Avery's fingers shook slightly, as she dialled in the number for the Hanson's house.
She didn't think she'd ever feel nervous to talk to her parents. But she knew she was in the wrong with how she'd behaved, the way she'd totally flown the coop wthout letting them know anything. And there was no way that she was going to actually explain the whole reason to them, it was something she had to - and kind of wanted to - work out on her own.
As she listened to it ring, she twirled the phone cord around her fingers.
Walker
Walker was in his study when the phone rang. He quickly picked it up and absently hit the line button.
"Yes?"
He went on with what he'd been doing.
Avery
"Hey Dad," Avie said softly.
She bit her lip.
Walker
Walker hesitated.
"Avery?" he asked uncertainly.
Avery
"The one and only," Avery replied, a little more cheerfully.
"How are you?"
Walker
"We are getting by," Walker said slowly, pushing his calculator out of the way and pulling a writing pad over.
"How are you?"
Avery
"I'm alright."
Avery paused.
"Dad, I'm sorry."
Walker
"It's ok baby," Walker said softly.
"Taylor explained as well as he could. Take all the time you need, just please let us know that you're safe."
Avery
"I'm ok," Avery assured him. "I've been half adopted into the family of the lady I work for."
She bit her lip again.
"I'll... I'm coming home for Easter... if you want to see me, that is."
Walker
"Well of course we want to see you," Walker frowned.
"What on Earth would make you think we wouldn't?"
Avery
"Well, I just thought with the way I behaved..." Avery trailed off awkwardly.
"But yeah."
Walker
"Don't ever think you're not welcome here," her father insisted.
"Your room is still just as you left it. You should know that you're welcome any time you feel like."
Avery
"Thanks Dad," Avery replied.
"So, how's mom and everyone?"
Walker
"Good," Walker nodded, "Zoe's getting very good grades lately, which is great for the end of the year. Mac's also doing well. And your mother has been out in the garden on weekends."
Avery
Avery nodded.
"That's great," she said sincerly.
"Jess is still away?"
Walker
"Yes, Jessica is still in Los Angeles," Walker affirmed.
"We haven't heard from her."
Avery
"Ah," Avery said.
"And the other three, the famous ones... how are they?"
Walker
Walker chuckled.
"As far as I know, they're getting back on track pretty well," he considered, "I'm just organising some promotions now."
Avery
Avery laughed.
"Cool. I talked to the middle one of those three, he seems pretty happy."
She grinned.
"So... have YOU met this Natalie, that he can't stop raving about?"
Walker
"I haven't seen Taylor for quite some time," Walker chuckled a little.
"But I've spoken to him over the phone quite a lot. I think he's planning to bring her over sometime in the next few weeks, being that he met her family last month. They live in Georgia."
Avery
"Mmmm," Avery said, grinning.
"He sounds pretty... umm... infatuated is a good word."
Walker
"I believe he is," Walker agreed.
"Perhaps even moreso than with Jane. Maybe he's finally found the right one."
Avery
"I hope so, he deserves a bit of happiness."
Avery scratched her nose.
"By the way, Tay and I talked it over... I'm never forgiving you for my nose."
Walker
Walker laughed.
"Well I won't apologise. Just know that you have an heirloom of your wonderful father to keep with you forever."
Avery
"But... I'm going to pierce it. That'll take the focus off how big it is for my head."
Avery laughed.
Walker
"If you're planning to get it pierced, you'll need to get someone like Dana or Larry to do it. You're not legally old enough yet," Walker rubbed his chin.
"But I'm sure they won't have a problem with it."
Avery
"I could do it myself with a safety pin."
Avery let that hang in the air for a moment before laughing.
"Sorry, kidding."
Walker
"Be careful with your blood," Walker said seriously.
"Especially in a place where you don't know many Dathrians."
Avery
"I'm actually staying with a Dath family," Avie admitted.
"I sorta... overheard one of the kids thinking. It was pretty loud, and he was worried about me finding out."
Walker
"Yes, Taylor mentioned," Walker spun his pen in his fingers.
"I guess I don't need to ask if you're sure you can trust them, being that you've been there long enough already."
Avery
"Yeah, it's handy being a telepath sometimes."
Avery scratched her cheek.
"So, I'll probably aim to get home on Good Friday, stay right through Easter, and then... take it as it comes, I guess. If that suits you and mom."
Walker
"That's fine, we weren't planning anything specific for the weekend this year," Walker shrugged.
"Just give us prior warning so we know when to expect you."
Avery
"Will do."
Avery looked at her watch.
"I should go, I promised I'd do the washing up."
Walker
"Alright," Walker relented.
"Call me again before you head back. Love you."
Avery
"I will. Love you too."
Avery hung up and took a deep breath, then went out to the kitchen.