Footprints in the Sand

9. Slipping From My Grasp

THERE’S MORE TO AVERY THAN FLORENCE

Nearly everyone has heard of the CEO of La Bonne Nourriture, Avery Shadow, and his daughter, Florence Shadow. But who knew that Shadow had another four children, one older, three younger than the daughter he keeps out of the way in the holiday town of Teignmouth, Devon, England. This shocking secret was discovered by a local journalist, Kieran McGee, trying to get photos of young Florence as she played in the sea with her older brother and some local teenagers…

The newspaper was torn from my grasp as I read by Dad, who swore violently as he ripped the entire paper to shreds.

            “Media’s gonna be all over this.” Rory said as he looked at something on my phone. I looked over to see he was reading the same article.

            “You’re lucky they haven’t got your names yet.” Dad grumbled, looking at the five of us as we picked at our breakfast.       

            “Yeah, but they will, and in September there’s gonna be no end to this. They are gonna be pestering no end.” I stated. Dad glared at me.

            “Don’t remind me, Florence.” Dad growled.

            “Can’t you at least try to keep them off the little one’s backs until they’re 18 or something?” I pleaded,

            “What about you and Rory?”

            “I’ll manage.” Rory smiled. “I’m 25, the most they can do is assist me pull sluts.”

            “And push away the nice ones.” I added.

            “Pull the gold-digger’s.”

            “He’ll find someone. I’m sure Ash will be perfectly happy to go along with this arrangement.” Dad smiled. I frowned,

            “Dad, Asher Burrows is not my boyfriend!” I all but shouted,

            “Not what it looked like a few weeks ago.”

            “Urgh.” I groaned.

            “Ash seemed to think you were the other day.” Rory added,

            “Shut up.”

            “Nope.”

            “I never realised how fun it is to wind a little sister up.”

            “You’ve got three to do that to now.”

            “Pulling power for the win!” Dad whacked Rory over the head with one of my school text books that was lying on one of the kitchen counters. I giggled a little, as did Lauren and Sian, Henry just smiled slightly as he ate his Weeto’s. Dad’s phone rang, and he walked to the lounge to take it. He returned about 10 minutes later, his face sad,

            “I have to go to work in Bristol. They’re a chef down and no one else is available. I’ll be back in a couple of weeks, promise.” He told me. I nodded. He stoked my face and kissed my forehead.

            “No more lies?” I asked,

            “No more lies.” He answered.

            “No more secrets?”

            “No more secrets.” He chuckled.