After polishing off two bowls of rich, creamy radish soup, Avery put down her spoon and said earnestly, "Mom, Dad, I know so top-notch doctors. Once you decide on a ti, let know, and I'll arrange for a car to pick them up. I'll also have my friend, who's a doctor, take a look at them. And don't worry about the costs. The hospital allows us to defer paynts over five or ten years."
Wesley and Claire exchanged glances, both surprised and overjoyed. "Thank you so much, Avery. You're truly a blessing to our family," Wesley said, his voice full of gratitude.
Avery bead, her heart warming at the sight of her parents' happiness. She returned to her al, savoring the deep satisfaction of being able to help them. Overjoyed by Avery's obvious enjoynt, Claire kept piling more food onto her plate. "Here, have so more," she urged, her eyes twinkling with motherly pride.
Not wanting to be outdone, Wesley grabbed the serving spoon and placed an empty plate in front of Avery. "Try these, too! I made the chicken pot pies, shrimp, and macaroni and cheese," he said enthusiastically.
Avery happily ate everything that was offered, feeling like a contented cat as she relished each bite. The dishes were exceptionally fresh, and the fish she tried had such a rich flavor it reminded her of farm-to-table cooking.
Not to be outshined in the kitchen, Claire chid in, "Avery, I made the baked fish, seafood chowder, casserole, and salad. So, tell , who's the better cook—your dad or ?"
While most people might offer a polite response, Avery, being straightforward as always, thought for a mont before replying, "I'd give Dad's cooking a perfect score."
Wesley chuckled and shot Claire a playful wink. Claire, montarily deflated, pouted a little as if her cooking skills had been found lacking.
But then Avery grinned and added, "And Mom's cooking? That gets an extra twenty bonus points."
Claire's face instantly lit up, her pride and joy making her look years younger as she smiled broadly. "Then eat more!" she insisted, eagerly spooning more food onto Avery's plate. "As long as you want, I'll cook for you every day. And if there's sothing I don't know how to make, I'll learn. I'm not exaggerating—I'm a damn good cook! Your dad practically begged to marry him because I could whip up a killer pasta salad and crab cakes."
Wesley, pretending to be stern, shot back, "Now, don't go lying to the kid. You're the one who fell for and started cooking for every day to win over."
Avery couldn't help but smile at their lighthearted banter, filling the room with warmth. Wesley and Claire watched her with growing affection, finding her utterly adorable—like a little hamster with her puffed cheeks, sparkly eyes, and constant munching. Every bite she took made them want to dote on her even more.
After finishing her al, Avery set down her fork and spoon with a contented grin. "I'll take a break and eat more later," she said, rubbing her belly in satisfaction.
Wesley and Claire were delighted to hear that. Claire quickly brought her a glass of lemonade. "Avery, I made this myself—my secret recipe. Everyone says it's good enough to be sold in a restaurant," she said proudly.
Wesley smiled, adding, "Try it while I tell you more about your other brothers and sisters."
As Avery sipped the lemonade, Wesley continued, "Brandon, your second brother, is studying abroad. He's been covering all his expenses with scholarships and part-ti jobs. We haven't sent him a cent, but he still manages to send us a little money each month."
Wesley's expression flickered between pride and guilt as he went on. "He really wanted to visit you, but he's been saving up for a plane ticket. He wouldn't even let us help with the cost—he insisted on paying for the trip himself."
Avery smiled warmly. "Please let him know I'll be in the city for a while, so he can co back whenever it's convenient. No rush."
Wesley's face softened with relief. "Avery, you're so thoughtful. I'll pass on your ssage, and I'm sure it'll an the world to him."
Claire then said, "Your third elder brother, Harry, is in the military..."
But before she could continue, Wesley's phone suddenly rang, interrupting the conversation. Distracted but not wanting to miss anything important, Wesley answered the call and put it on speakerphone. "Hello?"
The voice on the other end was frantic, barely audible over the background noise. "Hello, are you Arthur Carter's father? Arthur got into a fight with a security guard and was taken to the police station. They're talking about charging him with assault."
"What?" Wesley's face drained of color as he shot up from his seat, quickly moving to the kitchen to avoid alarming Avery. "Where is he now? Is he hurt?" he asked, his voice lowered but strained.
Claire's smile faded, and the spoon and fork slipped from her hands, clattering to the floor. The tension in the room thickened as Wesley closed the kitchen door behind him, the warmth from monts before quickly replaced by a heavy sense of worry.
The living room plunged into a tense silence, and Claire's eyes darted around the room as if searching for sothing.
Noticing her distress, Avery quickly picked up Claire's phone from the sofa and handed it to her. Claire's hands trembled as she took the phone and tried to dial a number. She pressed the phone to her ear, but the line was busy. Her face grew paler with each failed attempt, her anxiety mounting.
Avery glanced at the screen and noticed the na "Arthur," realizing that Claire was trying to reach her brother. She also noticed that Claire's phone was a newer model, far more advanced than Wesley's. It was clear that the Carter family was looking out for her.
With every unanswered call, Claire's eyes filled with tears. "Why isn't he picking up? Even if he's been arrested, they can't just take his phone! He should be able to call ho! How else can we reach him? He hasn't done anything that bad!" Her voice shook, heavy with worry.
Still unsure of the full story, Avery remained silent, quietly observing and trying to piece it all together.
After what felt like forever, Wesley finally ca out of the kitchen, his face tense.
Claire jumped up, her voice trembling. "Wesley, how's Arthur? When will he be ho?"
"Don't worry, it's just a misunderstanding. Arthur is going to be fine," Wesley said, placing his hands gently on her shoulders to calm her. His voice was steady, but the worry in his eyes was hard to miss.
He then turned to Avery with an apologetic look. "Avery, I'm sorry you had to deal with this on your first visit. Arthur has run into so trouble and got arrested. I'm heading to the station to sort things out.
"If it's okay with you, you're welco to stay longer or even spend the night. I can ask your mom to keep you company. But if you'd rather head ho, I'll arrange a car for you."
After hearing him out, Avery spoke up, her voice steady. "Dad, I'm part of this family now, too. Can you tell what really happened to Arthur?"
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