She smirked at that.“I think you need to find a good woman, get married, and have…six kids to start.You can add three more to that later.So how about it?You aren’t getting any younger.”
“Let me guess; you have just the right woman in mind?”
“Better believe it.Go for it.”
“I love how I spend one night practically knocked out on her couch, and now everyone has us paired off romantically forever.I don’t think the world works that way, Clance.I just don’t.”
“Who said anything about Auggie?”
He just waited.His sisters were horrible creatures.
And they were seriously getting ahead of him here.He’d kissed the womanonce,and while he was definitely attracted, that didn’t mean he was thinking marriage and forever.
There were six small reasons for that.A guy would have to be serious if heevergot near that woman.
And Cal wasn’t sure yet that was what he wanted.
Was he attracted to her?Absolutely.He’d been burning for her since that night.
But that didn’t mean a man always had to get what he wanted.Not when innocent lives were involved.
“Because of the girls?”
Clancy had apparently been reading his mind again.She was a little creepy when she did stuff like that.“Well, even if I am attracted to that devil woman, we’d both have to be really careful.Because of the girls.So yes…because of the girls.”
“For what it’s worth—if there is any man that Iknowwho would be good at the dad thing, I’m looking at him.Especially a girl-dad.You had plenty of practice with me.”
“Well, you convinced me children weren’t total gremlin creatures.I mean, all I had to base my opinion off of before you were Claudia and Cloe.It’s a wonder I survived.”
“Yeah, I am the good one.We all know that.”Clancy grabbed her coat from the hook next to his.“Well, let’s get going.I don’t want to be late.”
They were five minutes from the community center.He’d get her there in plenty of time.
“I’m glad you’re staying here; did I tell you that?This house…full of ghosts.I think you chase them away just by existing.”
“Always happy to serve.”
“Now—Claudia’s special date.Details, please.”
“Never going to happen.”
11
Claudia heldthe hand of her very special date as she guided Tobi to the restroom at the back of the community center.Tobi was more than just a little excited tonight.She was practically bouncing off the walls.Far more than her sisters.Of course, Claudia had taken her dress shopping by herself, while the rest of the girls had gone with Em and Junie.Today had been Claudia and Tobi’s special day.
She and Tobi were pals.Auggie, Junie, and Em had asked her specifically to be ‘pals’ with Tobi.They wanted the girls to each have a mentor to show them that women could be strong.They wanted the girls to see women in the community making a difference helping people.Cloe and Avril were paired up as Avril loved all things blood and guts.Little savage.Sage and Jules were together, and Dixie with little Markie.Clancy got the baby.The eldest girl was paired with their Aunt Pam.January was already particularly close to the aunt who had found her that night in October, and as a nurse, Pam was a good example of someone who helped people.Auggie had told her she felt January needed a significantly olderwoman as a role model more than one the same age as the sisters now responsible for her well-being.And January felt safe with Pam.
They wanted the girls to see women whogaveto the community, in ways opposite of how their father and his associates had taken.That was important to Auggie and her sisters.They wanted the girls to grow up seeingthe goodthat was out there.
Claudia was more than willing to help with that.
Claudia enjoyed her time with Tobi, too.Tobi remembered being rescued the night she’d been abducted.Remembered Claudia being there and feeling safe.That mattered to the little girl who would have those memories forever.
How could any little girl forget a grown man calmly discussing how he was going to kill her, right in front of her?Claudia sent Auggie an email for Tobi almost every night, telling Tobi how she helped fight the bad guys that day.So Tobi knew the world was a little safer each day.She made sure to send good pictures every day, too.Like yesterday’s had featured Zach getting Mrs.Gibson’s old tom cat out of a pine tree.She’d sent Tobi lots of pictures of that grumpy old cat.And that grumpy young Zach, too.Tobi was fascinated with Zach, themanwho helped Claudia stop the bad guys.
Tyler little girls didn’t trustmenvery much.It broke Claudia’s heart to think about.
Hopefully, one day, with the counseling she attended at the new trauma center, Tobi would be able to put those memories into the proper perspective.But for now, they were all helping her deal with the trauma the best she could.
