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“Who called Kyle just now?” I asked. “And why was he so upset?
“I don’t know,” she said, and I figured it was the truth, not a brush-off, because it was what she’d told her friends.
“Well, if you find out, and there’s anything I can do to help, let me know.”
“Okay,” she said.
“I love you, Claire. I’m here for real, no judgment, if you need me.”
“I love you too, Aunt Addy.”
I nodded once and let her be. It was all I could do. But I was going to talk to Barry later. See if he knew anything.
I felt like I was missing something critically important.
Addy
Later didn’t come right away. We got slammed at the bar, so it was all hands on deck.
Claire ran as many tubs full of dirty dishes to the back as Bob did. At three a.m., I corralled the last customer and put him in a taxi. He’d been in no condition to drive. After giving Bob instructions to watch the place, directives he knew by heart but listened to attentively anyway, I set the alarm.
Rachel and Claire flanking me in the parking lot, I clicked the fob to unlock my Explorer. We piled in, and I cranked the key. The engine sputtered a bit. It was chilly outside. My old vehicle didn’t like the cold any more than I did, but it started.
On the drive to my apartment, no one spoke. We were each lost in our thoughts. For my part, I kept running over what had happened with Kyle. It unnerved me that I hadn’t notice him return to the bar. Surely, he wasn’t still out this late. Or was he?
I really wanted to ask Claire, but I didn’t want to interrupt. Mother and daughter were walking up the stairs side by side, talking about the songs Rachel had mentioned having. Following them, I decided I’d give them some time to bond, and Rachel the chance to explain to Claire that we’d all be sleeping someplace else tonight.
Inside the apartment, I went about making myself scarce to give them some privacy.
“I’ll just be in my bedroom taking care of some things.” That meant packing a bag for Barry’s place. “Holler if you need anything.”
“I’ll join you for a minute,” Rachel said. Following me in, she gestured and dropped to her knees. “Getting my papers from under the bed.”
“Right.” I made a show of putting an empty bag on the bed, but I made eye contact with her when she rose. “We’re going to Barry’s, remember?”
“Yeah. But Claire’s showering, and then we’re going to talk. Can you give us just a little bit of time here before I tell her?”
“Of course I can.” I nodded. “Take all the time you need. I’ll call Barry.”
“Thanks, Addy.” She came around the bed and hugged me. “Claire mentioned you talking to her about us. I think it really helped.”
“You’re welcome.”
Tears like she wore sprang to my eyes. Rachel and Claire connecting meant a lot to me.
As she exited the room with her song collection, I called Barry’s number and put my phone on speaker mode, planning to pack and talk, but he didn’t pick up.
I frowned, and that unsettled feeling from earlier deepened.
Surely whatever was going on with Kyle didn’t involve Barry. Did it? Those thoughts wouldn’t normally follow, but the two generations seemed so connected.
I zipped up my bag and glanced at the other room. My heart fluttered, then rose to my throat at the sound of Rachel singing the song she’d written for Collin and me.
I drifted closer, leaned against the doorjamb, and listened.
Passion lay dying
Given up trying
