The Spanish and the American

The "mistake"

After the death of her mother, Isabel, Avery struggled to cope with her grief. Concerned for her well-being, her grandparents, Javier and Carmen, made the difficult decision to send her to live with her uncle and aunt, Joaquim and Diane, in England. They hoped the change of scenery would provide Avery with a fresh start and the support she needed to heal.

Five years later, Avery had adjusted to her new life in England, but her bond with her uncle, aunt and cousins had grown even stronger. Joaquim and Diane began contemplating the idea of formally adopting her. They discussed it with Avery's grandparents, Javier and Carmen, who agreed it was worth considering. However, they emphasised that Avery's feelings and wishes should be the primary consideration.

When the topic was broached with Avery, she listened thoughtfully. After some reflection, Avery expressed her openness to the idea of being adopted, as long as it didn't diminish her connection to her late mother, Isabel. With everyone's understanding and support, the adoption process commenced. Ultimately, Avery's desire for stability and belonging, combined with the unwavering love of her extended family, led to her formal adoption by Joaquim and Diane.

Which brings us to the next major event in Avery's life, an event she will forever deem an accident, even though it was the result of her own personal thoughts and feelings. An event which has never been brought up again.

One ordinary morning, as sunlight gently streamed into the room, Diane approached Avery's bedside to wake her up for school. "Avery, it's time to get up," she said softly, her voice infused with gentle insistence.

Avery, still caught in the haze of sleep, murmured in protest, "No, Mum, let me sleep..."

The words hung in the air, an unexpected and startling slip of the tongue. As soon as they escaped her lips, Avery's eyes flew open, wide with realization and panic. "I didn't mean that," she exclaimed, her voice tinged with urgency.

Without waiting for a response, Avery scrambled out of bed, her heart pounding with embarrassment and confusion. She rushed out of the room, leaving Diane crouched by the bedside, her expression a mix of surprise and uncertainty.

Avery sat on a bench in the park, her hands trembling as she dialled Lucy's number. As the phone rang, her heart raced with anxiety, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"Hello?" Lucy's voice came through the line, sounding concerned.

"Lucy," Avery choked out, her voice trembling with emotion. "I... I need to talk to you."

"What's wrong, Ave? You sound upset," Lucy replied, her tone instantly soothing.

Avery took a shaky breath before blurting out, "I... I accidentally called Diane 'Mum' this morning."

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Lucy spoke again, her voice gentle and reassuring. "Hey, it's okay. That doesn't change anything, you know? Isabel will always be your mum, no matter what."

Tears streamed down Avery's cheeks as she listened to Lucy's comforting words. "But I just ran out of the room and left Diane there. What if she's upset with me?" she sobbed.

"Maybe that wasn't the best reaction, but I'm sure Diane will understand," Lucy reassured her. "You can talk to her about it later."

Avery sniffled, feeling a bit calmer now. "Promise we won't talk about this again, Lucy," she pleaded.

"Promise," Lucy replied without hesitation.

Avery's voice trembled as she asked, "When can I come see you?"

"If our parents say it's okay, you can come next weekend," Lucy answered. "We'll have a sisters' weekend in Liverpool. Just you and me."

A small smile tugged at the corners of Avery's lips through her tears. "That sounds nice," she said softly.

"Everything will be okay, Ave," Lucy assured her. "We'll figure it out together."

Avery returned home, her heart still heavy with the weight of her earlier slip-up. She found Diane in the kitchen, and with a deep breath, she approached her, her hands fidgeting nervously.

"Diane," Avery began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I... I'm sorry for running off like that earlier."

Diane turned to face her, her expression softening with understanding. "It's okay, Avery," she said gently. "I understand why you were upset."

Avery nodded, her throat tight with emotion. "I... I see you as a mother figure, Diane," she admitted, her words coming out in a rush. "But I can't call you 'Mum' because... because I think it would be rude to my real mother."

Diane reached out to gently touch Avery's arm, a comforting gesture. "I understand, Avery," she said softly. "You can call me whatever you want, within reason," she added with a small smile.

Avery felt a wave of relief wash over her at Diane's understanding. "Thank you," she murmured, her eyes brimming with tears.

Diane returned the hug, holding Avery close. "I do see you as my daughter, Avery," she said sincerely, her voice filled with warmth.

Avery pulled back slightly, her eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Diane smiled, her heart swelling with love for the girl before her. "We don't have to talk about this ever again if you don't want to," she reassured Avery.

Avery nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "That's okay with me," she said softly.

With that, they shared another hug before settling in for a day of movies, their bond stronger than ever.