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“I’m training to ride from New York to San Francisco for a charity. I’ve planned the trip, and I’ll start the ride on May first. How’s work at Aames?”

I was sure she hadn’t heard a word I’d said, but that was what I expected. At least Claudia agreed to meet me, though I hadn’t expected she would. The unknown man, her date or maybe a stalker, stood with his back to our table observing the crowd for god knew whatever reason.

“Where’s the waiter?” Claudia’s head turned on a swivel as she searched for the server.

“Uh, they’re not called waiters or waitresses anymore. Servers,” I said as I lifted my hand to hail the person who had brought us water and menus.

After Claudia ordered her drink—a Negroni—the server left to put in her order. I was fine with water.

“Why am I here, Little West?”

God, it came back at me like a bolt of lightning. Claudia called me Little West, and CJ called me Fuckhead. Fun times during my childhood.

I took a sip of water as Claudia’s drink was delivered. She didn’t even acknowledge the server. She kept glancing around the room as if she was looking for someone.

“I thought maybe we could talk. We don’t know each other very well because we weren’t allowed to spend much time together. I thought maybe we could get to know each other now,” I answered.

CJ and Claudia had both been mean to me when I was a kid, but Mom told me not to be upset because they were just jealous. I didn’t doubt that in the least, but I didn’t understand why they didn’t like me.

Now that everything was out in the open, I got it. It wasn’t anything I’d done. It was my father’s bullshit. The sins of the father. Bridges had said it to me once, but now I understood what he meant completely.

“Okay, what do you want to know about me?” It was no surprise that Claudia would make it all about her. It had been that way for most of our lives.

“I know you went to Brown University, but I don’t know what you studied. Dad never said.” I felt guilty about saying it. I didn’t want her to think Dad didn’t talk about her, though he didn’t. That seemed cruel to me.

“I studied liberal arts. I wanted to be an interior designer, but Dad said no. He wanted me to study business.” She stared at me as though she was waiting for a response from me.

“So, you didn’t want to study business. We have that in common. I didn’t want to study business, either.”

Claudia offered a weak smile. “What did you want to study?”

“I honestly didn’t know. I thought maybe I’d want to be a therapist—you know, help people who don’t have anyone to support them. Dad wouldn’t even consider it.”

Claudia laughed. “Yes, that sounds about right. So, why did you want to see me?”

“I wanted you to know the real me, Claudia. I’m not a horrible person. I have an MBA I didn’t want, but I’m glad I have it. I’m working as an administrative assistant for someone important to me. I’m getting ready to do a charity ride across the country to raise money for an LGBTQIA charity, and I believe I have a lot to offer to Aames.”

Claudia lifted the glass in her hand for the server to bring her another drink. When the drink was delivered, so was my salad. I really wanted to get the fuck out of the place, but there was still shit left unsaid.

“So, you’re really queer, and Claude was okay with that?” she asked as she sipped her drink.

I chuckled. “I’m not sure if he was okay with it because he didn’t say much about it. Do you have a problem with my queerness?”

Claudia smirked. “I’m bisexual. My mother told me I was a dirty whore and my father could never know.”

“I told Dad and my mother when I was young. They weren’t thrilled, but I think Mom talked him down from being a prick about it.”

We both laughed. “Elise would never stick up for us. You’re lucky. May’s a really nice person.”

I nodded. “My mom liked you a lot, Claudia. I remember when you and CJ would come out to the East Hampton house. Mom was always excited to see the two of you. I remember that CJ didn’t like her at all, but you liked her.”

“I love May, much to my mother’s disapproval. She’s a good person, and she’s always been kind to us, though CJ refuses to acknowledge her. How is she?”

I sighed. “She’s in Burlington with friends. She needed to get away to grieve Claude’s death. I know she loved him very much. Hell, I loved him but I don’t think he loved me in return. He felt guilty about divorcing your mother. I was the mistake that was never supposed to happen and it tore your family apart.”

It was the most honest I’d ever been, and I was certain it would be used against me, but it was neither of our faults. Our parents did what they did, and as their offspring, it wasn’t our fault.

Claudia reached over the table and took my hand before she looked into my eyes. “West, I’m sorry CJ and I were so horrible to you. You’re as innocent in all of this as us. The bullshit in our family was over our heads and my mother is a bitter harpy because she didn’t want to lose her status in society. I’m sorry as hell that you got caught in the middle.”