9
Avery
I stood outside the front door of my parents’ house trying to prepare for the onslaught of questions and judgment that was undoubtedly about to head my way. Scout blinked up at me innocently––obviously having no idea of the hot grease fire we were about to step into.
After taking a deep breath to try to calm my thrumming heart, I said to the little boy as I reached for the door handle, “There’s no time like the present. Right?”
As soon as the door closed behind me, Mom yelled from the kitchen. “Avery, darling, come in here for a minute. We need to talk.”
When I passed by my dad sitting in his La-Z-Boy watching television in the living room, I mumbled, “Wish me luck.”
He harrumphed, but wasn’t brave enough to say anything that my mother might overhear.
Once I sat down at the
