Page 15 of The Fault Between Us
Claire had dressed Jenny in an outfit Bridget had sent, and she looked adorable in the blue taffeta dress and shiny Mary Janes.
“She is perfectly gorgeous.” Bridget kissed Jenny’s pink cheek and gave her hair an assessing look. “Is she going to be a redhead, too?”
“I hope so,” Claire said, and meant it. She hoped every one of their children had Red’s copper hair. She sent Red a smile and hoped he’d smile back.
Instead, his brows came together in a puzzled frown as his attention went back to the bus. Claire followed Red’s gaze to where a group of young men and women shouldered backpacks and yelled insults at each other. A familiar face separated from the group.
“Frannie?” Was Claire imagining things? When she’d left home, Frannie had long, blonde waves pulled back from her face with barrettes, and wore full skirts and saddle shoes. The girl walking toward them had a short pixie cut and wore teal pedal pushers and a form-fitting sleeveless blouse. It was Frannie, but she looked less like Claire’s little sister and more like she’d just stepped out of a teen magazine.
Claire raised her brows at Bridget. Her sister sent her an apologetic look and mouthedTell you later.
“Hi, sis,” Frannie said in a bored voice. “Hiya, Red.”
Claire stepped forward. “What a lovely surprise.” Because what else could she say? She pulled Frannie into a hug that her little sister quickly shrugged away. Then they bustled to the truck while Red loaded the luggage and Frannie shouted vigorous goodbyes to the group who had come off the bus.
“Why didn’t you tell me she was coming?” Claire whispered as they squeezed into the truck with Claire next to Red, Bridget beside her with Jenny on her lap, and Frannie next to the window.
“If you had a telephone...” Bridget whispered back.
Claire leaned past Bridget to smile brightly at Frannie. “How wasthe trip? Did you sleep at all?” Frannie mumbled something as Claire’s thoughts raced ahead. Had she made enough dinner for an extra person? Where would Frannie sleep? She glanced at Red, who hadn’t said two words since her sisters arrived. His hands were clenched on the steering wheel and he stared straight ahead.
“You’re going to love it here.” Claire continued to talk to Frannie as if she wasn’t sulking. “We live right on the Madison River. We can go there after dinner.”
“A river,” Frannie retorted. “Whoop-di-doo.”
Claire and Bridget shared a glance. Bridget rolled her eyes as if to saySee what I have to deal with?
Jenny chose that moment to let out a squeal and demand Bridget’s attention. “Tell me how this little one is sleeping,” Bridget said. “Is she eating well? I do wish you’d chosen to breastfeed. At least tell me you’re up-to-date on her immunizations?”
“We have doctors here, Bridget.” Claire made herself adopt a teasing tone even as she felt a flash of irritation. This was exactly why she didn’t let Bridget come out when Jenny was born. She could manage perfectly well on her own and didn’t need Bridget looking over her shoulder every second. “And I read the baby book you sent me from cover to cover.” She patted Red’s leg beside her. “We both did.”
Red didn’t say a word, but made the turn to Riverside.
Claire’s stomach fluttered as the home she’d made with Red came into view. The house looked wonderful, set among the deep green of the trees, the impossibly blue sky above, the late-afternoon sun sparkling off the Madison in the background. Like a postcard. But would Bridget see it that way? “Here we are,” Claire said. “Home sweet home.”
She watched Bridget’s face. Her polite expression flickered. Frannie didn’t even try to be mannerly. “Holy moly, Claire, it’s smaller than our garden shed.”
“Frannie,” Bridget scolded. “Don’t be rude.” She forced a smile. “It’s lovely, Claire.”
Red put the truck in park with a jerk.
“Please tell me you have a television,” Frannie grumped.
“We have the great outdoors,” Claire retorted.
Bridget passed Jenny to her, then carefully climbed out in her skirt and heels. “I’m sorry.” She glared at Frannie. “She lost her manners somewhere between Willmar and Livingston.”
“Gosh,” Frannie groused. “Nobody can take a joke around here.”
Inside, Claire gave Bridget and Frannie a tour of all four rooms—the kitchen and the living room, the bathroom, and the bedroom—her smile firmly fixed in place.
“So cozy and cute,” Bridget said with a pasted-on smile.
“Where am I going to sleep?” Frannie asked, looking at the couch with a frown.
Claire bit her tongue, tempted to tell her little sister she could sleep with the mule. She had planned to make up the couch for Bridget, but now didn’t know what to do.
Red came in with an armload of suitcases and spoke for the first time. “Claire and Bridget can share the bedroom,” he said. “Frannie can have the couch.”
