Page 45 of Clara Knows Best

“What? I’m not hiding him!” she exclaimed, getting a coffee cup for herself.

“Aren’t you?”

It was her turn to stare at him. “Why would I? I hope y’all beat him up.”

“Why? Has he been a jerk?”

“Not the whole time, but he’s got a stick up his butt for sure.”

Hart appeared to consider this news for several moments.

A slight sound made Clara glance toward the fireplace and she smiled to see her brother Beck passed out on the couch. “Beck couldn’t make it upstairs?”

“Guess not. He slept the last few hours of the drive, too. I think he’s been partying too much.”

She sighed, and decided it was her duty as an older sister to wake him up and give him a hard time.

Hart stopped her. “Hey, this is for you.”

She took the envelope. “What is it?”

“Check for five grand.”

“What?Why?” she cried.

He shrugged. “Good faith.”

“You’re such a weirdo! Thanks, Hart!”

“You’re doing us all a favor, helping Mom.”

“I’m not really doing anything,” she objected. “I just live here.”

“Like a war correspondent.” He took a sip of coffee and noticed her smiling at him. “Don’t hug me.”

“Barf,” she said automatically, but she felt very fondly towards him as she tucked the envelope into her pocket. “Does this mean you’ve had a good quarter?”

“You could say that.”

She gave him a sisterly shove, which he took well. Then she made her way over to the snoring young man on the couch. “Beck! Wake up!”

He groaned and rolled away from her.

Clara sat down hard on his side. “Becky! It’s morning! Come on.” She gave his rough cheek a few vigorous pats. “You better shave. You look gross. Oh, you smell so bad.”

“Go away, Clara,” he begged hoarsely.

“Get up,” she urged. “It’s Mom’s birthday! She’ll come in here any second!”

His eyes opened. “Okay, get off.”

She got up, and he rose stiffly from the couch. He was still in jeans, and hadn’t even removed his tennis shoes. His hair was long and shaggy, and the patchy beard was new. “Are you hungover?” she asked suspiciously.

“Of course not. I wouldn’t drink before a road trip.”

“I had a hangover last weekend.”

He blinked at her. “What? For real?”

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