Novels by Steph Avery

BrandonJosephine’s eyes were flashing with fury. I could not understand what I had done so wrong to deserve such a look from her. “I don’t understand,” and I was a little offended too. Since I had discovered that Leona had cancer, I had done everything I could to be there for her and our daughter. “If you are going to break her heart again, just let her be,” Josephine sounded frustrated too, “since I met her all she can do is talk about you and how you broke her heart but you did more than that, Brandon. You broke her and she was healing and then you come back into her life and everything goes downhill again.” “That is a bit of an unfair assessment…” “Is it?” she cut me off midsentence, “stop toying with her feelings, Brandon. She deserves better than that.” “I am not toying with her feelings,” I felt the need to defend myself. Josephine raised an eyebrow, “So what are you doing with her? Do you love her? Why won't you tell her why you left her abruptly five years ago?” “It's…

Brandon“Don’t pretend like you give a damn about me,” Salma stormed off angrily. I looked at Elaine, wondering if she had no context for social and emotional cues. “I brought food for both of you…” she began to say but I cut her off, “never show up in front of Salma again. She’s been through enough.” I tried to walk away afterwards but she held onto my arm, “What about me?” she asked, “Have I not been through enough? What is so wrong about loving you?” I said nothing but only freed myself from her hold and walked out on her, hoping that I could still catch up with Salma. I got to her in time, just as she was about to enter a car. “Wait,” I said to her, “I’m sorry about…” “I don’t want to hear it,” she replied, “you’ve spent most of the day with me, you can go be with your pregnant fiancée.” “She’s not…” “I don’t care.” She was about to enter the car when I held her back by holding her hand, “What about my mom?” I asked, “Won’t you say hi to her?” I could see on her face tha

SalmaIt was a very quiet three hours. Time passed slowly as the IV bag emptied. I watched in a blur as nurses came in and out of Leona’s room; as Dr. Hans walked in occasionally to check her vitals. I was scared. Scared that something could suddenly go wrong but nothing did. And when Dr. Hans finally announced three hours later that the transplant was done, I still did not sigh in relief. Instead, it was a different type of anxiety that clouded my thoughts. “Is that it?” Brandon asked quietly, still staring at Leona’s IV line as if expecting something more to happen. Dr. Hans nodded, “Yes. The infusion is complete.”Brandon and I exchanged looks before shifting our gaze to Leona. I looked at Leona. She was still asleep. She had not woken up even once this morning and that made me anxious even though I knew it was perfectly normal. “Why does it not feel like anything happened?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.Dr. Hans gave a small, understanding smile. “The real work be

Brandon“Is everyone ready?” asked Dr. Hans cheerfully as he entered Leona’s room in the morning. Leona was still fast asleep and so was Salma. I was the only one awake. “Late night?” he asked me and I nodded. Salma stirred in her sleep but did not wake up. “Can you proceed with the transplant?” I asked Dr. Hans. “Yes,” came his response, “but I need you both to change your gowns and masks. Do you wish to stay by her side while she's receiving donor cells?” I nodded a little bit too enthusiastically. “Yes,” I replied, “yes.” “We’ll soon be done collecting stem cells from Mrs. McClean,” he informed me, “I’ll be back within an hour to hook her up with an IV.” “Thank you, doctor,” I said, watching the man leave the room. My phone buzzed in my pocket and I stepped out to check if there was anything important that needed my urgent attention. It was Rose calling me. I answered on the first ring. “Rose?” “There’s a problem,” her voice sounded panicked. “What is it?” I asked. “O

Salma“Hi baby,” I greeted Leona as I entered her room. She was awake and she looked full of energy. I blew her a kiss, not wishing to infect her with anything new, and then I watched Brandon do the same. “Thank you,” I whispered to Josephine who nodded at me. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said, leaving the room and waving goodbye to Leona. Brandon and I sat on either side of Leona. He was going to tell her that he was her father. I could see on his face that he was anxious. Leona could reject him; tell him she did not want someone in her life who had abandoned her or she could welcome him into her life with open arms. I was going to do my best to interfere as little as possible or possibly not at all. Brandon looked at me for encouragement. I had never seen him appear so nervous in my life. I was going to ignore his quiet plea for help but I decided to help him just a little bit, “There is something we want to tell you, honey,” I said softly to Leona. Leona, who was an ever-cu

SalmaIt was just too much. Rita. My father. Elaine. And Leona. The floodgates opened as I finally broke down in Brandon’s arms. I had tried, really tried to make sure it was not in front of him that I cried, but he was persistent—too persistent and the result was me falling apart in his arms. I felt his hug grow tighter, reminding me that he was there for me. But his assurance was short-lived when I heard the venomous voice of my stepsister, Ariel. “I guess your apology to my friend meant shit, huh,” I tried to pull away from Brandon’s hug immediately but he held me firmly and would not let me go. “I suggest you take your bullshit elsewhere, Ariel,” Brandon’s tone showed that he was angry. “There… I have taken some pictures,” I heard her say, “I wonder what the media has to say about…” But I was angry, too, and desperately needed an outlet. I spun around and faced her, “Your father being a serial killer still makes better news than any other day.” I watched with satisfactio