“As ridiculous as that is, it’s the perfect explanation, isn’t it?” she said before starting over.
“Have fun, sweetheart!” Claire exclaimed, now laughing too. She looked over at Jesse. “I hope you’re prepared to try to temper Arthur’s impulsiveness for the rest of your life.”
“I’ll try my best.”
“Good. Because poor Charlotte needs a break.”
Huffing a laugh, Jesse turned his head to see his beau talking to Charlotte very excitedly, his puppy-like energy and playful exuberance still a sight to behold. Gentle fondness unfurled in his chest, its warmth making him smile as it spread over every other inch of his body.
Claire leaned in close and said, “I can see how much you love him.”
Jesse’s eyes fell to the floor, his cheeks turning hot, but he continued to smile.
“He loves you too,” she added.
“I know,” Jesse said. “Sometimes I can barely believe it. But I know.”
After the wave of embarrassment passed, Jesse managed to look up again, and the two watched Arthur and Charlotte for a while.
“He’d be nice to work for, wouldn’t he?” Claire said, fiddling with her necklace. “I really do want to, especially since it would mean living with Charlotte. But I’m worried that my parents won’t like it. I know they want me to find someone to marry.”
“I know what that’s like,” Jesse said, scrunching up his nose. “Are you afraid that they’ll keep harping on you?”
“Exactly,” Claire said. “Even if Iwereto work for Arthur, I know they’d keep trying to find someone for me. I’d have to tell them about my... misgivings with marriage eventually. Not that I take issue with the concept of marriage, of course, since I’d marryCharlotte in a heartbeat if I could, but... well, you know.” She continued to play with her necklace, moving the pendant left and right on its chain. “I know there’s noneedto tell them everything. But part of me... wants to. Not only so that they won’t busy themselves with trying to find someone for me, but so that they... know me. Is that foolish?”
Jesse ran a hand through his hair. Itwasfoolish, wasn’t it? It was foolish because of how relationships like Charlotte and Claire’s were viewed by most people in the world. Or at least by people in Chicago. But once upon a time, Jesse had told his parents about Percy. And even though it had been painful, it had been liberating, too. It had meant losing them from his life. But it had meant finding Giuseppe. And Arthur. And everyone else here in this print shop, too. He couldn’t say whether Claire being honest about her romantic and sexual inclinations would be the right choice for her. But it had been the right choice for him in the end. And he wanted Claire to know that.
“It is foolish,” Jesse replied. “But I wouldn’t fault you for it. No one here would. And only you can say whether or not you think it would be the right choice for you. It was important to me that my parents know. Because I’d spent my whole life feeling like they’d been rejecting me for who I was in other ways, so, well, it was cathartic for me, though obviously still heartbreaking as well, to confess to them and then have them confirm that they’d reject me for who I bedded too. But, Claire, if youdoend up telling them, I’d recommend letting Charlotte and Arthur know first. Because Arthur would protect you if you needed him to. I mean, the man loves Charlotte as much as a person can love someone platonically. And he loves how happy you make her, as well. He’d move every one of us out of the state together rather than risk anything happening to you.”
Claire smiled warmly. “Thank you for saying that.”
“Finished!” Giuseppe cried out triumphantly.
Claire shimmied her shoulders back and forth. “Oh, this is thrilling!”
Jesse snorted. “No wonder Charlotte needs a break. You’re as excitable as Arthur.”
Claire smacked his arm with the back of her hand but then laughed.
Everyone worked together to prepare the bundles of paperwork to mail. After they were finished, they all left for the carriage, which Patrick had parked nearby. On the way, Giuseppe took Jesse by the sleeve to catch his attention.
“I’m practically a professional pressman now, aren’t I?” he boasted. “Do you think that I could work for Putnam or Hughes someday?”
Jesse pretended to sigh. “I’m not sure if the owner would hire you. I hear he’s very picky.”
“He can’t be that picky,” Giuseppe retorted. “Heiswith you, after all.”
Giuseppe cackled at his own silly humor, and Jesse rolled his eyes.
“I can ask him. If you’d want,” Jesse offered.
“Thanks. I think I’d like it.”
Jesse smiled warmly. “I think so, too.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Arthur
