Austin and Ally the college years

Chapter Seventeen: An awkward family reunion

The night had settled quietly over Austin and Ally’s home. The soft glow of the moon streamed in through the living room window, casting gentle shadows across the room. Austin sat on the couch, his phone resting on the coffee table in front of him, the faint sound of music playing in the background. Ally was in the kitchen, humming softly to herself as she cleaned up after their late dinner, her movements calm and relaxed.

Despite the peaceful surroundings, Austin’s mind was racing. He had finally sent the message to Emily earlier in the day. After an agonizing wait, he had received a short reply: I’m in town. Can we meet tonight? The suddenness of her arrival left him both nervous and curious.

He hadn’t expected her to come so quickly, but now that she was here, there was no turning back.

Ally appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on a towel. “Still nervous?” she asked, her voice gentle as she moved to sit beside him.

Austin nodded, rubbing his hands together absently. “Yeah. I can’t believe she’s already here. I don’t even know what to say when I see her.”

“You’ll figure it out,” Ally said with a smile, leaning against his shoulder. “Just be yourself. She reached out, so she’s probably just as curious as you are.”

Austin let out a long breath. “I hope you’re right. It’s just… I don’t even know where to begin.”

Before he could dwell on it any longer, the sound of a car pulling up outside caught their attention. Austin’s heart raced as he stood, glancing toward the door.

“That’s her,” he said quietly.

Ally gave him a reassuring smile, standing with him. “I’ll stay out of the way. This is between you two.”

Austin nodded, grateful for her support. As she moved toward the kitchen, he walked slowly to the front door, his heart pounding with every step. When he opened it, he was greeted by the sight of a young woman standing on the porch, her features illuminated by the porch light.

She looked exactly like the photo she had sent him earlier — the same soft brown hair, the same piercing eyes. There was no doubt that this was Emily, his half-sister.

“Hi,” she said, her voice quiet but steady. “Austin?”

“Yeah,” Austin replied, stepping aside to let her in. “Emily, right?”

She nodded, stepping inside the house. There was a brief moment of awkward silence as they stood facing each other in the hallway, the reality of the situation settling in. Despite his nerves, Austin could see the resemblance between them, the same sharp features, the same intensity in their eyes. It was strange, seeing a reflection of himself in someone he had never met before.

“Thanks for meeting me,” she said, breaking the silence. “I didn’t mean to drop this all on you so suddenly, but… I just had to come.”

“I’m glad you did,” Austin said, his voice soft. “I’ve been wanting to meet you ever since I found out. It’s just… a lot to process, you know?”

Emily gave a small, understanding nod. “Yeah. Trust me, I get it. When Dad told me… I didn’t know how to feel. It’s been eating at me ever since.”

Austin led her into the living room, gesturing for her to take a seat on the couch. He sat beside her, the weight of the moment hanging heavy between them.

“So, you found out while he was in the hospital?” Austin asked, wanting to understand more of her side of the story.

“Yeah,” she replied, her hands fidgeting nervously in her lap. “I was working at Seattle Grace when he was admitted for his kidney transplant. It was just a routine check-up at first, but he broke down and told me everything while we were alone. He said he couldn’t keep it from me anymore, that I deserved to know the truth.”

Austin could see the frustration in her eyes, the anger that she had been carrying. He understood that feeling — the betrayal, the confusion. He had felt it too, when his mother had revealed the affair.

“I can’t believe he kept it from us for so long,” Austin said quietly. “I had no idea.”

Emily let out a bitter laugh. “Yeah, well, neither did I. And the worst part is, I still don’t know why he chose now to tell me. I think he felt guilty because of the transplant, but it doesn’t make it any easier.”

Austin nodded, feeling a pang of sympathy for her. “I’m sorry, Emily. I wish we had met under better circumstances.”

“Me too,” she admitted, her eyes softening. “But I guess that’s life, right? We don’t always get to choose how things turn out.”

For a while, they sat in silence, the weight of their shared history pressing down on them. Despite the awkwardness, there was a sense of connection between them — a bond that was undeniable, even if it was born out of difficult circumstances.

“I don’t know what happens next,” Austin said after a long pause. “But I’m glad you came. I want to get to know you, if you’re okay with that.”

Emily looked at him, her expression softening. “I’d like that too. It’s strange, isn’t it? We’ve missed out on so much time, but… we’re here now.”

Austin smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. “Yeah. We’re here now.”

Just then, Ally appeared in the doorway, offering a kind smile as she approached. “Hey, I didn’t want to interrupt, but I wanted to introduce myself. I’m Ally.”

Emily stood and shook Ally’s hand, a small smile appearing on her face. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too,” Ally said warmly. “I’m really glad you came.”

As the three of them stood there, the tension slowly began to ease. Austin felt a sense of hope growing inside him, the realization that maybe, just maybe, things would turn out okay after all.

And as the night wore on, the conversation flowed more easily. They talked about their lives, their shared experiences, and the strange twists of fate that had brought them together. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start.