Chapter 70
- Helicopter Ride
<<<. Avery. >>
In the Hotel lobby I meet uncle Orin, and he takes us to Newport beach.
“Aren’t you joining us?” I ask while getting out of the car, and he laughs it off. He has lived away from his family all his life and meets them once or twice a year. His wife died decades ago, and he never married again. It does make me wonder if uncle Orin has a girlsister. I have seen older people dating, but I rarely notice Uncle Orin go out of the house, let alone date.
Although I remember a woman he liked. At least I got a vibe that they liked each other. She was the head of gardening. But after coming back here, I didn’t see her around.
Wouldn’t it be fun to mess with him? I grin, making a plan in my head.
“Orin has invited his daughter to the states,” Dad tells me once we walk towards the helipad.
“Oh!” I know he is from Russia and his whole life he has worked for the good of his family. He sacrificed so they could have better opportunities in their life. I sometimes used to talk to his daughter over video calls. He insisted so she could improve her English.
Although I never understood why he didn’t invite his family before.
“What about his son?”
“He didn’t want to come.” Dad replies and I nod.
From Newport beach we hop onto a helicopter to make our way to Catalina island. I am traveling with Dad and Joy. Della left an hour ago with Ethan and his family. Dad is sitting in the middle, with me and Joy on sides. So he can keep us from pulling each other’s hair.
“Don’t we own a helicopter, dad?” I ask over the noise canceling headphones and he laughs.
“What!” I ask, almost embarrassed.
I always thought helicopters were cool. Even wearing a huge headphone covering my ears feels like a pilot. Who needs thousands of hours of flying practice when you can get the vibes just by wearing the giant headphones.
“Are you trying to hit a sore nerve?” He says, and I frown.
“What do you mean?”
He goes quiet, then asks, “Didn’t you know I always wanted to?”
“I-“I look at him speechless, and try to think.
1 Viabad Him Out from My World
63.3%
Chapter 70
Was it his dream… or my dream to own a helicopter?
“I never realized you wanted it, too. I always thought I was the one pestering you.”
Then why haven’t we bought it yet?
“We can afford it, right?” I ask and Joy snorts.
God, I want to push her out. She has been a grumpy little bitch ever since she figured Della left for the islands without her.
“We can. But I felt it would just be another strain on our pockets. What’s the point when we can manage everything with cars and rarely make it out of the city.”
There is a hesitation in his voice.
He is right. He has always been so busy. Even when I helped him with business 2 years ago. He always had so much on his plate. A wave of guilt hits me again. It must have been hard to manage once I was gone.
“Maybe a jet would be appropriate,” I tease him to ease the building tension in my head.
Dad lets out a hearty laugh.
“I feel a helipad would be too much and you want to add an air strip to our house roof,” He says, and it makes me giggle.
Dad hasn’t talked to me about his retirement plan yet. Accidents and assaults keep happening to me back to back.
“You should buy a jet and go on a world tour.”
“Oh, Avery!” he laughs as if it’s the most absurd thing he has ever heard.. “I- I don’t know…”
It’s ironic. There is no time for family, leisure, or travel when you have so much money.
Is the right time to discuss his retirement plans? I don’t want to discuss it in front of Joy. Dad would be hesitant to point out in front of Joy if Della fucked up at places in company. I glance at Joy and she is looking out at the sea waters. Would looking at me burn her eyes?
Oh, that would be nice.
I shoot a question to pester her.
“So Joy…. How are Della’s wedding preparations are going?” She looks at me, startled.
Della’s wedding is 3 months away. It was all over the news, but Dad or Joy never mentioned it. I feel Joy and Nikki really despised that the media focus shifted from them to me and my return to the Collins family.
“Hmmm, it’s good. It is very difficult to manage everything. We have hired the best wedding planner in California. Still, it’s taking a toll on me to manage the work and wedding preparations…. all alone.”
Chapter 70
Dad holds her hand and says, “I will free some more time in my schedule to help you out.”
No matter how badly she treated me, I could always see how much dad loved her. I look at Joy’s face and try to decipher. Does she love dad? She probably does. Even terrible people experience love,
Della said she loved Ethan.
Who do I have to love?
I am fooling around with men.
My old favorite, Affection by ‘Between sisters,‘ hums in my head while I think about my bad choices over all these
years.
‘Oh, I’m looking for affection in all the wrong places….
And we’ll keep falling on each other to fill the empty spaces…..
There is so much longing in this song. It’s suddenly hard to breathe because I am overwhelmed.
“Would be great if you could help Della with the wedding dress. We don’t even know what you wore at your wedding. I hope it wasn’t some cheap dress,” she says and I internally roll my eyes.
There she goes again, poking the bear.
“Don’t say it like that!” Dad tells her gently. Then he turns his head to me and says, “We would love to see the photographs once we meet Liam Avery.”
My mouth goes dry.
Fuxk! I will have to fake a wedding photoshoot to create evidence. This is getting out of hand. Although I am thankful, she distracted me from my downward spiral. But I need to shut her up.
I smile and nod, “Sure dad! My pics are gone with the old phone but we do have an album…” I lean to look at Joy and say, “And Joy… My dress was beautiful. I am sure you would have loved it,” I say, and she presses her lips.
“Would have been better if you took the retirement and handed these responsibilities to Ethan and Della,” Joy says.
I turn my head, trying to understand. But what does she mean by ‘handing them all the responsibilities‘?
“Excuse me! I am sitting right here,” I object before dad can say anything.
“Do you think we will give you a partnership even when you are having fun and partying every night in New York city.” Joy spats.
My face goes hot. Technically, she or dad cannot stop me from getting my part in a trust fund set up by dad’s dad. But that’s a tiny amount of money on today’s date. Damn inflation.
She is right, though. I told dad I don’t want to stay here. It means Della and Ethan would manage everything. What was I thinking?
Chapter 79
7rs up to her to decide if the wants to party in New York or manage her music company.” he takes a pause then adds, “Or the could help us expand our work in New York.”
My eyes widened
Dad…” I whisper with overwhelming emotion. Do you–Would you… want that?”
Although there is literally no land in New York still options and opportunities are endless.
He shrugs. I have thought about it. Although it would be best if you stay around us, it’s okay if you want to go back to New York. You are a big girl, after all, he says and I grin so hard my cheeks hurt.
Let’s discuss your retirement when we reach the resort,” I say.
I can see Joy’s baffled expression from the corner of my eyes and I am loving it.
