Giving him her brightest smile, she said, “Thank you, Rowdy.”

Taking the bait, her stepfather cocked a brow. “Yes, thank you.”

Rowdy gestured to a chair. “Grab a seat.” Keeping Avery at his side, he leaned a hip on the desk.

So many times she’d imagined reuniting with her family, but never, not once, had she pictured it taking place in the bar. With everything that had happened, she couldn’t help but feel defensive.

“Why are you here, Meyer?”

Meyer considered the chair, but chose to stand behind it instead, his hands resting loosely on the chair back. “You should come home.”

“No. Anything else?”

“I see you’re still being stubborn.”

“Not at all. I’ve made a new life for myself. There’s nothing back there for me.”

“What about your mother?”

Guilt only made her more defensive. “I’ve called Mother. We’ve talked.” Or more like debated, with her mother insisting she should forgive Fisher for any imagined slights. God, it made her furious all over again.

Meyer frowned, not in anger but with concern. “I suppose she hasn’t told you?”

The way he said that slammed the brakes on her agitation. “Told me what?”

“She didn’t want to worry you, but I felt you should know.”

Alarm straightened her spine. “Know what?”

“Sonya has breast cancer.”

Fear socked Avery like a physical blow.

“The prognosis is good,” Meyer hurried to say. “She had a surgery to remove a small lump and now she’s going through follow-up treatment. They found it early, so the doctor expects her to make a full recovery.”

“She’s never said a word.” No matter Avery’s efforts, the conversations invariably led to her mother asking her to return, and Avery always refusing.

“We only found out recently.” He readjusted his glasses, saying, “Perhaps if you were at home where you belong—”

Oh, God. The way Rowdy stroked her back helped to remind her that she was a different person now. She would not let Meyer bully her, not even for this. “You really want to go into that now?”

Meyer held up a hand. “No. I’m not here to debate the past. My sole mission is to invite you back home for a visit, if nothing else. I think it would give your mother comfort to see you before her next treatment.”

“When is it?”

“Tuesday.”

Avery put a hand to her head. “That’s only a few days away.”

“The treatments leave her weak, sick. She’s starting to lose her hair.” The corner of Meyer’s mouth lifted. “But you know your mother. She’s turned it into a challenge and is already spearheading a fundraiser to get underprivileged women tested.”

Yes, that sounded like her mom.

Rowdy was silent, but he stayed with her, strong, unwavering. If she wanted the time off, he’d give it to her in a heartbeat. A million questions bombarded her brain. “What type of treatments?”

“Chemo and radiation. She’s concerned about finding an appropriate wig when necessary, but I’ve told her she’ll be adorable, regardless.”

Avery had always considered Meyer’s most redeeming quality to be his undying love for her mother. “I’m so very glad she has you, Meyer.”

“She needs you, as well.” Like a broken record, he again played his favorite refrain. “You should move back home.”

Home, with Fisher? She shook her head. “I’m only a half hour away. I can visit as often as she needs me.”

Meyer paced away from the chair.

Rowdy looked at her, his gaze inquiring, but with her stepfather right there, she couldn’t possibly explain.

Meyer jerked around to face her. “Enough, Avery! It’s time to stop being a selfish girl!”

The sudden verbal attack made Avery flinch.

“Careful,” Rowdy said in warning.

Meyer didn’t pay heed. “We should be having this conversation in private! You should be having it with your mother!”

Rowdy straightened from the desk, and Avery knew she had to do something, and fast. “I work until late at night.”

“Every damn day?” Meyer asked.

“Every day except Sunday.”

“It’s absurd!” He slashed a hand through the air. “The only reason you would work in a place like this is to spite us.”

“You’re wrong.” She cared nothing about spite. “I like this place.” Avery took a step ahead of Rowdy. She hated to make the admission in front of him, and at least this way she didn’t have to see his reaction. “I enjoy earning my own money now.”

Meyer ran a hand over the back of his neck. He gestured at Rowdy. “In the same way that you enjoy him?”

That was a slight she couldn’t ignore. She shot forward, saying, “Yes, I enjoy him!”

“Then bring him along.”

Uh-oh. Her thoughts scrambled. She needed a tactical retreat—

Rowdy asked, “When?”

Oh, no, no, no. She glared at Meyer. “You can’t drag him into our family squabbles.”

“If he’s your boyfriend, then I’m sure your mother would enjoy meeting him.”

Rowdy actually choked, then choked some more.

Going stiff, Avery refused to look back at him. She didn’t know if it was the term boyfriend—a description far too lackluster for a man like Rowdy—or the idea that they might be a couple that had him wheezing for air.