Page 28

Chapter Twenty-Four

S heri had to work, so she and Claire said their goodbyes at the hotel.

“Are you nervous?” asked Sheri. Her eyebrows drew together as she rubbed Claire’s arm.

“Ah, heck, yeah. I haven’t mentioned much of what happened with Keith to my parents. They deserve to know, but it’s going to be embarrassing.”

“Oh, hon. Don’t be embarrassed,” said Sheri. She lowered her voice. “Never be embarrassed. That was on Keith, not you.”

Claire shrugged. “I know, but it will take time to remember that.”

Sheri’s cab arrived, and she waved goodbye to Claire.

Standing in front of the Plaza with people walking around her, people everywhere, Claire never felt so much alone.

She rented a car, then called her parents.

She was both anxious and scared to see them.

Her heart was pounding. Why should she be so anxious?

Her parents would love her, no matter what.

They probably already suspected what Claire was going to tell them.

She sighed. Standing on the street wasn’t helping. She needed to get this over with.

Though she sang with the radio to distract her, the hour drive to Larchmont didn’t allay her fears.

Claire arrived at her parents’ house and stared at the stairs leading up to the front door.

Turned off the car and couldn’t move. She was afraid.

Didn’t want to do this. When had her life become so pathetic?

She shook her head—time to pull up her big-girl panties and get on with life.

She got out of the car and walked up the path to ring the doorbell. Heard footsteps, forced a smile. Her dad opened the door, and she flung herself in his arms.

“Ah, Claire. Sweetheart, I can’t tell you how good it is to see you,” he murmured as he rubbed her back. She inhaled his familiar scent. Stopped herself from sobbing in his arms.

He gave her the comfort she’d been needing. Finally, she released him.

“Come on in. Mom is anxious to see you.”

Claire followed her dad into the spacious family room. Her mom got up and hugged her, and Claire clung to her. Closed her eyes. This was her family. Her comfort. Her peace. When her mom stepped back, Claire looked around the familiar room.

Stopped.

Sitting quietly in a corner chair was Joe. He looked at her and gave her a small smile. What was he doing here?

“Didn’t expect to see you here,” she said.

“I know. But no way in hel … heck was I letting you do this alone.”

“When did you get in?”

“Just a few minutes ago.”

Claire wasn’t sure how she felt about Joe being there. Sure, he’d heard her story, but would it be embarrassing to have him there while she told her parents? The more she thought about it, the more comforting the thought of Joe being there seemed. He always had her back.

“Claire, I know you’re as surprised to see Joe as we were, but it’s good to see you both,” said her dad. “We are so sorry about Keith’s death.”

Claire nodded.

“Do you want to tell us what is on your mind?” asked her mom.

Claire nodded.

Silence.

Her chest constricted. She took several deep breaths. Could she do this? She opened her mouth to speak.

Nothing came out.

Her parents looked at her expectantly but didn’t say a word, just waited for her to talk.

“I… I…” Her chest felt tight. Her throat and windpipe felt like a vise grip was turning them. She saw pity in her parents’ eyes. Could she pass out right now? Please.

Joe cleared his throat. “What Claire is trying to say is Keith abused her for years.”

Her mom gasped. Her dad glanced at Joe and then back at her.

“Is that true, sweetie?”

She nodded and exhaled. “Yes.”

Claire and her parents spent a good hour talking about her life with Keith. Joe hadn’t said a word after telling them that she’d been abused, and she was thankful for that. She didn’t think she would be able to get on with her life if she hid behind the truth.

Her parents sat there and listened, fury radiating off their bodies, their hands tightly clasped. When she finished, she sat back in the chair and said, “I’m sorry.”

Silence.

“Sorry for what?” snapped her father. “If that bastard weren’t already dead, he would be now.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” said her mother. She slid over and drew Claire into her arms. “I’m sorry you didn’t confide in us sooner. We wondered what was going on but never suspected that. However, we figured you would tell us when you were ready.”

“Keith was so vindictive. He threatened to ruin you,” she said, looking at her dad.

“As if,” her father retorted. “Don’t ever worry about that.”

Her mom hugged Claire. “You are a strong woman, and life will get better, but as your father said, don’t ever worry about us.”

Claire swallowed hard. A huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She looked over at Joe, who was staring at her. What is he thinking? He hadn’t heard all of it until now. Did he think she was weak, couldn’t take care of herself?

“Ditto what your parents said, Claire. You have your whole life to do as you please. Please yourself. Embrace life. Don’t think about the past or Keith,” he said.

“Well, I can’t get away from thinking about Keith yet.” She went on to tell them about the will and what she told the lawyer to do.

“Good for you, honey,” her dad said. “Will you have enough money to live on?”

“Yes, after everything is sold, I’ll be rich. I’m banking some and taking the rest to set up a foundation for abused women. Keith’s death has to have a good ending.” She smirked. “Poetic justice, I guess.”

Joe nodded. They talked for a few minutes until her mom stood up .

“I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m starving.” Her mom looked at them. “Can I make some sandwiches?”

“Sounds good,” said her dad.

Claire volunteered to help over her mom’s objections. She needed the comfort of doing something normal after an abnormal week.

“I can’t say how much I appreciate you helping Claire,” said her dad. He and Joe were waiting for the women to come back with sandwiches.

“You know I would do anything for her.” Did her father guess how much he would do for her?

Joe wasn’t sure. Her parents hadn’t liked him hanging out so much with Claire in high school.

He was the “bad boy” that parents usually hated and didn’t want their kids, especially their daughters, hanging around with.

Her father didn’t say anything. Stared at Joe. Started to say something and stopped. Struggled with himself.

“We always felt Claire was safe with you,” he finally said.

Joe choked on his coffee. “You did?”

“Yep. Her mother and I knew how much you two cared for each other. We discouraged the relationship going further because you were both too young.”

“I thought Claire could do better than me,” Joe said.

“I disagree. You’ve always had the strength of your convictions, a good moral compass. But you needed time to prove that to yourself. Going into the service was the best move for yourself that you could have made. It gave you confidence in yourself. We always felt you were worthy.”

What the heck? Her parents thought he was worthy of Claire.

Quite the opposite of what he thought. Wasn’t that why he let Claire go and never pursued her?

The bad boy’s reputation preceded him. What kind of life would Claire have had if they stayed together?

Would he have been able to get a good job to support her?

Would she have been happy? Would it have been enough? No. Not at the time.

Her father was right. He’d changed in the service. Knew right from wrong. Had confidence in his skills. Had the respectability he craved. But was he worthy of Claire? Keith didn’t think so. Told him he was a no-good nothing—a loser. But he wasn’t. He wasn’t!

“Claire was too young and had to find herself,” her father said.

“She started off well in college. Became an accomplished artist and was confident in her abilities. Had a good life. If Keith hadn’t come into her life, kept her from friends and family, abused her, who knows where her wings would have taken her.

But I suspect she would have always flown back to you. ”

They heard a clearing of a throat. Mrs. Sanders had come back with a tray of food that she set down on the coffee table.

“Joe, I heard some of what my husband said, and I have to agree. We knew how you two felt about each other. We would have gladly welcomed you into the family when you were both older. You were a good kid, and I know you’re a good man. You should be proud of yourself.”

Whoa . Both parents liked him. All these years, he thought it was about his reputation when, in reality, it was just his and Claire’s age that bothered them.

Claire was a widow, just coming out of an abusive relationship.

Could he step into her life? He wondered how she felt about him.

But she had a shitload of decisions to make.

Not the least was where she was going to live and what she was going to do with her life.

He didn’t want to hold her back either way.