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Her eyes widened "Are you serious?"

His unhappiness deepened "She threw me out of my own house--can you believe that?"

"Why would she do that? Did you two get into a fight?"

"All we’ve been doing for the last three ," he said darkly

Claire’s heart stopped "Because of me?"

His silence answered the question, and she experienced a rush of guilt thatup Because of her Because of the choice she’d made, the choice that had apparently torn theo," her father mumbled "You know I can’t sleep in hotels, and your mother and I don’t have ot in my car, and…somehoound up here" He looked defensive now "You eured that meant it was okay for h, she ave hied her back

"I’m so sorry, Daddy I didn’t mean to come between you and Monored all of ht she was on your side when it ca"

"She was, at first" Her father’s face grew sad "But sheyou away, and then this h She toldto divorce awked at him That didn’t sound at all like her mother Nora McKinley always took her husband’s side in every argument Always put her husband first Always let hiive Claire’s dad an ultimatuoing to divorce you," Claire said fir clearly at the moment"

Hope filled his eyes "Do you really believe that, Claire-Bear?"

Her heart squeezed at the familiar endearive her a few days to calm down I’m sure you till be able to work it out You love each other and you’ve been together for e is strong, Daddy So strong it can withstand anything, even your daughter’s unconventional love life"

"Claire…" Her father hesitated "Can I stay with you until I…until your aze head on "I don’t live alone, Dad This is Dylan and Aidan’s home too"

He shifted in discomfort "I know"

"I won’t ask either of theain

She raised her eyebrows "And you’re okay with that?"

Her father let out a tired breath "I guess I’ to have to be"