Before We Were Yours: Chapter 11 Summary & Analysis

Two weeks have passed since Avery talked to Trent Turner on the phone. She is driving down to Edisto Island to see him in person after her sister Missy encouraged her to take a vacation. On her way out of town, Avery stopped to visit May only to learn that she was hospitalized for an infection and hasn’t been released yet. Since their initial conversation, Trent has refused to take Avery’s phone calls, which makes Avery worry that the papers he has are some kind of blackmail. Furthermore, Avery learned from an entry in one of Judy’s appointment books that the dragonfly bracelet has something to do with Edisto, although it’s unclear what the connection is. Avery wonders if it means Judy was having an affair and used to meet her lover on Edisto. To Avery, one thing is clear: Judy wouldn’t keep a secret unless it could hurt the family somehow.

Avery has also been researching Trent Turner. She’s learned that he’s actually Trent Turner III and the real estate business Trent now owns is a family business that he’s taken over since his grandfather’s death. Despite how nervous Avery is, she enjoys her drive to Edisto and all the happy memories it stirs up. It doesn’t take long for Avery to find Trent’s office. She pulls up and looks around with envy at the beautiful scenery surrounding the office. Avery wonders why she’s never brought Elliot to Edisto and notes that the answer “tastes bitter”: their self-imposed schedules keep them too busy, and they must keep up with those schedules to maintain their families’ reputations.

Avery walks into the office and calls out, but nobody is there. She notices a popcorn machine and goes to get some because she’s very hungry, but before she can, Trent comes in. Avery thinks he is attractive and charismatic. Avery tells him that she called him a couple of weeks ago, but Trent doesn’t remember her. While Avery watches him struggle to recall who she is, she feels “a spark of…something” and smiles, which makes her feel guilty. Avery reluctantly tells Trent she called him about Judy’s papers, knowing that he’ll be irritated with her. Trent tells Avery she’s wasting her time—not even her power of attorney for Judy is enough to make him give Avery the papers because it’s not a legal matter. Avery tells him she won’t leave until she has the papers and sits down, much to Trent’s chagrin.

Trent again tries to explain that he made a promise to his grandfather and says it’s better that he doesn’t give Avery the papers. Avery threatens to sue for the papers on the grounds that they might do her family real harm. Trent tells her good luck, but Avery sees on his face that she’s not wrong that the papers might be bad for her family’s reputation. Her heart sinks as she realizes there is a dark family secret. The phone rings and Trent answers it, talking longer than normal in an evident attempt to make Avery leave. However, she stays put and when Trent gets off the phone, he tells her again that it’s no use. Still, Avery stays while Trent silently works at his computer.

After a while, Trent states that Avery must be used to getting what she wants. Avery is hurt by this because she doesn’t like it when people assume her only real qualifications are her family name and pretty hair. She proudly tells Trent that she works for what she gets. He only snorts in response. Avery insinuates that Trent’s grandfather was trying to blackmail Judy. Trent is furious with Avery for implying this and the two stand up and stare at each other. Avery asks him what his grandfather wanted with Judy and Trent insists it’s not blackmail. As Avery demands the papers, someone comes into the office—it’s a game warden and Trent tells him Avery is leaving.