The Bakery Sisters by Susan Mallery Read Free Book Online Page B

this morning.”
    Claire wanted to say something to make it better, but what was the point? All four of them stared at her as if she was the lowest form of life they’d ever seen. They wouldn’t care that she’d only been trying to help. That she hadn’t meant to run into the other guy. That it had only been an accident.
    Not knowing what else to do, she turned and left.
    It was after five when she arrived back at the house. Claire checked on Nicole, who was still sleeping, then went down to the kitchen and made coffee. The first pot smelled funny and tasted worse. She threw it out and started over.
    The second batch was drinkable. She poured herself a cup and sank into a chair at the table.
    How could her day have started so horribly? How could she have messed up so badly without even trying? It wasn’t fair. She wasn’t a bad person. Okay, yes, she lived a strange, twisted life that most people couldn’t relate to, but that didn’t change who she was on the inside.
    But it seemed existing outside of her gilded cage was going to be harder than she’d first realized.
    â€œI’m not giving up,” she said aloud. “I’m going to figure this out.”
    She didn’t have much choice. If she couldn’t play the piano anymore, she was going to need to have a life without music.
    No music. The thought of it made her sad. Music was everything to her. It was her reason for breathing.
    â€œI’ll find another reason,” she told herself. “I have unexplored depths.” At least she hoped she did.
    A little after six, she went looking for the toaster. There was plenty of bread in the freezer. She managed to burn the first three slices she put in before getting the adjustment right. She was digging around for a tray when the back door opened.
    She straightened and saw Wyatt walking into the kitchen. Wyatt, who hated her nearly as much as Nicole. Wyatt, who’d made her hand tingle so strangely the previous day.
    But before she could wonder what that all meant, she saw the pretty little girl who trailed behind him.
    Wyatt set several grocery bags on the counter. “Something smells bad.”
    â€œI burned some toast.” Claire couldn’t look away from the girl. “Your daughter?” she asked. Wyatt had a daughter? Which meant he had a wife.
    The realization caused her to take a step back, although she couldn’t say why. Still, she wanted to meet the girl. Claire had always liked children and dreamed of a family of her own.
    â€œThis is Amy,” he said, moving his hands as he spoke. “Amy, this is Claire.” He used his fingers in an odd way. “Amy’s deaf.”
    â€œOh.” She looked at the child and noticed hearing aids in both ears.
    She’d never known a deaf person before. No sound. What would that be like? Never to hear a Mozart concerto or a symphony? No melody or rhythm. Her whole body clenched at the thought.
    â€œHow horrible.”
    Wyatt glared at her. “We don’t think so, but thanks for sharing your enlightened and sensitive opinion. When you see a one-legged guy walking down the street, do you kick it out from under him?”
    She blushed and glanced at his daughter. “No. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. I was thinking about music and how…” There was no recovery from this, she thought as guilt swamped her. “I didn’t mean anything bad.”
    â€œPeople like you never do.”
    He wouldn’t understand, mostly because he didn’t want to. He assumed the worst about her and she seemed to do nothing but prove his point.
    He began taking groceries out of the bags. She thought about offering to help, but knew he would refuse. Instead, she retreated to the living room and wondered if she should simply hire a nurse for Nicole and escape back to New York. At least there she fit in.
    She sank onto one of the sofas and did her best not to cry. Why