Fallout by JA Armstong

Author:JA Armstong [Armstong, JA]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bumbling Bard Creations
Published: 2023-07-27T16:00:00+00:00

WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT

“Whoa. Easy, little man,” Claire said.

Ian giggled.

“Why are you always laughing at me?” she asked.

“You!” Ian yelled.

Claire pointed to herself.

“You!”

“What about me?” Claire asked the toddler.

“Silly, C’aire!”

“I’m silly? No way. You’re silly. You eat pancakes with your hands.”

“Messy!”

“Yeah,” Claire said. She grabbed a towel and wiped Ian’s hands. “You sure are messy. I don’t know how your Aunt Cass and Mommy do this.”

Eleana leaned on the doorframe. “Looks to me like you have it under control.”

“Yeah? Looks can be deceiving, El.”

Eleana smiled.

“Where’s Eva?” Claire asked.

“Still sleeping.” Eleana bent over and kissed Ian's head. “What time is your flight?”

“El, I can stay if you want.”

“No. You should go to Blake’s service, Claire. I think having you there would mean a lot to Alex and JD.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“I do.”

“What about you?” Claire asked.

“Helen and Rose are coming over with the kids later. I think they’ll all stay here tonight. I’ll be fine.”

Claire pressed her lips together doubtfully.

“I’ll be okay, Claire. I promise.”

“I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon.”

Eleana silently held Claire’s gaze.

“What?” Claire asked.

“Don’t rush back.”

Claire’s heart plummeted.

Eleana mentally scolded herself. They spent most of the night talking. Claire was reeling from Hawk’s decision to end their relationship. It took hours for Eleana to pull the information out of Claire. She closed the distance between them and held Claire’s face. “I want you to come back,” she said. “I don’t want you to leave.”

“Then I won’t.”

Eleana smiled. “You need to go. I’m not going anywhere.”

Claire looked away.

“Claire, look at me.” Eleana directed Claire’s face back toward her. “I’m telling you to be with Alex and Cassidy tomorrow. See JD. Something tells me she could use a friend right now, too. Stay a couple of days.”

“What about you?”

“Helen and Rose aren’t leaving until Wednesday afternoon. I’ll be fine. I’m used to being home alone with the kids.”

“Maybe, but this is different.”

“It is,” Eleana admitted. “I’m okay.”

“You wouldn’t tell me if you weren’t.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” Eleana said. She leaned close and kissed Claire’s cheek. “I’ll be here,” she said again.

Claire nodded. “El?”

“Yes?”

“I don’t mean this—I’m not saying this as an overture.”

Eleana narrowed her gaze.

“I love you. Whatever you need—if it’s for me to leave you alone or if you want me to stay—I’ll do whatever you need.”

“Claire.” Eleana smiled. “I know. For the record, I always need you. That’s never changed.” She kissed Claire’s forehead. A wail from above caught her attention. “I think someone’s awake.”

“You should probably get that,” Claire said. “I’ll take care of Mr. Sticky.”

Eleana nodded. She started to leave the room and stopped.

“El?”

Eleana smiled. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

Claire felt the earth shift beneath her, or maybe it was within her. She stared at the space where Eleana had been standing.

“C’aire!”

Claire took a deep breath and turned to face Ian. “Aw, man! Why did I give you syrup?” She made a vain attempt to clean his hands and face with the towel. Ian grinned and reached for her. She accepted him into her arms.

Eleana stepped back into the kitchen with Eva in her arms.

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