Claire Knows Best by Tracey Bateman Read Free Book Online Page B

“Well, if that’s the way you think about
     being a wife, maybe you shouldn’t be one.”
    “Well, Rick would certainly agree with you there. I guess I just don’t have what it takes to keep a man home at night.” I
     slam the door and then realize the window is rolled up and I have one more thing to say. I press the button and the window
     buzzes down. “Aren’t you lucky you dodged that bullet?” I glare and roll the window back up.
    From the corner of my eye I see him just standing there. Staring at me through the window. For effect I hit the auto-lock—which
     is stupid since he has his own set of keys to my house and van, in case of emergencies.
    But I know I’ve gone too far as soon as I hear the locks engage. He spins on his heel. I watch through the rearview mirror
     as he goes back to his truck with jerky strides. I have nothing else to do but start the van and head off.
    By the time I’m halfway to Helen’s house, I’m starting to cool off and it hits me how stupid I am. The man of my dreams asked
     me to marry him tonight. And what did I do? I turned him down, then turned on him completely. Man, I am still carrying much
     more baggage than I realized.
    I find myself watching the headlights on his Avalanche in the rearview mirror. Just to stay connected to him, I guess. Like
     if I lose sight of him, maybe I’ll lose him forever.
    We get to his mom’s house, and neither of us has much to say as we each grab handfuls of bags and head up the walk. The front
     door swings open about the time I rally the gumption to apologize. Disappointment slips over me at the missed opportunity.
     But that’s the way life is. Sometimes you have one chance to get it right and you better step up to the plate in the moment,
     or that’s that. My chance came while I was still wallowing in my anger. Now Greg is otherwise engaged. And I’ll have to wait
     until some other time to try to salvage our relationship.
    Sadie, his gorgeous, raven-haired daughter, runs out wearing an adorable lacy nightgown and Garfield slippers. The joy on
     the six-year-old’s face as she hurls herself into her daddy’s arms effectively overrides my disappointment. I laugh as Greg
     drops the bags, although not in time to brace himself for impact.
    Oomph!
    “I missed you, Daddy! There was a tornado, did you know that? Grandma and me went to the basement, and Grandma said no candles
     because they might blow over and burn the house down. So we had flashlights, but the batteries ran out of mine and we only
     had Grandma’s after that. But then the tornado stopped and besides the lights never actually went out anyway. We were just
     taking pre-precautious.”
    “Precautions?”
    “Yeah.” She glances down at the shopping bags on the ground. “Did you buy me something?”
    “Slow down, Miss Jabberbox,” Greg says with a chuckle. “Everything in these bags is for Miss Claire. Not you. A big, giant
     tree fell on her house and she can’t go inside to get any of her clothes. So she had to go buy all new clothes and makeup
     for herself. And all that girlie stuff you women like.”
    “Can I wear some makeup?” Her eyes, full of mischief, slide sideways and she grins, knowing the answer before her dad even
     says it.
    “Maybe when you’re eighty and too old for the boys to chase you.”
    “Eew!” But she giggles just the same. “Besides, you already promised I can wear it when I turn thirteen.”
    “Please, baby.” He let out a moan. “Don’t even start talking about becoming a teenager.”
    I can’t help but laugh at the two. I wonder how Sadie’s going to feel about having to share her dad with a woman and four
     other kids, eventually.
    If I had to place bets, I’d say she’s not going to be too happy about it. I’ve only caught a glimpse of her less-than-angelic
     side a couple of times during our association, but let me tell you, when she lets loose, it ain’t pretty.
    Helen appears, face alight with pleasure as she