Page 34 of Sunset Cove
“No, I’m sorry,” she flashed a pained smile. “I don’t often tell this story anymore because everyone back home, you know, knew it already.” She softened her voice. “There were no survivors.”
Chip felt like his chair had shifted beneath him. “Wow, Claire, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay, it’s been a long time.” She let out a breath. “I left law school and adopted my sister’s three daughters – my girls, Lucy, Lillian, and Rose.” Claire smiled and pulled out her cell phone. “Here’s a picture of us from a few months ago.”
They looked like Claire, happy and smiling. He wanted to say that they were beautiful, like her, but it felt too awkward. “That’s…unbelievable. I mean, I do believe you. I’m not trying to scare you again.”
She laughed. “I know, and it gets crazier.” She bit her lip. “Last year, my brother-in-law’s uncle passed away, and it changed everything.”
Chip frowned. “More than the plane crash?”
She looked around the room. “I mean, financially. I went from driving a fifteen-year-old car to buying the hotel.”
“Wow.” Chip realized that his mouth was hanging open. “You weren’t kidding about having a wild story.”
She laughed. “To be honest, I didn’t want anyone at the hotel to know, because I didn’t want them to think that I didn’t know what I was doing. But you already know that I don’t know what I’m doing, so there you go. That’s the truth.”
“This is great, Claire.” Chip shook his head. It felt like she’d just thrown a pie in his face. He started laughing. “You know what? You’re great.”
She laughed. “Don’t tease.”
He shook his head. “I’m not. Do I seem like a guy who would tease his boss?”
Claire paused before responding. “Yes.”
Chip laughed. “Well, I’m not, and I’m buying another round. On me.”
“I can afford my drinks,” she said.
He flagged down the waitress. “I don’t care how many uncles you have. This is my island and here, I buy the cider.”
She laughed, and Chip knew it was over for him. He’d do anything – absolutely anything – to keep hearing that laugh.
