Page 75 of Just a Plot Twist
“The kids are fine. Danica and Harry both got called in for shifts at the hospital, so I’m picking Dax and Indie up. They’ll stay at my place tonight.”
“But you’re soaking wet.”
“I’ll dry off fast. It’s okay. It wouldn’t make sense to drive home to change first. Highlands Ranch is in the opposite direction from my place.”
I explain the situation to Peter and Mandy on our way out, and they insist I take a couple of towels with me. When we reach the car, I place a towel across the driver’s seat, another one hanging where I rest my back, and then remove my shirt and spread it out along the backseat so it can dry faster.
I don’t miss that she totally checks me out while we get our seatbelts on.
I’m not gonna lie, it’s nice to be seen, even though I’m not completely comfortable sitting here without a shirt on.
I call Danica. “I’m on my way.”
“I appreciate this. There isn’t anyone in the neighborhood we know well enough yet to ask,” Danica says through the phone, as we drive out of the Schiller’s neighborhood, making our way to Highway 89.
Peter and Mandy live in the same neighborhood as my father and Celine, so I feel the sting of what my father is going through all over again as I catch a glimpse of their road before we exit their exclusive area.
Claire’s staring ahead, looking a little uncomfortable about all of this.
I’m uncomfortable, too. I wasn’t planning on having her meet my kids yet. But suddenly, here we are.
“Don’t worry about it,” I tell Danica. “I’d much rather you ask me than a neighbor. Always.”
“They’re fine at the house by themselves until you can get there,” Danica says.
She’s right. Dax started tending Indie on occasion a few months ago and it usually goes well, if you don’t count the times they call their mother or me complaining about the other one.
But this was unexpected. And it’s a school night, so I’d much rather they be at my place.
“This never happens,” I tell Claire when I’m off the phone. “Several of the local pediatricians are on call at the hospital once or twice a month. And since she’s a nurse, Danica had also signed up to be on call, as well. They weren’t even worried about being on-call the same night, though, because they don’t have to go in much. Tonight was the exception.”
Claire nods and brightens into a smile. “It’s nice you live close enough now that you can just pick them up whenever.”
As strange as it is that we’re having a normal conversation while I’m sitting here bare chested, there’s not much I can do about it. I let out a slow breath. “You have no idea how nice it is to be near them, for lots of reasons.” The air conditioning is cold on my skin, but it’s helping me dry faster, so I leave it on.
I should mention the other thing, the fact that she’s suddenly forced to meet them.
But Claire speaks first. “Lora Schiller talked about her business when we were in the bathroom.”
“What did she say?”
“When I told her it was great she was doing this all on her own at such a young age, she added that she was getting some help. I’m assuming she meant from her father.”
“Makes sense. Sounds like it to me.”
“And guess what? She said her parents are friends with my grandparents.”
“The Schillers were at the anniversary celebration.”
She clucks. “You’ve made it your mission in life to never again say the word ‘extravaganza,’ huh?”
I laugh. “I’ve made a game of it.” I adjust the towel I’m sitting on. It’s not great to be sitting in wet shorts. “But I wonder how close the Schillers and Hansons are?”
“I can ask. Lots of VIPs from Boulder and Longdale were invited to thesoiree.” She gives me a pointed look. “Lora alluded to many people helping her start her business, but I’m not sure what that means.”
We’re quiet for a moment.
“So the plan is, we pick up your kids and bring them back to your place?” Claire ventures.
