Playing for Keeps by Yahrah St. John Read Free Book Online Page A

streamed down her face. “No, no, this can’t be. This can’t be.” She shook her head. She was adopted! Her parents weren’t really her parents?
    A million questions went through Avery’s mind as understanding dawned on her. Holding the paper in her hand, she realized that this was why her mother didn’t want her to open that trunk. She didn’t want the truth to come out, which was that they’d been lying to her from the day she was born. What Avery didn’t understand was why hadn’t they told her? It wasn’t as if she wasn’t old enough to learn the truth. Why had they kept this from her? And if she wasn’t Avery Roberts, who was she? Who were her real parents?
    Avery wept aloud, rocking back and forth, and didn’t hear the attic floor creak or see her parents walk in.
    â€œOh, Avery.” Her mother fell to the floor and pulled a distraught Avery into her arms. “Oh, baby, I’m so sorry….” Her mother cried, holding Avery close to her heart.
    â€œSo, it’s true, then?” Avery asked as she held on to her mother for dear life. “I’m adopted?”
    Silence ensued, fracturing whatever thread of hope Avery had had that the document wasn’t real.
    Her mother nodded. “Yes, but we never wanted you to find out this way. We wanted to tell you.”
    â€œWhy didn’t you?” Avery choked out. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    Her father kneeled down beside her. “I don’t know, baby girl. I suppose we were just selfish and wanted you all to ourselves. Ever since the day you were born, you’ve been the light of our lives.”
    â€œMy whole life has been a lie.”
    â€œThat’s not true.” Her mother shook her head.
    Avery flung herself out of her mother’s arms. Her father tried to help her from the floor, but Avery refused his help and rose on her own. “How can you say that? Everything has changed. I don’t even know who I am.”
    â€œYou are our daughter, Avery Roberts.” Her mother’s voice rose vehemently. “Nothing has changed.”
    â€œHow can you say that?” Avery asked, nearly hysterical. “Everything has changed! You lied to me. You should have told me long ago that I was adopted. My God, I’ve always wondered why people said I looked nothing like the two of you. Why I always felt out of place, like a square peg in a round hole.”
    When her parents stared at one another without answering, Avery yelled at them. “Where does a black girl with green eyes who looks almost white come from? Where do I come from?”
    Avery was upset because her father was doing his stoic routine while her mother hung her head low and remained silent. “Where do I come from? Answer me!” A hot tear trickled down her cheek.
    â€œWhat do you want to know?” her father asked.
    â€œI want to know about my biological mother,” Avery said, folding her arms across her chest.
    â€œYour birth mother was very young and she wasn’t ready to be a parent,” her father replied.
    Avery nodded and wiped a tear from her cheek with the back of her hand. “That explains her reasons for giving me up. What were yours for adopting?”
    When her mother finally spoke she stammered. “I’ll—I’ll answer that.” She rose to her feet. “Your father and I wanted a newborn. We were evaluated and screened like any other adoptive parents.”
    â€œThat doesn’t answer my question,” Avery said.
    â€œAvery, does it really matter?” her father asked. He knew this was a touchy subject with Veronica and he didn’t want his wife or his daughter to suffer anymore.
    â€œYes, it does,” Avery said adamantly.
    Her mother walked over to the small window overlooking the tree-lined street and stared listlessly out of it. Neither of her parents spoke for several long, excruciating minutes.
    When her