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"No, but Suz, you don’t kno my father started off Abusive people usually escalate over tio off the deep end iether for a short time and really not even in a relationship and look at how he had taken over my life What would it be like in a nize myself then?" Claire felt a sob escape froht for cal it, took a quieter tone, all joking gone from her voice "Sweetie, do you knohat I think you need to do? I think you need to talk to the one person who can tell you how things started off with your father, youryou and your faet it out as well"
"Suz, I can’t; she isn’t up to talking about this, and I can’t risk upsetting her"
"Sweetie did you ever stop to think that your mother needs it as much as you do? You have spent these last few years since your father and sister died trying to pretend that nothing bad happened It’s so bottled up inside you that you’re ready to explode Give yourfor you for once Go talk to her before you throay your chance with Jason"
"I… I’ll think about it Suz; I will," promised Claire
"Good because I don’t have manyout in hives right now" Despite herself, she laughed long and hard Claire loved that Suzy always knehen she needed it "Ok girl, I gotta run, love you and all that stuff" With a click, she was gone That was Suzy, in like a tornado, out like a tornado
Chapter Twenty Six
Claire tossed and turned all night, going over and over what Suzy had said Could she be right about Jason? Was there a good ht; there was only one person who could set her mind at ease She desperately wanted to talk to herpoint Louise’s sister usually dropped her off for the day around nine, so she rushed to catch her for a cup of coffee before she talked to her mother
She arrived a little earlier than usual and checked with Glenda at the nurse’s station Hertherapy Glenda also said that Louise hadn’t arrived yet Claire thanked her and walked to the front entrance to wait for her In a fewin front of the circular drive and Louise getting out of the passenger side Claire shuddered as the Cadillac took off at a fast clip She could easily i on for dear life as her sister sped through the city
Louise looked surprised but pleased to see her standing inside the doorway Louise said, "It’s good to see you s honey; you have been so quiet this week"
"I know Louise, there’s been a lot to take in lately, and I’ my breath Moht we could have a cup of coffee if you like?"
There was a small coffee shop located in the hospital that served coffee and cappuccinos as well as various pastries Claire and Louise both chose a regular coffee and fresh hot cinnamon rolls They settled into a table at the back of the roo door of doctors and nurses getting theirfill of caffeine to start their day
"Louise, I knoe haven’t talked about it but what’re your plans if we sell the house? You’re more than welcome to stay with me My apartment is on the small side, but I would be happy to have you there," offered Claire
"You’re a sweet child to worry about this old woman but don’t My sister Janet and I’ve talked, and I plan totio, but she’s lonely in the house by herself She’s already agreed to bringwell I want you to proh honey I never had children, I didn’t need them You and Chrissie were always ather in her eyes For someone who never cried, she never seemed to stop now "I promise I will and you know I think of you as a otten themselves somewhat under control, Claire looked at Louise and said, "I wanted to talk to you about , but I want to know if you ever saw good in him?" Louise looked at her in surprise; sadness etched in the corners of her mouth
"Honey, I wondered when or if you’d ever be strong enough to ask about him I knoe’ve mentioned him plenty but we never really talked about hih, quite a lot I think it helped her to have an outlet for her anger I asked your ood to her in the beginning and when did it change?
"They e, which you know Your mama said she was quiet and shy back then, kind of a wallflower Even though we both know from the pictures she was beautiful, still is, she was alwaysWhen your daddy started paying attention to her, she was flattered All the girls in school were chasing him, and ither She started going out with hiirls a lot, he always had an excuse By that time, she was so in love with him she believed every word he said He would insult her in front of his friends to eive hiht him quite literally with his pants doith the captain of the cheerleading squad after they’d been going out for a year He told her it just happened because he didn’t think she loved hih, and he was afraid she would leave hiht there on the spot, and the innocent that she was believed him
"Your daddy used love to cover his trail of lies until after they were married She would threaten to leave him, and he would tell her he couldn’t live without her; he would be good for a feeeks, and the cycle would repeat After she had you girls, she was determined to shield you as much as she could Your daddy told her if she ever left hiain He was a laith a lot of powerful friends, and they’d never take the side of soainst him She did try Claire; she wanted out She was so afraid of ould happen if she left Her greatest fear was that you and Chrissie would be left alone with him She always tried to er on her so that nothing was left to be directed at you girls I honestly think she would have killed him if he ever raised a hand to you He tried his best to break her, and he assuh She lived for the day you’d all be free and when that finally happened there was no joy in it because Chrissie had been taken I think she always felt that by wishing for hione, she was responsible for what happened to Chrissie as well Honey, you both need to talk about it and thenman of yours would very hosts"
Claire looked at her in surprise "I ht be an old woman, but I’m not senile I saw the way that boy looked at you I think you’d be surprised to hear what your o on back and see if she’s in her roo to have me another cup of coffee and rest for a ive Louise a hug "I love you so much; I don’t knohat I would do without you"
Always strong, Louise gave a suspicious sniff, and said, "I kno you run along and see youroverdue"