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The signs had all been there; she’d just chosen to ignore theenuinely seemed to care about her, someone to lean on for the first time in her life This was a side of Jason that was co in business but most successful men were He cared about everyone in the company that h, was to lose her identity, and how long after would the abuse start? Her father hadn’t always been someone her mother considered a monster She probably felt protected and cherished at first until he slowly chipped away at everything she was Even though her heart was breaking, it was tith to do it
She didn’t kno long she’d been lying in the dark when she heard a knock at the door Oh wonderful, Billy has so after threatening hi to her feet, Claire walked to the door and swung it open without checking to see as on the other side
Jason stood there, a warhtly on the lips and then walked around her into the apart not to notice the frozen expression on her face "I had ht I could help you pack sos, and we could stop for dinner on the way home" Suddenly, he stopped to exa "Were you resting?"
"Jason, I’ht" She walked over to the side table where he had tossed his keys and handed the on? You want to stay here? I guess I could grab a few things from home and come back if that’s what you really want"
She tried to draw on her earlier anger to keep the tears in check and said, "I don’t want you here either Whatever this is that we’ve been doing is over I know this will ether is up for me at the office"
"Whoa! What the hell are you talking about? I see up with me because I talked to your ht have been out of line a bit, but I don’t think that’s any reason to take this drastic step"
Claire could see the confusion in Jason’s eyes and the red flush covering his face His nor his like it though This is best for both of us I’ve been controlled al the cycle," replied Claire
"You’re upset over yourLet’s talk about our relationship later when you have cal voice
Claire saw red at the patronizing tone of his voice Anger took control as she yelled "Don’t talk toand as for our relationship, we don’t have one! We slept together a few tireat sex doesn’t mean we’re married now!"
Claire sucked in a breath and prepared to deliver the final blow, knowing she was going to have to twist the knife even deeper to get him to leave "I tried Jason, I really did, but you just aren’tsomeone else that I met at one of the bachelor parties, and I think we’re a better fit I’smile
Jason stared at her like he had never seen her before His handsome face hite, coust, he spun on his heel and slale word in response
On shaky legs, Claire walked over and locked her door and collapsed on the floor Sobs ripped from her throat as every piece of her heart shattered into aas she lived, she would never be whole again She loved him; maybe the lust that she’d always joked with herself about feeling for hi she would never see him at the office, never see those blue eyes twinkle when he laughed, never feel his hands on her body bringing her to a frenzied pitch ive her, but she couldn’t
In ten years or less she would be her mother, and she would rather be alone than love so her As she curled up into a ball on the floor, Claire wondered if she would ever find the strength or will to ain
~~~
Jason walked to his car in disbelief He wanted to turn around and go back, to de on but the memory of the cold, res that he thought he was doing to help her been the very things that pushed her away? He didn’t believe the bit about her seeing someone else; that just wasn’t the way Claire was made He kneas his actions alone that had pushed her away and for that he had no answer
Ironic really, the one tiet emotionally involved, he was kicked in the stomach and discarded like yesterday’s trash If this was how love ended upyou feel, then he was finished with it Almost on auto pilot he arrived home and entered a house which see
Chapter Twenty Five
Claire somehow survived the next week Most of her mother’s test results were back, and the neasn’t as pro as she’d hoped but not a worst-case scenario either Dr Mauldin didn’t feel that another stroke was ie sustained from this one was more than likely permanent, and her mother would need months of rehabilitation to learn to cope with the handicaps left behind
The process would be sloith her Alzheimer’s Dr Mauldin was convinced that her mother would need to move into a rehabilitation center for awhile rather than trying it on an outpatient basis Her insurance would cover soe amount that needed to be paid Claire walked back out into the waiting roo to cover all the expenses?
She felt a touch on her head and looked up into the concerned eyes of Louise Louise took one of her hands and said, "Honey, I know you’re overwhel to decide what to do If you don’tyou so that you don’t know"
Her curiosity peaked; Claire waited for her to continue "Many years ago there were two old women who liked to think ahead In a house where it wasn’t encouraged to think at all, much less make any plans, we did e could on our own Yourone Even back then she sensed at so care of us all Your daddyinto your mama’s name well before he died He claimed it was for tax purposes, but I really believe he just wanted to be free and clear, in case he decided to run off with one of those floozies that he loved to hang out with"
Al in surprise, Claire said, "Floozies?"