Family bonds carter and.., p.1
Family Bonds- Carter & Avery (Amore Island Book 14),
p.1
Family Bonds- Carter & Avery
Natalie Ann
Copyright 2023 Natalie Ann
All Rights Reserved
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without a written consent.
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Contents
Author’s Note
Also by Natalie Ann
About the Author
Blurb
Prologue
1. Looked Down On
2. All For It
3. Very Appreciative
4. Quiet Awkward Way
5. Had What It Took
6. A Rewarding Way
7. Dog Lover
8. Getting There
9. The Best There Is
10. Want Everything
11. Be Like Him
12. Keep Her Head Up
13. Being Obvious
14. Silly Things
15. Career Choices
16. Giving Her Outlets
17. For The Best
18. Play It Down
19. Had Other Ideas
20. Getting Naked
21. Never Too Late
22. Depended On Him
23. Coolest Boss Ever
24. Take That Step
25. A Life Lesson
26. Dilute The News
27. Hold His Own
28. Be Prepared
29. Taking What He Could
30. A Nice Guy
31. Taste Of His Insecurities
32. Without Facts
33. Wake Up Beside Him
34. To Do His Part
35. His Family Now
36. Sticks Together
37. Has To Be Done
38. Show of Confidence
Epilogue
Also by Natalie Ann
About the Author
Author’s Note
Author’s Note
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Also by Natalie Ann
The Road Series-See where it all started!!
Lucas and Brooke’s Story- Road to Recovery
Jack and Cori’s Story – Road to Redemption
Mac and Beth’s Story- Road to Reality
Ryan and Kaitlin’s Story- Road to Reason
The All Series
William and Isabel’s Story — All for Love
Ben and Presley’s Story – All or Nothing
Phil and Sophia’s Story – All of Me
Alec and Brynn’s Story – All the Way
Sean and Carly’s Story — All I Want
Drew and Jordyn’s Story— All My Love
Finn and Olivia’s Story—All About You
Landon Barber and Kristen Reid- All Of Us
The Lake Placid Series
Nick Buchanan and Mallory Denning – Second Chance
Max Hamilton and Quinn Baker – Give Me A Chance
Caleb Ryder and Celeste McGuire – Our Chance
Cole McGuire and Rene Buchanan – Take A Chance
Zach Monroe and Amber Deacon- Deserve A Chance
Trevor Miles and Riley Hamilton – Last Chance
Matt Winters and Dena Hall- Another Chance
Logan Taylor and Kennedy Miles- It’s My Chance
Justin Cambridge and Taryn Miles – One More Chance
The Fierce Five Series
Gavin Fierce and Jolene O’Malley- How Gavin Stole Christmas
Brody Fierce and Aimee Reed - Brody
Aiden Fierce and Nic Moretti- Aiden
Mason Fierce and Jessica Corning- Mason
Cade Fierce and Alex Marshall - Cade
Ella Fierce and Travis McKinley- Ella
Fierce Family
Sam Fierce and Dani Rhodes- Sam
Bryce Fierce and Payton Davies - Bryce
Drake Fierce and Kara Winslow – Drake
Noah Fierce and Paige Parker - Noah
Wyatt Fierce and Adriana Lopez – Wyatt
Jade Fierce and Brock James – Jade
Ryder Fierce and Marissa McMillan – Ryder
Fierce Matchmaking
Devin Andrews and Hope Hall- Devin
Mick McNamara and Lindsey White- Mick
Cody McMillian and Raina Davenport – Cody
Liam O’Malley and Margo West- Liam
Walker Olson and Stella White – Walker
Flynn Slater and Julia McNamara – Flynn
Ivan Andrews & Kendra Key- Ivan
Jonah Davenport & Megan Harrington- Jonah
Royce Kennedy & Chloe Grey- Royce
Sawyer Brennan & Faith O’Malley- Sawyer
Trent Davenport & Roni Hollister- Trent
Paradise Place
Josh Turner and Ruby Gentile – Cupid’s Quest
Harris Walker and Kaelyn Butler – Change Up
Philip Aire and Blair McKay- Starting Over
Nathan Randal and Brina Shepard – Eternal
Ryan Butler and Shannon Wilder – Falling Into Love
Brian Dawson and Robin Masters – Mistletoe Magic
Caden Finley and Sarah Walker- Believe In Me
Evan Butler and Parker Reed – Unexpected Delivery
Trey Bridges and Whitney Butler – Forever Mine
Dylan Randal and Zoe Milton- Because Of You
Cash Fielding and Hannah Shepard – Letting Go
Brent Elliot and Vivian Getman – No More Hiding
Marcus Reid and Addison Fielding- Made For Me
Rick Masters and Gillian Bridges – The One
Cooper Winslow and Morgan Finely- Back To Me
Jeremy Reid and McKenna Preston- Saving Me
Christian Butler and Liz Carter- Begin Again
Amore Island
Family Bonds- Hunter and Kayla
Family Bonds- Drew and Amanda
Family Bonds – Mac and Sidney
Family Bonds- Emily & Crew
Family Bonds- Ava & Seth
Family Bonds- Eli & Bella
Family Bonds- Hailey & Rex
Family Bonds- Penelope & Griffin
Family Bonds- Bode & Samantha
Family Bonds- Hudson & Delaney
Family Bonds- Alex & Jennie
Family Bonds- Roark & Chelsea
Family Bonds- Duke & Hadley
Family Bonds – Carter & Avery
Family Bonds- Egan & Blake
Blossoms
A Love for Lily – Zane Wolfe and Lily Bloom
A Playboy For Poppy- Reese McGill and Poppy Bloom
A Romantic For Rose – Thomas Klein and Rose Bloom
A Return For Ren – Ren Whitney and Zara Wolfe
A Journey For Jasmine- Wesley Wright and Jasmine Greene
A Vacationer for Violet – Violet Soren And Trace Mancini
A Hero For Heather- Heather Davis and Luke Remington
A Doctor For Daisy- Daisy Jones And Theo James
Love Collection
Vin Steele and Piper Fielding – Secret Love
Jared Hawk and Shelby McDonald – True Love
Erik McMann and Sheldon Case – Finding Love
Connor Landers and Melissa Mahoney- Beach Love
Ian Price and Cam Mason- Intense Love
Liam Sullivan and Ali Rogers - Autumn Love
Owen Taylor and Jill Duncan - Holiday Love
Chase Martin and Noelle Bennett - Christmas Love
Zeke Collins and Kendall Hendricks - Winter Love
Troy Walker and Meena Dawson – Chasing Love
Jace Stratton and Lauren Towne - First Love
Gabe Richards and Leah Morrison - Forever Love
Blake Wilson and Gemma Anderson – Simply Love
Brendan St. Nicholas and Holly Lane – Gifts of Love
About the Author
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Blurb
Carter Bond is not embarrassed or ashamed to be a blue-collar worker. Nor does he mind he came from the “poor” branch of the family tree. He’s got success in his own right through hard work and pure determination. If women don’t like his career, that’s their problem. He doesn’t want the drama that a relationship could cause when he is just as happy with his dogs. Or so he tries to tell himself.
Dr. Avery Keegan became the guardian of her best friend’s daughter when tragedy struck. Her world is turned upside down and is spinning nonstop. When an old college friend reaches out to her about the need for a veterinary clinic on Amore Island, she jumps at the chance to start over. Too bad the past is determined to chase her down and remind her that sometimes she just can’t do it all on her own.
Prologue
“Avery, there are two police officers here asking for you.”
Avery looked up from where she was speed walking to her next patient. She was behind as it was and the last thing she needed was an interruption.
“Can you tell the patient in room three I
’ll be a few minutes longer?”
The patient, Sunny, a feisty longhaired cat, would understand, but her owner might not after waiting for thirty minutes already.
Avery hurried toward the front of the building where the reception area was. There were two police officers standing there and she decided it was best not to hear what they had to say in front of the other pet owners.
“Can you have them come back to the conference room?” she asked the woman at the desk. The clinic she worked at was huge and top of the line. Avery had been thrilled to be hired right out of college and loved not having the responsibility of being her own boss. Though there were times she was starting to realize it might be easier when she always found herself overbooked.
She turned and moved in the direction of the conference room, then waited for the officers who came in after her.
“Dr. Avery Keegan?”
“Yes,” she said. “That’s me. Can I ask what this is about?”
“Do you know a Colleen Pacer?”
“Yes,” she said quietly. “That’s my best friend. What’s wrong? What happened to Colleen?”
Her heart was racing. Colleen lived fifteen minutes from where Avery was in Danbury. It was the Danbury Police that was standing here too. But Colleen did work in Danbury. And she worked at City Hall. These two officers probably knew her, and by the looks on their faces and the shaking of the one officer's hand, she didn’t like where this was going.
“There’s been an accident. She’s in the hospital. You are listed as her ICE on her phone.”
“How bad of an accident?” Her mind was racing. She had to get Josie. She needed to see Colleen. She could call her mom to help, but her mother had her hands full with her grandmother right now too.
“Bad enough,” the officer said. “They’d like you at the hospital to make some decisions unless there is a next of kin.”
This didn’t sound good. “Her daughter. But she’s only seven.”
“Is there somewhere she can go?”
“She’s at daycare. I need to go to the hospital first, right?”
“That would be wise,” the officer said. The one that was shaking. “We’ll escort you.”
She nodded her head, then ran to her office and got her purse, only going through the motions, trying not to panic.
The receptionist was coming down the hall and Avery knew she had tears in her eyes and said, “I’ve got to go. I’m sorry.”
She couldn’t worry about her job right now. They’d figure it out. They had to.
She was driving faster through town than she ever had with the police escort and wasn’t sure if she was scared for her life or more afraid of what she’d find out at the hospital when she arrived.
After parking her SUV, she ran into the ER. “I’m Avery Keegan. I’m here in regard to Colleen Pacer.”
“Yes,” the nurse said. “Please come with me and a doctor will be in to see you shortly.”
“Can you tell me what is going on?” she asked.
“A doctor will explain.”
“What kind of accident was it?” she asked. “Can anyone even tell me that?”
“She was hit by a car while walking.”
Avery’s hands went to her mouth as she gasped. Colleen often ran errands for the city and walked around town to do it.
The nurse turned and left after that, not even giving her a chance to ask anything else.
She sat down and looked at her phone but barely could read it through her tears. It was shy of lunchtime at this point. She’d have to get Josie by no later than five. She should reach out and let them know what was going on.
She started to call, but a doctor came in and she stood up. “Dr. Keegan?”
“That’s me. Is Colleen going to be okay?”
“She was hit head-on while crossing the street. She’s suffered significant damage to her upper body and head.”
Avery was sobbing now and felt the need to vomit. “What are you telling me?”
“We are doing everything we can for her, but it’s not looking good. You’re her emergency contact. Do you know if she has a living will and who is authorized to make decisions on her behalf?”
This couldn’t be happening right now. “Her family doesn’t live around here. Her mother is out west and her sister too. She’s not close with them. She hasn’t talked to her father in more years than I can remember.” She was fumbling with her phone and trying to scroll the contacts. “We have the same attorney. Let me see if I can find out.”
“Please do,” the doctor said. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
She got through to her attorney’s office, talked to the lawyer she and Colleen both had and was informed that not only was Avery the power of attorney, but she was also Josie’s guardian should something happen to Colleen.
She’d had no idea. It was not something she ever thought of. Or talked about with Colleen. Not that she’d ever say no, but she never thought of those things or wanted to consider them happening.
The doctor returned ten minutes later. “It’s me,” she told the doctor. “I’m the power of attorney. We can get copies here if you need to see them.”
Nothing she wanted to have or even think of.
She was used to making life and death suggestions with animals, not people.
But she listened to what was said and what the options were. There were none that were good.
“Do whatever you can to save her. It’s what she’d want,” she finally said.
“You understand the chances are slim,” the doctor said.
“It sounds like if you don’t do anything she’s not going to make it either, correct?”
The doctor nodded. That was all she needed to know.
At four o’clock she ran out to get Josie and bring her to her mother’s house. The last thing she was telling her best friend’s daughter was that her mother might not live and only said her mother was held up doing something.
It was probably a horrible lie, but she could barely think of the directions to the daycare she’d been to multiple times let alone how to handle this right now. She even had to lie about why she looked like she was crying and said it was a sad day at work.
At eight that night, Avery was walking into her mother’s house. Her face must have said it all. “She didn’t make it, did she?” her mother asked.
She went into her mother’s arms. “No. What am I going to do?”
“You’re going to do what Colleen wanted you to.”
She was sobbing and nodding her head at the same time. “What will I tell Josie?”
“We’ll figure it out,” her mother said. “She’s in the guest room watching TV. Let’s get you something to eat first and talk.”
“I can’t eat anything. I need to tell her now.”
“Then we’ll do it together, sweetie. You’re a strong tough woman and you’ve got support and you need to learn to take it. We’ll get through this.”
Avery wasn’t so sure she would or she could, but for Colleen, she’d give it everything she had.
1
Looked Down On
Ten Months Later
“Carter,” Mason Rauch said to him when he walked into the town hall meeting in early May. “I’m not surprised you’d be here.” Mason was on the Island Planning Board.
“Really?” Carter asked. Most people would be. He was one of the quiet Bonds. Hardly speaking unless spoken to.
