Treading Water by Force Marie

Author:Force, Marie [Force, Marie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Contemporary
ISBN: 9781466413658
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: 2011-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Andi had left a note to say she’d walked to the park with Eric.

Jack looked in on each of the girls as they finished packing for their trip. They were excited to be going with their grandmother and Clare’s family on the cruise. Jack carried bags downstairs for Kate and Maggie before he went back up to check on Jill. He found her lying on her bed with her packed suitcase sitting by the door.

He was glad that she had straightened up her room, which was usually a disaster area. One whole wall was covered with pictures of her with her friends. As his time with her at home dwindled, he hated the idea of tension between them. “Honey?”

He sat on her bed and caressed her hair. She’d been like a grown woman last night, but today she was once again his little girl, and she was hurting.

“I’m sorry you’re upset. I hope you’ll think about it while you’re away and maybe decide to give it a chance.”

She turned away from him.

Resigned to her silence, he got up and took her suitcase downstairs.

When Clare’s mother arrived, Jack pulled on a coat and went out to meet her.

Anna Richardson was an older version of Clare—petite with short gray hair and bright blue eyes. She greeted him with a warm hug.

“How are you, Anna?” He hadn’t seen her in a while, but the girls saw her whenever she came from Hartford to visit Clare.

“I’m doing well. How about you?”

“Tired today. Big day yesterday with Frannie and Jamie’s wedding.” They’d invited her to come, but she’d chosen to spend some time with Clare before the trip.

“Everything went well?”

“It was amazing. The girls looked gorgeous. I’ll make sure you get pictures.”

“I’d love to see them.”

“You’ve been to Clare’s?”

“I stayed there last night.” She shook her head ruefully. “It’s so hard. Nothing ever changes.”

“I know what you mean.” He kicked at the gravel driveway. “Listen, Anna…”

“What is it?”

“I’ve, um…I’ve been seeing someone.”

“I wondered if you would eventually.”

Surprised to hear that, he had no idea what to say.

“It’s been a year and a half, Jack. You can’t be alone forever.”

“I told the girls this morning that Andi and her son, Eric, will be moving from Chicago next month to live with us.” He released a choppy laugh. “It’s almost harder to tell you.”

“I can see that you’re happy,” she said, her smile tinged with sadness. “I’m glad for you. I really am.”

“I want you to know I’ll never stop taking care of Clare, and I have no intention of divorcing her.”

“I know that, Jack. You don’t have to say it. How’d the girls take the news?”

“Kate and Maggie were pretty good about it, but Jill…” He shook his head and shrugged.

“I’ll talk to her while we’re gone and see what I can do. She’ll come around, don’t worry.”

Despite her reassurances, he had his doubts as Andi and Eric came into the yard, their cheeks red from playing in the cold air.

He gestured them over. “Andi, this is Clare’s mother, Anna Richardson.

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