his pocket, Avery kept a few bucks just in case.
The doorbell rang as Auxanger walked in; Avery shot out a hand, waving for him to come over.
Auxanger walked to the booth and slid into the chair in front of his daughter.
He looked at the empty table and then at his smiling daughter. ” No food?”
” I’m buying the meal and do not say no.”
Auxanger grinned, ” I’m quite relieved dear, rough match.”
Avery rolled her eyes and slid the menu to him. ” I’ve saved up thirty thousand out of the money Gavin gives me to waste on the baby, I’ll send the money to you. Start up the coffee shop business you’d always wanted to do; gambling isn’t good, Daddy.”
Auxanger released a refusing breath.
” Use the money to take care of your baby-”
Avery cut in sharply. ” The baby isn’t important, it’s a mistake and-”
Auxanger placed his hand over hers on the table, cutting her off. ” Your baby is not a mistake, Avery; your baby was made to make our dreams come true.”
Avery’s brows raised at her father’s statement. It then poured on her Auxanger had wanted to discuss something important.
” Over the phone, you said you wanted to tell me something important.” Avery reminded.
Auxanger beamed with covetous excitement. ” Ah, first- Can I get a waiter please?!”
A waiter came, and Auxanger ordered lots of meals; Avery had asked the waiter to leave.
With the waiter gone, Auxanger adjusted on his seat and brought his face close to Avery.
” Caleb Morgan called a week ago with good news,” Auxanger announced.
Avery looked even more confused. She didn’t know her father still kept contact with Sydney’s father.
” What good news?”
” A way to make us millionaires.”
” Daddy, you know Caleb Morgan is the devil’s incarnate. He must be trying to squeeze out the little money you have left.”
Auxanger sat straight, face rigid now as he spoke, ” Your Daddy has gotten wiser. The plan is straightforward; you’d have to rip Gavin off all his money.”
Avery’s face moved closer to Auxanger with interest. ” What do you mean?”
Auxanger ransacked his bag and brought out a file then placed it on the table.
He whispered, ” Get Gavin to sign this, make sure he doesn’t read it. When it’s signed, we’d be five hundred million dollars richer.”
Avery took the document from the file and schemed through it. Every statement in it seemed to make her smile, except for one.
She looked at Auxanger with narrowed eyes. ” The money would be transferred to Caleb.”
” He said he’d give me forty percent but I’m no fool. That’s why, I hired some guys to send him to his maker as soon as the document is signed. I had him put me as his next of kin so the money would be ours as soon as he kicked the bucket. ”
The corner of Avery’s lips lifted proudly. This must have been the smartest thing her father had ever come up with.
” Caleb Morgan had lived for way too long, he will pay for all he had done to us,” Auxanger said in a conspiring tone.
Avery added, ” Especially for raising a daughter like Sydney. Once we get the money, I’d make them regret ever messing with the White family.”
The waiter served the orders. Avery looked at him, chuckling with happiness, and said, ” Give everyone in this diner one turkey wrap each; Bill’s on me!”
_________________
Ethan and Emily didn’t look forward to weekends especially because they knew they’d have to stay at their new house all day and have to think about their father.
One night, Emily had taken Sydney’s phone when she was talking with Gabriel. She called Gavin whose heart almost flung out his chest seeing Sydney’s call.
He was slightly disappointed hearing Emily’s voice. They had talked for almost an hour before Sydney caught Emily.
She didn’t stop her from talking to Gavin again; in fact, she bought Emily a phone for only calling Gavin.
She had beef with Gavin, but she knew her children needed their father, although Ethan didn’t want to have anything to do with Gavin again.
Gabriel decided to show his guests the lake, it’d be a good way to kill the foul mood. Plus, he’d run out of fish to eat.
Emily was reading a book about fishes with bitter-faced Ethan next to her as they headed to the lake.
Gabriel looked at Ethan with an inquisitive frown. He voiced his concern to Sydney. ” Was your son always this grumpy, or is it because of me?”
Sydney replied beside him, ” He is grumpy when he is upset.”
She didn’t want to tell him Ethan was a reflection of Gavin’s character.
” Have you tried talking to him?”
Sydney avoided Gabriel’s gaze. Why was he suddenly interested in Ethan? She didn’t need anything spoiling her mood or opening up wounds.
” He never listens.” She said in a small voice.
” And you don’t try talking to him again?”
They stopped when they reached the lake. Sydney stared at her feet and changed the topic.
” I’ll sit on the rock and watch you fish.” She hoped he wouldn’t continue his investigation.
” Oh… All right.” He smiled disturbingly and left her alone.
Gabriel went to Ethan and Emily. He had learned to use a different approach when trying to talk to Ethan. He was a smart yet, frivolous kid.
Gabriel pulled out three pairs of waders for a canoe. He placed them in front of Ethan and Emily. When he saw the size of their feet, he scratched his neck.
” That won’t do, maybe I’d consider buying smaller waders later,” Gabriel remarked.
Emily giggled, ” Cut out the foot and it’d make a good skirt.”
Ethan gave a depressing yawn. ” I don’t even want to fish, I’m going to sit.”
Gabriel jumped in immediately, his gaze on Emily but attention on Ethan, ” Little girl, you never told me your brother was a weeny.”
Emily giggled mischievously and glanced at Ethan who was scowling at Gabriel.
Emily placed her hand on the corner of her lips and whispered to Gabriel, ” I think he’s afraid of fishes. A-f-r-i-e-d Afraid.”
Ethan fumed at Emily’s words. ” Shut up, I’m not afraid.”
” Can’t you hear the cowering in his tone, eh?”
Emily whispered back, ” He’s even shaking.”
More like, shaking with anger.
Ethan barked challengedly, ” I’ll show you, both of you.”
Ethan stormed to the canoe and took out two fishing rods. He threw one to Gabriel, who caught it heartily.
Gabriel knew males had lots of ego, and when they were driven to the edge, they’d try everything in their power to get off it. Ethan wasn’t different.
Gabriel told Emily to join Sydney. She was adamant at first but eventually agreed.
Gabriel tied an earthworm to the hook and taught Ethan how to stand in position. Ethan was hellbent on proving he wasn’t afraid, he didn’t realize he was asking Gabriel for assistance.
” Watch me, okay?”
Ethan responded with a nod. Gabriel demonstrated a smooth casting technique, then handed the rod to ethan, instructing him with a gentle nudge. ” Now’s your turn.”
Ethan tried but failed.
Gabriel remarked immediately, ” Try again, I didn’t learn it at once. Took me a week to get it.”
Ethan scoffed, ” You mean, it took you a week failing how to fish.”
Gabriel sighed unbelievably. Well, that was a start.