Waking in a strange room, it took a moment to get my bearings as I shifted upright and bit on my teeth as my wrist brought reality back into focus.

"Good morning. I wondered if I gave you too much sedative last night," Joanne said, entering with a tray loaded with two pieces of toast and coffee.

Blearily blinking at her, I tried to shake the cobwebs from my sluggish brain. The scent of fresh toast was not enticing at that particular moment, and my stomach rebelled.

"Sedative?" I croaked. My parched throat hurt, and the aftertaste of medicine made me shudder.

"Last night, you had a panic attack, and the twins thought you were dying." Joanne instantly regretted calling them "the twins," fearing it would negatively affect me, reminding me of that conversation.

"So, people think I am dead because Mom said something stupid and was too ashamed to admit the lie because it would have destroyed her reputation?" The bitterness surprised me, and Joanne's mouth set in a thin line, shadows living in those familiar eyes.

"What was Mom supposed to say? I had triplets and gave one away because I couldn't care for five children? Then had another one without acknowledging the truth? Dude, back then, the public would have had Mom tarred and feathered. Even now, this would end all our careers," Joanna said, helping me upright and putting the tray on my knees.

Despite a sincere lack of appetite, the coffee appealed to me, although I would have liked water first.

"And I am not leaving this room till you've eaten that toast," Joanne said, sensing my unwillingness like a mother hen.

***

Taylor entered with a glass of water and held it out to me like a peace offering. There were shadows under her eyes, her lids were swollen, and her face was puffy. Had I upset her that much? I didn't like the idea.

"Thought you'd want water," she said.

How strange that she'd know I'd want water before anything else.

"Ashley and Taylor always drink water before eating or drinking anything in the morning. Wasn't sure if you were the same," Joanna translated.

"Thank you," I said shyly, draining the glass.

"Are you okay?" Taylor asked as Ashley joined us, standing behind her twin with her chin resting on Taylor's shoulder. Even I thought of them as the "twins", and it felt right.

"Yes. Yesterday was a bit much," I admitted, not wanting to discuss it.

"Understandably," Ashley said.

"Why did I never see that juicy tidbit on the internet?"

"Most people don't know you exist, Avery, so the public made it off as a malicious rumor."

Taylor frowned, unsure if the words made everything sound worse.

"And this sure isn't worth destroying Mom's reputation for them to find out," I agreed.

"But where does that leave us?" Taylor asked, motioning between us.

"Where we were before, except I'll call you and won't be such a pissy jealous ass anymore." That was harder to say than expected.

"I don't know if I would have done anything differently in your shoes," Ashley said, a frown tugging at her brow and her lips in a tight line. "Taylor and I always had each other, and you only had Grandma. I might be less charitable if I were in your shoes."

She didn't like acknowledging it but didn't shy away from the truth.

"I would be more hurt," Taylor said, playing with the button on her pajamas.

"I'd be pissed and hurt," Ashley admitted, disconcerted and guilty for no reason.

"And I wouldn't blame any of you for those feelings," Shannon joined the conversation, leaning against the doorjamb and startling us. With no makeup on, Mother seemed even younger and more vulnerable. I didn't enjoy seeing her puffy eyes and the dark circles under them.

"I understand and don't blame you, Mom. Not any more." That was a sentence I never pictured saying. Despite everything, I loved Mom more than I realized.

***

Shanon didn't look like a woman with six kids who had created a media empire while her deadbeat husband cheated on her until making her a widow.

Rumors made the rounds that she had a boyfriend for the last ten or eleven years, but Luthor seemed to have cured the media mogul of the idea of marriage. Had Father influenced us too?

Jason had been engaged for three years. Taylor had a boyfriend, but Joel moved to Canada for work, and the long-distance thing didn't work, even though the two of them dated for three years.

Ashley has dated several times but has yet to find the right man. The family kept their private lives private as far as possible, and people didn't judge them.

Joanne was briefly married to Rick Robson, but the surgeon tragically contracted some tropical disease on a trip for Doctors Without Borders and died.

She went on a few dates after that and just stopped. When people asked why she wasn't seeing anyone, Joanne often said she had "already met the man of her dreams, and they'd meet again in heaven."

Jessie declared boldly at sixteen that she had no interest in dating until she'd established her career. She'd be abstinent until some lucky guy got to slide a ring on her finger, and there was a marriage certificate to go with it.

"I also don't give a flying crap whether you blow up my media career and expose me. If I never made another video, I'd still be set for life, even if I had to move to Alaska. All I want is my daughter in my life, and I didn't realize how much it bothered me until I saw you last night, and my heart tore in two."

Tears filled her eyes, and being empathic; we were all instantly ready to bawl.

***

"Mother? Is she decent?" A man's voice floated down the hallway and sounded much different in person than on his channel. Jason also didn't wait to stick his head around the doorjamb, staring over Mother's shoulder. How had I not realized how tall he was?

"It's really Avery," he moved Shannon out of the way, and before I could respond, Jason took the tray from my lap, lifted me bodily off the bed into a bearhug, and just held me.

"Hello, little sister. I've been waiting so long for this day," he said. Measured against him, I felt tiny, although I am about average height.

I sobbed in that warm, loving embrace and didn't know why. It took a moment to realize he was crying, too.

"Give me a chance to meet your sister," someone said behind him, and Jason reluctantly set me down so I could meet Tasha, his Russian-American fiancé.

"Oh, Jason, she's gorgeous, and she looks just like Taylor and Ashley," before I could brace myself, she hugged me as if we were family already. "I have wanted to meet you for years, but Jason was reluctant to interfere in your life."

Tasha stood back and inspected me.

My puffy, bare, sleep-warm face made me shy. Tasha was so intense, direct, and slightly intimidating, but such kindness and compassion shone in her eyes that I couldn't help but be drawn to her.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to barge into this family moment, but I couldn't wait any longer."

"Nonsense, you are family," Joanna said.

Tasha stepped into Jason's embrace, and I had never seen two people who belonged together more. The blond woman was his editor and cameraman, but although the two of them went everywhere together, and she was stunning, the Russian woman didn't like being in front of the cameras.

Although they were always talking and teasing during videos, Tasha mostly preferred to be a "disembodied voice," as she called herself jokingly.

***

"Where's Jessie?" Joanne asked.

Jason and Tasha's reactions revealed that our youngest sister wasn't thrilled about the prodigal daughter's return, which surprisingly hurt.

"Jess wasn't ready to meet Avery," Tasha answered diplomatically, and what she didn't say, said more than what she did.

"Did you explain that Avery will be leaving, and she might never get to meet her?" Taylor asked. My soul didn't like the idea of not coming back here.

"It didn't change her mind," Jason admitted, his enthusiasm dampened.

"I'm sorry she feels that way," I said, putting a brave face on. "Now, I need a shower, please."

"Aww, Avery's shy and clearly hasn't been to a family sleepover. The girl isn't used to being in pajamas around a room full of people before she washes her face or brushes her teeth," Tasha said. Her perception jolted the others into streaming from the room.

Only Shannon remained, putting the empty coffee cup on the tray before walking right up to me and staring me in the eyes. Mother was slightly taller than me, and not a single strand of gray invaded that mane of glorious dark brown hair.

"I meant it when I said I would rather have you in my life than keep my career."

"But this isn't just about us. This is about the Collins Twins, Ask Dr. Joanne, Jason Collins Photography and Shorts, and Jess Talks. This is about a community of people looking up to you as the benchmark of their aspirations. I love you and won't lie to you; I want to be part of your lives, but I will not destroy what you have built, and it will influence Marguerite's reputation."

My phone rang, and recognizing the ringtone tone with a sinking sensation in my stomach, I grabbed it and glanced at Shannon. "Sorry, but I must take this."

Mother nodded, and even as I walked outside, my insides knotted, and I forgot about those wine-red teddy bear pajamas, accepting the call.