Claire Gulliver #02 - Washington Weirdos by Gayle Wigglesworth Read Free Book Online

dancing in circles around his mistress. MiMi bent over and patted him fondly. “And this is my baby, Laird Tuffus McGee. Tuffy for short.”
    “He looks just like the white dog in the Black and White Scotch ads,” Claire couldn’t help exclaiming.
    MiMi nodded. “He’s a West Highland Terrier. The black is a Scottie.”
    “He’s my baby, aren’t you, Tuffy?” The smallest girl knelt down wrapping her arms around the wiggling dog, rubbing her face in his neck while the dog twisted and turned trying to lick her.
    “Amy, you know he isn’t,” her sister scolded.
    “He is too. Gramimi said that while I was here he could be my baby, didn’t you, Gramimi?”
    “Of course, while you’re here everything in the whole house is yours, and JoJo’s. Right, Grandpap?”
    “Right! Now let’s go in the house and pretend like we’re civilized.”
    “Mrs. Kramer, which room did you prepare for Claire?”
    “The Rose Room. I thought she would enjoy it,” Mrs. Kramer told MiMi, at the same time indicating with her head that Charlie should deliver the bags upstairs.
    “Yes, that’s good. Claire, may I suggest you go up and change into something more comfortable, as I plan to do. We’re having a casual dinner tonight with the girls. So when you’re ready, come down and join us for a drink in the parlor.” She motioned to a door off the large entry hall they were standing in. “And then we’ll give you a tour so you can find your way around.”
    “That would be great. I’ve been wearing these heels far too long.” Claire grimaced, wishing her pinched toes had reached the numb stage.
    “If you’d like to follow me, I’ll show you your room,” Mrs. Kramer said.
    “Gramimi, can I show her up?” JoJo offered shyly.
    “Would you, JoJo? I’m sure Mrs. Kramer has other things to do, and I know Claire would appreciate it.” She smiled fondly at the girl, and then suggested to Amy, “Why don’t you take Tuffy down to the solarium and play ball with him?”
    “You’re so lucky to have the Rose Room,” JoJo said over her shoulder as she led the way up the generous curved staircase located at the back of the entry hall. “It’s my favorite room.”
    “It is? Then why aren’t you staying in the Rose room?” Claire inquired.
    “Oh, no! We couldn’t.” She was shocked at the suggestion. “We’re in the nursery. That’s where we always stay. It’s where Gramimi stayed when she was a little girl, and my mother did too, when she was little. But the Rose Room is different. You’ll see. It’s so romantic.” The girl sighed. “When I’m grown up and bring my husband to visit, Gramimi promised we could stay in the Rose Room.”
    Then JoJo opened the double doors so Claire could see. It was beautiful. Soft rose colored silk covered the walls. French windows draped with gauzy white and outlined with a fabric full of large roses made up the far wall and looked over an immense body of water. The bed, tucked into an alcove was covered with the same material as the drapes. The white gauzy fabric floated down from the canopy. Two chairs flanking a small table in front of the fireplace were covered with more roses, not quite so big and against a soft green background. The tables and bureaus were a combination of woods but all blended together as if picked precisely to compliment each other. The deep pile rug was more flowers, roses of course, and instead of overwhelming the room it seemed to pull it all together. This room was as airy and beautiful as a spring day. Claire felt herself relax, sensing she would sleep well in this delightful room.
    “JoJo, you’re right. It is beautiful.”
    “And romantic, don’t you think?”
    Claire looked around her thoughtfully and then smiled. “Yes, I do. It’s very romantic. It was very nice of Mrs. Kramer to put me in this room.”
    A discreet knock on the open door interrupted them.
    “Can I just put these down for you, Ms. Gulliver?” Charlie had Claire’s bags. He