Chapter 7
As Avery pulled up to the apartment building, she could already sense that Wesley and Claire weren't well-off. But she hadn't expected just how cramped their home would be.
At the entrance, she took in the modest two-bedroom apartment. The layout was straightforward—kitchen and bathroom on one side, bedrooms on the other, with a tiny balcony in between. The living room was simple and functional. Big cabinets and storage units filled most of the space, with shelves lining the walls, all crammed with various odds and ends. A long sofa and a table were pushed against one wall, while a dining table with three chairs sat in the center, cluttered with dishes. The room was so tight that just moving around seemed like a challenge.
Avery slipped into a pair of house slippers and stepped inside, noticing toys scattered across the sofa—clearly a child's. Are these my brother's kid's toys? she wondered.
Her eyes were drawn to a family photo hanging above the TV. Eleven people, she counted. In the photo, Wesley and Claire stood with an elderly couple, five young men, a young woman, and a little girl. Wesley noticed where she was looking and proudly pointed out the figures.
"Those are your grandparents. The five young men are your brothers, and the young woman and little girl are your sisters."
Avery's confusion deepened. Sisters? she thought. Does he mean my twin? But as she looked closer, it was clear the young woman looked nothing like her—definitely not a twin. A new question began forming in her mind. Where is my twin sister? Why isn't she in the family photo?
Sensing her confusion, Wesley quickly explained, fearing that Avery might think the family didn't welcome her.
"Avery, let me explain..." He glanced around the small living room, visibly uneasy. "Everyone was so excited when they heard you were coming home. They all wanted to see you right away, but the house is just... well, too small. They thought it might be too cramped for you if everyone came at once. So, they figured it'd be better if you had a chance to settle in first, you know... get used to things."
But there was more to it, something left unsaid. The real concern was that Avery, raised in luxury, might not handle their modest home well.