AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Good.”
A secretive smile played on Claire’s lips that would have given her mother a conniption if she’d seen it. She was either thinking about the boy she’d been with or dreaming about him. I’d suspected there was one before her admission last night. Why else would she sneak out and risk her mother’s wrath?
“I’m glad.” I nodded and stabbed a bite of fluffy pancake with my fork. “You haven’t been sleeping well since you moved in. Neither has your mother.”
Watching Claire closely, I brought my bite to my mouth. She chewed on the large bite she’d shoved into hers.
“This is delicious,” she said after swallowing. “I haven’t had pancakes since ...” Her light brown eyes turning shiny behind the lenses of her glasses, she swallowed and pushed her plate away.
I frowned, sorry that I’d touched on a nerve. “Your dad used to make them.”
Claire nodded. “They tasted a lot like yours.”
I arched a brow. “Who do you think gave him the recipe?”
“You?” Leaning toward me, she blinked away the sadness. “I didn’t know you and my dad hung out.”
“We did before our group of friends, then your mom and I, had our ... falling out.” I gave Claire the greatly abbreviated summarized version of those events. She didn’t need all the gory details. “Daniel and I both loved your mom. At first, it was natural that we liked each other.”
“What happened to change that?” she asked.
“A lot of things.” My brow furrowed. “Some of those things were on me.” Actually, the lion’s share of blame was mine. “Some on your mom. Daniel would’ve been the peacemaker between us if we’d have allowed him to.”
Claire stared at her plate, struggling with her emotions again. “My dad was a peacemaker for me and my mom.”
“I’ll bet he was,” I said sadly. “Daniel was a good man. I’m glad your mom found him. Glad you both had him for as long as you did. Some of us don’t get longer than a moment with the love of our life.” I thought of Barry and the brief interlude we’d shared that I didn’t think I would ever get over.
“Did you have one of those? A boyfriend, I mean.”
“Yes, a long, long time ago.” I frowned, remembering Collin and all the mistakes that had followed that choice. “I thought I’d found the guy I would be with forever, but he was only mine for a season.”
“Did he do something bad?” she asked.
“Yes.”
He’d slept with Miranda. He’d lied to me about the drugs. But I’d made mistakes too. Martin, of course. I should never have let him into my life, but I hadn’t had a choice.
Regret swirling nauseatingly inside my stomach, I closed my eyes, squeezing them shut for a long moment. When I reopened them, the pain and regret from the past remained. I’d lost a lot, but there was love in the world.
I was looking at it. My beautiful niece had a chance to do better with her life.
“Your mom and I have been through some tough stuff. And I know she doesn’t want you to make mistakes like we did.” I patted Claire’s hand where it rested beside her plate. “I think you’re wiser than we were. After all, you had your dad.”
“I did. And I hope I’m wise.” She bit down on her lip.
“That boy you were with last night, do you love him?” I asked, cutting to the chase.
She looked down, twisting the napkin in her lap. “He’s handsome and strong, gentle and protective. I think he could be my forever. But there are obstacles.” Her dark blond brows drew together.
“What kind of obstacles?” I asked, concerned.
“It’s complicated,” she said evasively.
“I don’t ask to pry.”
“I know you don’t,” she said softly.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” I pressed, not giving up on trying to reach her.
