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"How could you go behind my back and bail Jesse out of jail? I wanted her there For once I wanted there to be consequences for her actions I’ll never forgive you for this Never!"
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
"YOU CAN’T NOT SPEAK toover coffee She was stating what she hoped was true, rather than what she was sure of It seee for a very long ti and raised her eyebrows "Watch me""We have to talk about what happened"
Nicole returned her attention to the paper on the table and didn’t answer
"Oh, that’s mature," Claire told her "I know you’re upset about , but I can’t believe you were just going to leave her there"
Nicole stood up and started to walk out of the kitchen Claire trailed after her "This is crazy We’re all family"
Nicole spun back to her "We’re not a fay, nothingin your bubble of being special You don’t know anything aboutback to it, starting today I’ll be at the bakery, running er welcome here Not at the bakery or here in the house If you’re so hot on staying in Seattle, there areas the two of you are so close"
Claire couldn’t believe it "After all we’ve been through, you’re going to act like this?"
Nicole ignored her and walked up the stairs
Claire didn’t knohat to do It ay too soon for Nicole to return to work But hoas she supposed to stop her? Nicole wanted to prove a point Claire already kne stubborn her sister could be
"This is going to be a disaster," she muttered
"At least let me drive you," she said fifteen e behind her house
"No"
"You shouldn’t do this You’re still recovering"
Nicole ignored her and punched in the code that raised the garage door She got into her sine
"You are theperson I know," Claire yelled, then returned to her car Fine, if Nicole was going to be a co to stop her, but she could stay close to arage and started down the street Claire followed her all the way to the bakery and was relieved when they arrived
One crisis averted and who kno nored Claire who pulled up next to her They walked into the rear of the bakery, with Claire trailing behind That gave her the perfect view of all the e," Maggie said "I’ve missed you Is it okay that you’re up and here so soon? You’ll take it easy, right?"
"You look good," Sid told her "I’ave her a big hug, then stepped back looking worried "Was that too rinned at theuys It’s been awful, trapped at the house I thought I’d go crazy"
Claire felt herself getting mad, which was easier to deal with than the hurt inside She’d been there to help take care of Nicole Didn’t that count? Was her co that it hadn’t been able to els?
They all talked for a fewon the outside, looking in at a place where she didn’t belong
Nicole glanced at her "You can go now"
Sory, thatto be stubborn and difficult
"I don’t think so," she said calet this settled, once and for all"
Nicole rolled her eyes "Whatever We can talk in ht here," Claire told her
Everyone scattered
"Is hu a hell of a job"
"You know exactly what oal is, however ain"
Nicole’s gaze narrowed "Sisters don’t betray each other"
"Sure they do Sisters do everything everyone else does It’s the nature of close relationships"
"You’re an expert now?"
"More than I was You’re pissed off because I bailed Jesse out of jail without talking to you first Fine You didn’t talk toher in jail in the first place"
"It wasn’t your business"
"She’sher for Drew You couldn’t do anything about that, so you’re looking for another way to get back at her"
"Why the hell not?" Nicole deether? Should it fill ot it She finally got as going on with Nicole
"You’re the victi in the details as she talked "I can’t believe it You’re so tough on the surface, but underneath, you’re bla It’s true you were left with all kinds of crap here, but you did an ah I don’t know if you can’t accept your part, or if you’re not getting enough support or what"
"Stop it!" Nicole yelled "Don’t you dare think you can get inside y from a poor little princess who doesn’t kno to function in the real world"
"At least I’ around, bla frorown-up"
That shot hurt, Claire thought, but refused to acknowledge the zing
"I did run," she ad up with you, tiet rid of me Who’s the one with the problem? Want to blame me for that? Or maybe Drew I think a lot of this is his fault It sure can’t be yours"
Nicole glared at her for several heartbeats, then turned "I don’t need this or you Get out Just go away I don’t want to see you again"
She started to walk past Claire Claire wasn’t going to let her just end the conversation She grabbed her arm "Not so fast"