“If you’re going to be this thin-skinned how will you ever stand book reviews?”
“I have to go into town. Do you need anything?”
“No, thank you. I went this morning while you were having fun.”
She didn’t want to spend another moment in her sister’s company. She stormed out of the room. She took her purse and slipped on her shoes. She needed to download the contract. A drive into town would be a welcomed relief.
* * *
Thank goodness that same clerk wasn’t around. Claire relaxed after taking one look at the older woman behind the counter. She sat at the computer monitor and actually read her emails, answered messages, and downloaded not only the contract but several other documents that she’d received. Some was research, others were sympathy messages, and one was even a request for a manuscript read from an agent referral from Mike.
She stacked her papers and went through everything, collating and stapling. She relaxed doing simple office tasks. Cleaning her desk drawers, filing, and even sorting paperwork always settled her mind. It worked as well as yoga and Tai Chi. She’d call Fran to see if she wanted anything from the store. She opened her purse to grab her wallet and noticed she’d forgotten her cell phone.
Claire stopped at the grocery, picked up a couple of items and headed home in less than a couple of hours. After lunch she could contemplate what to do with Fran. Claire sighed. She’d give her sister another chance. She always did.
She entered the house and it was quiet. “Fran?” she called out.
The rooms were empty. Fran wasn’t one to linger outside yet she might have started to tackle sorting the barn items. Claire entered into the cool musty barn. No Fran and no sticky notes. From behind the house, she meandered between her mother’s herb and vegetable garden plots and grapevines. She edged over to the fence and heard voices.
The loud hammering of her heart hampered discerning what was said other than Fran’s voice rose and fell followed by Dustin’s. Jasper was outside the barn holding a ball. She went through the back gate. The dog didn’t bark but came over the dropped his ball at her feet. She picked up the ball and lobbed it off across the yard. He came back and she held the ball unable to believe her sister was here in Dustin’s barn. Claire stopped just short of the barn entrance.
“You always were a tease. I can’t believe you think I’m interested in you.”
“Don’t be such a poor sport. What the hell is wrong with you? It’s not like either of us are married.”
“I’m not interested in you. You’re only doing this to upset Claire. I thought you were engaged?”
“You and I both know nothing ever gets in our way. You might play the hero for my sister, but really I’m the type of woman who can handle you. Claire isn’t up to the task. Not then and not now. Let me show what a real woman can do for you. You don’t have to act like you don’t want some of this. C’mon, I saw your eyes the other night. Stop using your eyes and gimme some of your mouth.”
“I swear—”
Claire stepped into the open doorway. She let go of the ball she hadn’t even realized she still held in her hands. She caught Fran’s profile and the fact that her sister’s breasts were exposed. Fran had been smiling, threading her hands through her hair in a way that Claire had seen hundreds of times. It reminded her of someone petting a long-haired lap dog the way she kept moving her hand over the blond mass. Her sister wore a skimpy shirt and skirt. This was pretty much her sister’s mode of operation whenever she was out to snag a man. Fran faced her before pulling down her shirt.
Dustin was standing not more than a foot away from Fran. His hands had been less than twelve inches from her sister’s cleavage. His back was against his workbench and Fran let her hand drop onto Dustin’s arm. He flinched away.
“Back off, Fran.”
“Oh my, Claire. I’m so sorry you had to see this. Some things never change.”
“Stop this, Fran. Get the hell away from me.” Dustin finally pushed past her, swearing. “You’re seriously screwed up. Claire, please. This isn’t what it looks like. I swear.”
Fran laughed, a toxic trill of mocking jubilation. Claire’s fingers shook. She took a step back, her hands thrust out in front of her. “Both of you, stop. It was foolish to think that any of us had changed. Foolish to believe for a second.”
Her thoughts were jumbled. She only knew she needed to leave. She retraced her steps, blinded by tears and anger and hurt.
She tried to breathe. Her lungs had shrunk; something was wrong. She couldn’t swallow. She reached the fence, pulled the latch, it wouldn’t budge. She sobbed and wiped her eyes. She pushed again and then realized she needed to push and lift simultaneously.