Sasha’s Dad by Geri Krotow Read Free Book Online Page A

place?”
    “It’s purely professionalism. Dutch has simply been following up on the llamas’ health. He birthed the crias, so it’s only natural that he’d want to keep caring for them.” She hoped she didn’t sound defensive.
    “Yeah! I heard he’s been bringing his daughter around, too.” Jenna smirked.
    “You never told me!” Jewel slapped Jenna’s arm. “Yeah, Claire. What’s going on?”
    Claire rolled her eyes. “I do love being back here, but this is one part I didn’t miss.” She referred to what she called the girl-in-the-fishbowl syndrome. Anything that happened in Dovetail stayed in Dovetail and on everybody’s wagging tongues.
    “You’re stalling, Claire. Give us the goods.” Jewel was not letting this go.
    Claire took her time, breaking off half a cookie and chasing it with lemon water.
    “Dutch brought his daughter, Sasha, over to meet the llamas,” she eventually said. “Sasha and I hit it off. They’ve been to visit maybe half a dozen times. She loves the animals.”
    Claire kept to the facts, as the twins were bound to read volumes into each word.
    “Ginny’s on her way to law school at the University of Baltimore—” she nodded at Jenna “—with you. Sasha’s going to be lonely for an older female in her life—and it’s nice that I can provide some of Natalie’s history.”
    Claire took another bite of her cookie, astonished that neither Jewel nor Jenna had interrupted her musing.
    “Sasha’s at an age where she’s naturally curious about what her mother was like at eleven or twelve.” She glanced at each twin in turn. “Since Natalie and I were inseparable at that age, it makes sense for me to be in her life right now. And I want to be. It’s a way of bringing back some good memories.” She splayed her hands on the kitchen table. “It’s also giving me a chance to make things up to Natalie. To make up for the time I wasn’t here when she was sick.”
    “How’s Dutch taking it? He must be mad that Sasha likes you, in spite of what you—”
    Jenna visibly clamped her mouth shut. Jewel shot her twin a glowering look. Too late. Claire could already feel the wounds in her heart start to seep.
    Jewel tried to cover for her blunder. “In spite of missing her mother, I mean.”
    Claire gave them a wry smile. “Actually, Sasha isn’t so wrapped up in Natalie at this point. Yes, Natalie was her mother and she’ll never forget her. But I get the impression that she’s ready to move on, that she doesn’t want to be grieving her mother all the time.” The way Dutch still did.
    “So Dutch is letting go of his resentment?”
    “Are you sure you want to get involved with them?”
    Both twins spoke at once.
    Claire released a short laugh. “No, it’s clear to me that Dutch isn’t letting go as much as he probably should. But who am I to judge? It’s none of my business.”
    Jewel and Jenna shared a “she’s only kidding herself” look.
    “Don’t you think you could make a difference? You and Dutch did have something once.” Jewel turned back to Jenna for help.
    “Yes, when you were in high school I thought you were going to marry him after graduation, or at least after college.” Jenna raised her brows for effect.
    “You guys were eight years old. What did you know?”
    “Not as much as we know today, and today we know that the whole town’s talking about how Dutch looks since he’s been taking care of your llamas. When we ran into Ginny in Baltimore she told us that his positive attitude’s come back. That’s huge, Claire. He’s been the grouch around here for over three years.”
    “Longer if you count when Natalie got sick,” Jenna added.
    “I should’ve known you’d talk to Ginny.” Claire looked at her younger sisters, shaking her head.
    “Ginny talked to us. Saw us at the university open house and filled us in. She’s doing a refresher course before her courses begin. It’s really hard for her to finally leave for law school, but