Page 61 of The Bachelor

“Oh, yeah?” Chance smiled. “The infamous parties. It was like the Playboy mansion of Music City in those days. Wait, does this mean my father is indirectly responsible for your existence?” He laughed.

Avery gave a limp laugh in return. “Something like that,” she said weakly.

“I used to roll joints for my parents’ friends at those parties. At like six years old. Not exactly the best parents in the world, but I do have my dad to thank for opening doors for me in the business.”

“It’s your talent that has gotten you where you are.”

Chance grinned. “Don’t believe that load of crap. I had a golden ticket and I’m well aware of that fact. Genetics and being the kid of a famous songwriter meant more than talent.”

Avery’s palms were clammy, but as she idly played the bridge of “Cleaning Up a Man’s Mess” she pushed just a little. “I never knew my father. Even if yours wasn’t the best, at least he was in your life.”

“Buck was many things, and not a great dad, but you’re right, he was better than nothing.” Chance eyed her curiously. “What happened to your father? He disappeared?”

She shrugged. “He told my mother to take a hike, probably because he was married. Like I said, she met him at one of those parties at your house. She said one time he showed her the cigar collection that your dad had.”

Chance hit a bad note. “What are you talking about? How do you know about the cigar collection?” He sounded puzzled.

Avery struggled to remember exactly what her mother had said, not wanting to mess this up. Not wanting Chance to think she was a liar, or that her mother was some kind of delusional groupie, like folks back home had. “I don’t know. My mom said they would go into a room at your house and he would show her some cigar collection hidden behind a painting and point out that all the furniture was knockoffs.” She realized immediately that sounded rude. “I’m sure it wasn’t but—”

“No one saw that cigar collection. Ever,” Chance cut her off, staring at her suspiciously. “It wasn’t on display. It was behind a painting, like you said, and it was a secret. Only my mother knew about that.”

Well, hell. Her heart started to race. “I don’t know,” she said, because she didn’t. “That’s just what my mama told me.”

Chance looked at her and his eyes widened and all at once she knew he knew. “Oh, shit, Avery. Your eyes …” He trailed off. “Did your mother know Buck?”

She nodded, because she couldn’t look him in the face and lie to him. “She didn’t know who he was,” she said in a rush. “She said he talked about himself in the third person. But I didn’t know for sure if he… if it’s him… just they did. And she had me.” Avery set her guitar down.

“Well, holy shit.”

She couldn’t tell if he was upset or not. He just looked astonished.

“I’m sorry, Chance. That’s not why I came to Nashville. I did think it might be great to meet you someday, but I never planned to tell you what I thought.” Then because that felt disrespectful to her mother she amended it. “What I know. I should have just kept my mouth shut, but my mama says that isn’t my strong suit.”

Avery waited, willing to take whatever he was going to throw at her. Did she come to Nashville to tiptoe around or did she come to Nashville to be who she was? To be a songwriter and a woman and by birth, a Rivers, whether anyone wanted to believe it or not. Hell, whether it was ever acknowledged out loud or not. She knew it and now Chance knew and they were the only two people who mattered in this.

“Well, you can’t be after money because there isn’t any left. My mother got most of it in the divorce.” Chance swallowed visibly. “Then she pissed it away. And Buck’s dead.”

She didn’t know what to say to that other than the truth. “My mother never asked for money and I have no intention of doing that either.” The idea made her sick. It was logical for him to think about it, though. “I can sign something giving up any rights to any inheritance if you want. I don’t want anything.”

“You seem pretty sure your Buck’s kid.” He was still studying her. “And looking at you, and hearing about the cigar collection, it seems pretty damn obvious to me. I kept telling Jolene something about you felt familiar.” He gave a laugh of disbelief. “Like we had met before. Damn, now I know why. You’re my half-sister, aren’t you?”

The words sent a shiver up her spine. “I’m so sorry.” It couldn’t be pleasant to hear this news about his father.

But Chance suddenly grinned. “What are you sorry for, girl? You weren’t the cheat. Trust me, this is not new information. I saw way more as a kid than anyone ever should. Frankly, I’m surprised we don’t have a dozen half-siblings running around. Hell, maybe we do.”

The fact that he said “we” meant everything to her. It felt like acceptance, which was what she had craved her whole life. “My mom said he was very charming.”

Chance laughed. “That’s one way to put it.” Then he stared at her, shaking his head. “Damn. Same eyes as him and everything. It’s crazy. How did I not see that before? You know, when I got sober, I dealt with a lot of the anger I had over my father. It was wasted emotion and only damaged me. He was who he was and it’s water under the bridge. Hell, I always wanted a little sister.”

That brought tears to her eyes. She wasn’t sure if they could have any sort of sibling relationship or if that was too weird and awkward, but it was huge to have Chance acknowledge it was true. It felt like twenty-four years of people calling her mother a liar was just erased in one fell swoop and she was worried she might start blubbering. She tipped her head down and let her hair fall forward so he wouldn’t see.

Too late.

“Hey.” Chance stood up and came over to her. He squatted down in front of her. “Don’t be upset. I know Buck was an asshole, but I’m not. I’m not going to toss you out on your ear or anything. In fact, I’d like to get to know you better as a person.”

His expression was compassionate and she nodded, biting her lips. “That would be amazing. I can take a DNA test, it’s up to you. And like I said, I’ll sign whatever you want. You’re the legitimate kid.”

Chance just snorted. “No labels. I can’t really say there was anything legitimate about my parents’ marriage other than the fact that they were legally wed. They sure in the hell didn’t take those vows seriously.” He gave her a smile. “Now stand up and give me a hug, kid.”

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