“I don’t know—it’s more of a feeling that it is right.That you are safer than you have ever been.You know…he loves you enough.He’d do anything to take care of you—because he loves you.”
“Have you ever felt that with a man?”
“No.Not yet.But that’s what my mother told me when I asked her.Cal loves Auggie enough to do whatever it takes to take care of her.And because of that, he will do whatever it takes to take care of her sisters.Because…love.It can be very powerful.Magical.”
Shehadseen that before.Her father and mother had loved each other just that deeply.No matter what had happened with her father, he hadlovedher mother completely.
January just looked at her, from those eyes that had seen too much.“Do you think they’ll get married?”
“Probably.Eventually.Cal has always been the serious type.A bit traditional, too.He is the kind of man who will be a wonderful father.He…always was before.My mom was really sick, Jan.From before Clancy was born.Especially after she was born.My dad was working long hours to pay the bills, and mom was in and out of the hospital.Cal…took care of us.Especially after about the time Clancy entered kindergarten.Cal…filled the gap.I always knew he loved us and would be there.Now,he takes it a bit overboard.He hovers like an old woman at times.But we love him.”
“So he and Auggie are both that way.Does she make him happy?Does he make her?”
“I think they really do.”
“Okay.So would he move in with us?”
She hesitated there.That was one she didn’t have the answer to.The girls were established and comfortable at the ranch.Both houses were big enough for a family of that size, but…she didn’t see them uprooting the girls.“I am not sure.Auggie and Cal will have to work that out.”
“Would he tell us what to do?And get mad at us if we messed up?”
“He will tell you what to do, I’m sure.Trust me, Cal is good atthat.And even if he was angry…” Claudia paused.“Look at me, Jan.Cal willneverdo anything to physically hurt you, the girls, Em, Junie, or Auggie.I promise.Cal has neveroncephysically hurt me or Clancy or Cloe.Or Cadell.People who love each other, don’thurteach other.Promise me you’ll remember that.”
She would have said more, but someone said her name.
She turned.
Her stomach dropped.
Him.Great.
Way to ruin an already stressful day.“Commander Weatherby, don’t you have good cops to harass out there somewhere?”
“Now, you know that’s how I spend my weekdays.Today is Saturday.I have a few more questions for your brother.I was just about to go upstairs when I saw you.”He was dressed in casual clothes—it was a weekend, after all.The soft sweatshirt made his shoulders look perfect.Damn him.He was too pretty to be such an ass.
“No.You arenot.Any questions for Cal or Auggie will be going through our attorneys.Dane Masterson or Lawe Hodson.”
“Don’t be difficult.I’m not accusing your damned brother of anything.”He started to say something else, but January slipped her hand into Claudia’s.She pulled the little girl close.
“Look, Grady, can Ipleasehave a moment of your time?”he asked in a sugary sweet voice.“Alone?”
“Aunt Claudia?Are you okay?”
Claudia wanted to kick that butthead for scaring her again.“I’m good, sweetie.I’m just going to reeducate Commander Weatherby here.Again.Weatherbys are difficult trolls by nature.”
“I know.Jules’s date did not go well.Ricky turned out to be such a real toad.”
“Yes, I agree.We’ll talk more in a minute.”Claudia nodded to the two nurses that had just entered.“Go over to Aunt Pam and Dixie for a few minutes, okay?”
Claudia followed Weatherby out into the hall.When they were alone, she fought the urge to hiss and snarl and scratch.This man justdidsomething to her, every time they were within range.“I hope you are happy; you seriously interrupted a very important conversation.”
“Sorry about that.And I didn’t mean to.I have a few questions about some things.I was hoping your brother could help me figure them out.”
“Like what?”
“First question—why is my precious only nephew atoad?”
“Jules, age ten.Apparently, Ricky asked her to the party and to be his girlfriend, but then spent most of the night talking to her boy cousins about video games and totally ignoring her.So then she ended up dancing with atwelve-year-oldboy from the middle school baseball team, and it made Ricky really mad because Jules was his girlfriend.Jules has a very strong opinion about being a possession, as she put it.So they got into a fight.She may or may not have spilled his soda down his favorite shirt deliberately when she dumped him.Details on that aren’t very clear.You need to teach that nephew how to treat a lady, Weatherby.If you possibly can.Maybe Rex should do it?”Claudia had heardallof the details that morning.Jules had needed advice on how to deal with thisnewboy.She’d already put Ricky behind her, apparently.Smart girl—only go where she is respected.
