She suddenly remembered who else had been listening to Karen’s revelation—a significant percentage of the Austen population, currently assembled in the Clover.
And one visitor in particular. Oh, no.
“Carter…why? Why do that behind my back?”
“It’s nothing personal,” he said. “I just…liked her better.”
With that simple, brutal answer, she realized exactly how little regard he had for her. That the relationship they’d had was more one-sided than she could have guessed. More fool her for thinking it had been something real. For having faith in someone who was so obviously not worthy of it. Then she remembered one more thing.
“I cannot believe I was going to give Ace away, for your sake. And you would have let me.”
What in the world had she been thinking? She gathered the yellow dog in close and he snuffle-licked her cheek, always ready for some love.
“I would have told you before you did anything permanent,” Carter said impatiently. “And Avery, it was time for us to move on anyway. Greener pastures, you know.”
“Greener pastures? What are you even talking about? We were going to get married.” And then her puzzlement cleared away as something else fell into place. “Oh…I get it now. You always were ambitious, but I never thought you’d use a woman as your ticket into TV.”
“Why not?” he shot back. “You used me as your ticket into radio.”
She sat upright, choking on a white-hot bolt of hurt and anger. “I did not. I paid my dues, I did my time behind the scenes, and I deserve my place in the studio. You know that.”
In reaction to her raised voice, Ace stiffened and let out a loud bark, almost deafening her in the tiny space. She reached for the closet handle and shoved the door open, and they both burst out into the fresh air of the hallway.
“Avery, calm down. Maybe you’d rather not continue on the show, if it’s going to be awkward.”
Carter’s attempt at a placating tone had the opposite effect. “Awkward? Oh, no,” she said, one thing perfectly clear in the turmoil as she stood up. “You don’t get to use this as a way to push me out.”
He started to protest, but she wasn’t falling for his performance skills anymore.
“I’m not going to call in for the show tomorrow, but I’ll be talking to Valerie, and you can bet I’ll be back on Monday. So you’d better bring your A game.”
“Avery, let’s just—”
“Let’s not. Really.” She was almost done, but there was one more thing to say. “And Carter? Be a good father to that kid. Karen is right—you need to man up.”
With that, she ended the call.
Chapter Six
Avery dragged her feet on the walk from her house to Main Street. The last thing she wanted to do after that live humiliation was step into the Clover and see the sympathy and embarrassment of the town. She had just reached the corner of Main Street when Claudia appeared, looking flustered.
“Avery!” she said, pulling her into a hug. “I was in the Clover. I heard what happened. On top of everything you’re going through with losing your dad…” She squeezed even harder.
Avery sank into the embrace, Claudia’s long dark hair tickling her nose. A little boost from her best friend before facing everyone wouldn’t go astray.
“I guess everyone else heard too,” Avery said as they parted.
“Yes.” Claudia looked apologetic. “It was really full for a weekday afternoon.”
Avery sighed and leaned against the brick wall of the antique store, warm in the late afternoon sun. “I was hoping someone might have turned it off as soon as things went off script.”
“Ugh, I’m so sorry. Everyone was kind of paralyzed with shock. Even me.” Claudia paused, looking remorseful. “Except for one person. Logan was over the other side of the room, but when he realized what was happening he got up and headed for his phone by the sound system. But it was all over by the time he got there.”
“Really?” Avery didn’t know what to make of that.
“Yeah, it was kind of heroic. Or it would have been, if he hadn’t tripped over Debra-Ann’s bichon frise and knocked her drink straight into Ruth’s lap.”
Avery had to laugh along with her. Knowing Ruth’s disposition, that wouldn’t have gone down well.
“So…what are you going to do?” Claudia asked.
“Well, I’m not walking away from my job over this,” Avery said. “But I am walking away from Carter.” For a moment she felt tears threatening as she thought about all the plans they’d made for their life together. Then she remembered that it had only been her making the plans, and anger got the upper hand again. “Obviously.”
Claudia nodded. “Good for you. You don’t need him in your life. Not in your personal life, anyway.” She hesitated. “You know, I’ve never understood why the catchphrase is ‘Carter Cox, taking you home.’ Shouldn’t it be ‘Carter Cox and Avery Robinson, taking you home’?”
Carter’s words echoed in Avery’s head. You used me as your ticket into radio. “Maybe because everyone thought I was only there because of him. He obviously did.”
“No. You know that’s not true. You had to audition along with everyone else. You went through the whole interview process. And you guys had only just started dating then. Did anyone at the station even know?”
“I didn’t mention it, because I didn’t want it to look like I was using the relationship to my advantage. But Carter told the station management—he said it would look like a conflict of interest if we didn’t declare it. I never thought that made any difference, but maybe it did.”
“They were lucky to have you,” Claudia declared, then realized what she’d said. “I mean, are lucky to have you.”
“I guess.” Avery wasn’t looking forward to the conversation she’d have to have with Valerie, and the station’s senior management. And she really wasn’t looking forward to Monday, when she’d have to go into the station and carry on, with her chin up. In the meantime, though, there was her hometown to deal with.
Claudia was watching her. “Do you still want to go to the Clover?”
She thought of everyone in there waiting for her. All the people who’d helped with her dad’s funeral. The same people who’d already helped to see her through one emotional crisis, when her mom left. Then she thought of Logan, and wavered. But Austen was her home, the place that she’d protect as fiercely as they protected her. There was no reason to hide away here. Plus, she wanted to acknowledge everyone’s help—and their loss, too. She’d been living somewhere else for a long time now, but her father had remained a vital part of the community. At the funeral yesterday, she’d realized that there were a lot of people feeling the impact of his death.
She pushed off the wall and stood up straight. “Yes. Let’s go.”
Logan rubbed his knee where it had connected with the edge of Debra-Ann Dixon’s chair. Why people had to take those purse dogs everywhere, he didn’t know. At least they should be on their owner’s lap, or stowed under the seat like on an airplane, not wandering around causing a safety hazard.