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I continue to stay quiet. Arguing with them would serve no purpose, and I know without even asking that Claire wouldn't be impressed if I attempted to put Nora in her place. I can't include Leo in it because it's obvious the man doesn't even want to be here.
"She goes around town just raking up the kindness and good graces from everyone in this community. She's a professional at getting people to feel sorry for her when I know she's either sitting on that huge sum of money she got when our precious boy died or she squandered it all away. Either way, she doesn't deserve all the attention and empathy she's getting. I heard what you arranged yesterday. The woman doesn't need a tree. She's manipulating you just as much as she's exploiting your kindness."
I pull in a deep breath, not sure where I need to jump into the argument, knowing I shouldn't jump in at all. The contradiction of blaming me for Claire not letting Larkin stay at their house and then speaking out the other side of her mouth in the same breath, claiming I'm one of her victims, is just wild to me.
"She knows you lost Jason, God rest his soul. That's why you were such an easy target."
When I say I can literally hear the straw she just placed on the camel's back that caused him to stumble and all, I mean it.
Arguing about their lives and loss and how they feel about Claire is one thing. Bringing up my dead brother in an attempt to win me to their side against Claire is another thing altogether.
"Claire doesn't have any money, and she never did," I growl, leaning forward and taking very little pride in the way Nora steps back as if she's afraid I'd physically hurt her. It says a lot about how this woman views me. "Your precious boy was so bitter about you making him grow up after treating him like an infant for so many years that he willed his SGLI benefits to a wombat rescue in Australia. He left her loaded down with the debt he created, and she's worked her tail off ever since, trying to pay it off. And while we're on the topic, don't try and pretend that you've gone above and beyond for her. You made that girl stay in a hotel while waiting for the paternity results even though she had a legal marriage license to your son. How do you think Hux would feel looking down and watching how you treated his pregnant wife?"
Nora swallows, and Leo darts his eyes away before walking off.
Nora huffs when he walks clear out of the diner and climbs into their car that's parked within view of where we are. He doesn't leave without her, but he's also standing his ground. I wonder how many times the man tried to step in while Hux was growing up? How many times he warned Nora to back down and let the guy grow up? If I had to predict what went down in their house, I imagine that he put his foot down not long before the guy was told to join the military.
"See what you've done?" she snaps, drawing the attention of others in the diner as she waves a hand in Leo's direction. "We had no idea about the money being donated. When we called about it, we were told that we weren't privileged to that information because we weren't considered next of kin."
I'm not surprised they called, but I also know that they love their son and would much rather have him here than being gone with a few hundred thousand dollars in their bank account. Nora is a hateful woman on a good day, but I know she loved Hux with every ounce of her being.
"You treated her poorly from day one," I continue. "I know you were grieving, but she was too, and she had to do it alone."
I know I'm pushing it, but it's none of their business, the details of Claire and Hux's real relationship. They might not have been very close, but I know it hurt her when he died.
Nora swallows, her eyes darting everywhere but making contact with mine.
"And just to clear the air, I've never said one negative thing to Claire about you. I don't have to poison her where you're concerned. You're hateful and mean, and you've been treating her like crap since she arrived in Lindell. Did you really think she was going to let it go on forever?"
Nora continues to remain quiet, and I know I should probably be done. Telling her off feels really good right now, but I know it's going to bring hellfire my way from Claire when she hears about it. I know she's going to hear about it because the elderly couple in the corner are Corbin's parents and they know exactly who Claire is. They're paying so much attention to what's being said, I'm surprised they aren't taking handwritten notes.
"Claire made a decision yesterday for her own happiness. Although I don't know exactly how she feels about it, I can only guess that if you continue to treat her the way you have been, then she's only going stay away. No one readily walks up to someone when they know they're going to be kicked, and the woman is tired of being kicked. If you don't mind I'd like to finish my now cold omelet. Have a good day, Mrs. Kennedy."
I drop my eyes to my plate, dismissing her completely. Despite her walking off in a huff, I know it won't be the last time I have to have words with Nora.
Chapter 36
Claire
I fought the cloud-nine feeling all the way to Madison's house, but there was just something about having heat in the car for the first time in as long as I could remember that just wouldn't let me ignore it.
It really is the simple things in life, and I know I owe it to Walker. Just like I know it cost a lot more than fifty bucks to fix this old clunker because it's not even making that loud, embarrassing whining noise. If Boone only charged him that amount then he did it because he took pity on me. As much as I want to get upset about that, I just can't seem to pull up that irritation.
Larkin ran inside Madison's house like she was beyond excited to be there, and that made it easier. I know she's eventually going to ask for Nora and Leo, but that's a bridge I'll worry about when we get there.
I was feeling like a brand-new person, but as karma would have it, I got a call from the attorney's office, urging me to stop by as soon as possible. They mentioned not being open this evening when I said I could come by then, and it left me once again needing to call work and let them know I was going to be a little late.
I pull in a deep breath before opening the door to the attorney's office and stepping inside. The older lady smiles at me from the desk, her eyes barely moving away from the television she's watching to greet me.
"Hello, dear. Barrett is waiting for you. Go on back."
I blink at her, having thought they were using some sort of ruse to get me here to talk about the balance I owe them from him looking into that payout settlement for me.
Dread fills me with every step I take toward his office. I really thought things were going to start looking up for me, but this is what I get for thinking a working heater in the car had the power to change my life.
I knock on the doorframe, only stepping inside when he lifts his hand and waves me closer. He doesn't even bother pulling his eyes from his computer as I sit. I know he makes me wait on purpose because he's just a spiteful sort of man. That was clear when he just dropped the wombat bomb at my feet while hoping Walker would refill his flask with whiskey rather than calling me and either scheduling an appointment or telling me over the phone, either of which would've been more private than how he did it.
"I have to get to work," I say when it doesn't look like he's going to address me.
