Page 99 of Just a Plot Twist
I had an ulterior motive for coming tonight, I guess. Besides getting to watch the game I love, I want to be nearer to the woman I love.
I love Claire. And I’m pretty sure she loves me, too, but there’s an uncertainty between us now, and it doesn’t sit right with me.
And all this talk about conflicts of interest and the town knowing my business about who I’m seeing—about who I’m in love with?
It’s a lot.
The scrimmage ends and Alec’s team loses by a field goal. My brothers and Thomas, who rejoined for the last minute of the game, try to talk me into enjoying a late meal.
I decline. Cinnamon needs to get home. Besides, Indie is supposed to call tonight to tell me how her audition for an elite piano class went. All of this means I’m a bundle of nerves.
Mrs. Lambert, ever lurking, knocks on my door a minute after I close it.
She greets me warmly, her blueish cloud of hair especially fluffy. “Finally made it back this morning.”
I invite her to have a seat on the sofa near the window and I take the easy chair across from her. “How’s the granddaughter?”
“I miss her already. I wish they’d move back to our area.”
“How was the struggling son-in-law when you left? Parenthood is no joke.”
She puts a hand on her heart. “He grew leaps and bounds under my tutelage. He was swaddling even better than my daughter by the end!”
“That’s good to hear.”
“How’s Cinnamon?” she asks, a big smile brightening her face. Her glance goes past my shoulder. “Where is she?”
“She’s out in the back. We had a long drive back from Longdale tonight.”
“Well, it’s late and I won’t keep you.” She pats her knees. “Good news is, I got a message from Reggie’s grandson when I got home. He says they’vemoved apartments to one that’s dog friendly and can take Cinnamon now. They’re interested in picking her up tomorrow!”
I swallow down the ball in my throat. “Tomorrow?”
“They’re grateful for your help and so am I! Thanks, Benson.” Her lips turn down. “I hope your children won’t miss her too badly.”
They’re going to be devastated.
And in a surprise turn of events, I might be, too.
The immediate response in my brain is to start scheming about something, anything, I might be able to do to mitigate.
Maybe they’ll take money to let us keep her?
What kind of crazy thinking is that, though? She’s the worst possible dog for our family. She needs way too much care for us to manage properly. We can’t.
But I sorta want to try.
Maybe if I can show them that she’s well off here with me and my kids and Claire, that will convince them to let us keep her.
The melancholy of missing Claire and the dread of having to give up Cinnamon hits me hard.
There it goes again, the emptiness from so much loss. It’s an avalanche of white-hot pain.
And the only thing I think to do is run from it.
Chapter 31
Claire
