“David was a good man,” she said. “I miss him so much and I’ll always love him. But Isaac is just as good. And I love him, too.”
Her mother-in-law’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head. “Love him!” Everyone within earshot turned to look.
Claire felt herself flush but stood her ground.
Isaac left the nozzle in the gas tank and walked over, but he didn’t get involved. He stood behind her, a silent support.
“That doesn’t mean he’s going to love you back.” The gleam in Rosemary’s eyes challenged either one of them to contradict her. “He’s not someone who—”
Claire interrupted before she could go on. She didn’t want Isaac to hear any more of this. Some people might say he deserved his reputation, but who were they to judge? His psyche was so complex he probably didn’t understand why he’d done half the stuff he’d done. “You’re right. It doesn’t mean he gives a damn,” she said. “But he doesn’t have to.”
The tension left Rosemary’s spine, making her look fat and deflated. “And you’re okay with that?”
“Yeah, I’m okay with it,” Claire replied, and got back in the truck.
Isaac finished getting gas, then climbed behind the wheel. “I’ve always loved you,” he said softly, and started the engine.
27
Although Isaac and Claire had gone over to the Salters’ house three different times since their conversation with Myles at the diner—had called, too—they hadn’t been able to rouse Jeremy or his father. According to what Myles had said at dinner, the county investigator, Jared Davis, had also been trying to reach the Salters.
Claire wasn’t sure where they could be. As far as she knew, other than working at Hank’s—and his shift had already ended—Jeremy didn’t have a lot of places to go. He had no friends, no other family. His father wasn’t working these days. And, strangely enough, both vehicles were parked in the garage…?.
“Why do you think Joe was with Don?” she mused. They were at her place, cleaning, but they’d been analyzing the situation while they worked. It had felt strange to see Joe in Don’s car, but the fact that they were together recently seemed even more suspect now.
“Maybe Joe did this—” he gestured at the glass he was sweeping up in the kitchen “—and had just passed the files off to Don when you saw them. Because I can’t imagine any other reason for the two of them to be together.”
“Neither can I. But why would Don want the files?” They’d cleaned her bedroom and bath the other day, but much of the mess in the kitchen and living room remained. Holding a big garbage sack, she picked through the rubble, throwing away what was too damaged to keep. “There are various names associated with my mother’s, but Don’s has never come up.”
“On our way back from the diner, you said he was good friends with Tug.”
“That was a long time ago. They’ve been mostly estranged for years, ever since my father remarried and Don’s wife left town. I think Don’s been bitter and jealous of Tug’s happiness and money. At least, that’s what my father’s had to say about the rift. And they’ve had words over the way Don treats Jeremy.”
“Jeremy would be a challenge for anyone to raise.”
Claire felt a little protective of her old biggest fan. He’d had a hard life. “He’s a nice kid.”
“He’s not a kid anymore. But I didn’t say he wasn’t nice. I said he’d be a challenge.”
Planning to see if she could find its match, she fished an earring out of the pile of junk on the floor and set it on the coffee table. “Hank does pretty well with him at the burger stand, but his father is…having some serious problems of his own. I don’t like the way I’ve seen them interact.”
“Maybe we should—” Isaac lifted his head.
“What is it?” she asked, but he didn’t answer. He dropped the broom and rushed over to yank her behind the couch with him, then pulled the gun that’d been wedged in his waistband.
“Listen.” He pressed a finger to his lips to indicate silence.
Claire held her breath as she waited for whatever had alarmed him. But then she heard the sound—and recognized it. Leanne’s wheelchair. “It’s okay. It’s just my sister.”
Sure enough, Leanne’s voice rang out a few seconds later. “Hello? Can I come in?”
Claire raised her eyebrows at him. “Should we let her?” she teased.
Isaac didn’t respond to her question. He stood and returned his revolver to his waistband. “Man, I’m jumpy,” he muttered, and went back to work, leaving her to answer the door.
She did, but a bit reluctantly.
“Hi.” She summoned a pleasant expression even though, after the past week, she had no idea what to expect from her sister.
Leanne studied her. “Hi.”
Claire hated how awkward it was between them. “Did you need something?”
A frown appeared on her face. “I have to need something to visit my sister these days?”
In case she hadn’t noticed, they were no longer on the best of terms. “Look, Lee, my life is out of control at the moment. I can’t be the same person I’ve always been for you. I need some time to—”
“You don’t want any more grief about Isaac, and I get that,” she cut in.
They had other problems, but they could start with that. “So…why’d you come?”
“I want to help.”
Claire had never heard those words from Leanne. “You mean…clean up?”
“Whatever you need. Talk about Mom. Tell you what I remember.” Her gaze fell to the floor as if what she had to say next wasn’t easy. “Everything that’s happened, especially the fire, really scared me, Claire. I know I haven’t been the best sister in the world. I’ve got…issues I need to work on. We both know that. And I plan to make some changes. But—” she seemed to be struggling with tears “—I didn’t hurt Mom. I swear it. What I did with that tape and Joe—it was stupid and I’m embarrassed. That’s why I reacted the way I did.” She looked up. “I don’t want to lose you.”
Claire bent to give her a hug. “I’m not going anywhere.”
She sniffed, confirming the tears Claire had heard in her voice. “And if I’m jealous of your hot boyfriend, well…who isn’t?”
Blocking Isaac’s view of them with the door, Claire gestured toward the kitchen. “He can hear you,” she mouthed.
“It won’t be news to him,” she said, but then her grin instantly faded. “I owe you an apology where he’s concerned, too.”
Claire’s stomach muscles tightened. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“If you don’t it’s because he’s too good a guy to make me look bad. But I’m sorry all the same. Sometimes I…I have no idea why I do the things I do. Life just gets me down, and I make it worse. It’s…illogical but…it’s me.”
Claire felt the tension in her body begin to dissipate. She understood, because she’d watched her sister struggle through life almost from the day she was born. Claire could certainly forgive her; she’d been forgiving her for years, but she’d rather have it that way than cut her younger sister out of her life. She was grateful that, for once, Leanne had something kind to say about Isaac. The acknowledgment felt great.
Stepping back, Claire opened the door for her sister’s wheelchair. “Come on in. We’re just sorting through stuff and trying to get it in order.”
“At least I hung out with you enough before all this to know where everything has to go. That makes me a little more valuable than Isaac.”