He didn’t sound apologetic. Claire was well aware that there was no love lost between her mother and Logan. Anne had not been pleased to learn where her daughter would be spending the next two weeks.
“You’ll have to get some then,” Anne informed him coolly. “Decaffeinated, of course. Claire loves hot tea, don’t you, Claire?”
“I do,” she confirmed, sending an apologetic glance to Logan. Her mother, as predicted, wasn’t exactly making things easy.
“Why don’t you run to the store and get some now?” Anne suggested. “We’ll be here to keep Claire company.”
“Mom,” Claire protested, dismayed by her mother’s rudeness. “I don’t really want tea right now. I’m actually a little tired.”
It was a lie, but she really wanted everyone to go away. Especially her mother.
Her father got the hint. “Why don’t we go, Anne?” he suggested. “We can visit with Claire again tomorrow after she’s more settled in.”
Anne didn’t look very pleased with his suggestion, but she relented, leaning down to give Claire a kiss on the cheek. “You call me if you need anything.”
Claire nodded dutifully. “I will, Mom.”
“I don’t like the idea of you staying with that man, you know,” she whispered.
“I know, but I’ll be fine,” Claire assured her. At least she hoped she would be fine. Whether or not she would remained to be seen.
“I’m not so sure.” Anne frowned at her, but her husband gave her a not-so-subtle nudge. “Well.” She straightened, still looking reluctant. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Don’t forget to call me if—”
“I need anything,” Claire finished for her. “I know. Thanks, Mom.”
Anne and John left the room, Logan following in their wake. Claire’s gaze slid to her remaining audience. Sophie was rubbing her huge mound of a belly, looking dead on her feet. Trevor had a supportive arm wrapped around her back.
“Why don’t you guys head home?” she suggested. “Soph, you look like you could use a nap.”
From the look on her face, Sophie wanted to take Claire up on that offer. “Are you sure you’re settled in?”
“Absolutely.” Claire leaned up to meet Sophie as she leaned down for a hug. “Thanks for everything you’ve done for me but you need your rest too.”
“Are you sure?” Sophie gave her a searching look.
“Yes, for the second time.” Claire made a face at her. “Now go.” She turned to her brother-in-law. “Trevor, take her home. I command you.”
He grinned, his golden eyes twinkling. “If you command it, then I have no choice.”
“Soph, you’ve trained him well,” Claire said with a laugh.
“Trained him,” echoed Marcus and Derek simultaneously. The expressions on their faces suggested that Claire had offended their manly pride.
Trevor merely laughed and slid his arm around his glowing wife. “I’m man enough to admit it.”
“Come along, honey,” Sophie ordered with a smile, pulling him to the door. “Claire, you call me if you need anything. Marcus, I’ll see you next week for the new showing at the gallery, and Derek, it was nice meeting you.”
“It was nice meeting you too,” Derek offered, his voice genuine. Claire had been impressed with her family’s well-disguised surprise at finding a famous actor hiding away in Logan’s house. Derek, meanwhile, had been both warm and concerned for Claire’s welfare.
Trevor shook hands with Derek and turned back to Marcus. “Try not to run the gallery into the ground without me there this week.”
Marcus sent his friend a wry grin. “I’ll do my damnedest not to.”
After Sophie and Trevor left, Derek hastily excused himself, leaving Claire and Marcus alone.
He raked a hand through his hair and looked down at her, the grin fading from his lips. “I should really be going too.”
She searched his gaze. “After all this happened yesterday, Logan wanted me to move in with him, and since he’s the baby’s father, I thought it best. I don’t want to be a burden to Sophie and Trevor when they should be enjoying each other, and my only other option was living with my parents. Which, having met my parents, you can agree isn’t really an option at all.” She waited for him to laugh, but he didn’t. “I love them dearly but they drive me nuts.”
