Accidentally Hers (Sterling Canyon #1) Read Online Free
Author: Jamie Beck
sentence.” As she spoke those words, that reality tightened around her throat. “Arraignment should occur within three to sixteen weeks, depending on Andy’s health and the court schedule. The DMV will also pursue suspending his license.”
“My son, the felon,” her dad muttered, with a harsh curse.
Avery noticed her father’s hands grip his waist as he shook his head. “Dad, please don’t harp on the criminal charges right now. A positive attitude is critical to Andy’s recovery. Let’s focus on his health first.”
“You think I don’t want him to get better?”
“No, of course I don’t think that. But sometimes you can be so . . . judgmental. Please try to temper your opinions, at least until he’s out of the hospital.”
Her father’s hands flexed at his side as he stared into the distance. When he glanced back at Avery, he rubbed his surprisingly glassy eyes with the heels of his palms. “When will we get to talk to the doctor?”
Accustomed to her father’s cool demeanor, Avery was taken by surprise by his unexpected display of emotion. Perhaps stoicism was merely a shield he used to hide his fear. Or maybe he’d simply been preserving his strength. Either way, seeing his vulnerability tipped her off-balance.
“I’m told the doctor will stop in before early visiting hours end. Afterward, we can all go home to rest and shower . . . maybe grab a quick dinner before coming back this evening.”
“You go on home for a while. We’ll stay with Andy until they kick us out, and then we’ll come meet you.” Unexpectedly, he pulled her to his chest.
Despite everything, being held inside the cage of her father’s arms and hearing his steady heartbeat settled her for the first time since she’d received Janet’s call. He might be gruff and unyielding, but he did know how to reassure her, regardless of whether he could resolve Andy’s problems. At this moment, Avery would take the false sense of security and run with it for however long it would last.
Tears pooled in her eyes for the umpteenth time. She blinked them away before withdrawing from the embrace. “Okay. Let me go say good-bye to Andy and Mom first.”
Thirty minutes later, she turned in to the wooded enclave of homes three miles outside of town known as Artistry Row. Each of the seven homes in the cul-de-sac where she’d grown up boasted uniqueness, whether in design or color or both. Her own, stained the cheerful green shade of Early Spring and nestled amid a copse of aspen trees, resembled a tree house.
When her folks had decided to retire and move to Arizona a few years ago, Avery had practically begged them to sell her the family house at a below-market price. She couldn’t stomach the idea of another family living in the home that held most of her happiest memories. Just because she wasn’t a romantic like Kelsey didn’t mean she lacked sentimentality.
Her parents relented and agreed to informally finance the arrangement. They’d sacrificed the possibility of a higher, lump-sum payment in exchange for her happiness, which made Avery all the more grateful. But even at the market’s lowest point, going in on the house with her brother had been the only way to afford it.
Secretly, she hoped to live out her days there, and eventually leave her current job to start a private practice, like Richard Donner had done years ago. She assumed Andy would sell her his half of their home once she could afford to buy him out. Funny how those daydreams had sometimes made her eager to get him out of the house, when now she’d give anything to have him there rather than at the hospital.
She entered the ominously silent home and flung her purse on the kitchen counter. While pouring a glass of water, she noticed one of Andy’s red hoodies carelessly tossed over the back of the sofa, a pair of his sneakers by the side of a chair.
Drained, Avery simply passed the discarded clothing on her way to her bedroom, unable to deal with
“My son, the felon,” her dad muttered, with a harsh curse.
Avery noticed her father’s hands grip his waist as he shook his head. “Dad, please don’t harp on the criminal charges right now. A positive attitude is critical to Andy’s recovery. Let’s focus on his health first.”
“You think I don’t want him to get better?”
“No, of course I don’t think that. But sometimes you can be so . . . judgmental. Please try to temper your opinions, at least until he’s out of the hospital.”
Her father’s hands flexed at his side as he stared into the distance. When he glanced back at Avery, he rubbed his surprisingly glassy eyes with the heels of his palms. “When will we get to talk to the doctor?”
Accustomed to her father’s cool demeanor, Avery was taken by surprise by his unexpected display of emotion. Perhaps stoicism was merely a shield he used to hide his fear. Or maybe he’d simply been preserving his strength. Either way, seeing his vulnerability tipped her off-balance.
“I’m told the doctor will stop in before early visiting hours end. Afterward, we can all go home to rest and shower . . . maybe grab a quick dinner before coming back this evening.”
“You go on home for a while. We’ll stay with Andy until they kick us out, and then we’ll come meet you.” Unexpectedly, he pulled her to his chest.
Despite everything, being held inside the cage of her father’s arms and hearing his steady heartbeat settled her for the first time since she’d received Janet’s call. He might be gruff and unyielding, but he did know how to reassure her, regardless of whether he could resolve Andy’s problems. At this moment, Avery would take the false sense of security and run with it for however long it would last.
Tears pooled in her eyes for the umpteenth time. She blinked them away before withdrawing from the embrace. “Okay. Let me go say good-bye to Andy and Mom first.”
Thirty minutes later, she turned in to the wooded enclave of homes three miles outside of town known as Artistry Row. Each of the seven homes in the cul-de-sac where she’d grown up boasted uniqueness, whether in design or color or both. Her own, stained the cheerful green shade of Early Spring and nestled amid a copse of aspen trees, resembled a tree house.
When her folks had decided to retire and move to Arizona a few years ago, Avery had practically begged them to sell her the family house at a below-market price. She couldn’t stomach the idea of another family living in the home that held most of her happiest memories. Just because she wasn’t a romantic like Kelsey didn’t mean she lacked sentimentality.
Her parents relented and agreed to informally finance the arrangement. They’d sacrificed the possibility of a higher, lump-sum payment in exchange for her happiness, which made Avery all the more grateful. But even at the market’s lowest point, going in on the house with her brother had been the only way to afford it.
Secretly, she hoped to live out her days there, and eventually leave her current job to start a private practice, like Richard Donner had done years ago. She assumed Andy would sell her his half of their home once she could afford to buy him out. Funny how those daydreams had sometimes made her eager to get him out of the house, when now she’d give anything to have him there rather than at the hospital.
She entered the ominously silent home and flung her purse on the kitchen counter. While pouring a glass of water, she noticed one of Andy’s red hoodies carelessly tossed over the back of the sofa, a pair of his sneakers by the side of a chair.
Drained, Avery simply passed the discarded clothing on her way to her bedroom, unable to deal with
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