Read Online Family Interrupted by Linda Barrett - Free Book Online Page B

beginning, until doubts began to shadow me. Claire continued to be so intense, so frantic about it. I don’t remember her being this gung-ho during our first years together. Our nighttime pursuits, however, weren’t top priority at the moment.
    “I wanted to thank you, Claire, not only for making Ian’s party so terrific but for coming back to work. I know it hasn’t been easy, even with your mother to help. But your presence is making me hopeful about our bottom line next quarter. So thank you very much.” And if I were sugarcoating her importance or the swift turnaround, so what?
    And dang if tears didn’t well again. She put her finger over my mouth and shook her head. “You’re the brains behind the operation, so don’t thank me. It’s the least I can do for you.”
    The least she could...? Like she owed me something? Good Lord, my wife was still blaming herself about Kayla. Trying to expunge her guilt. At this point, I had no answers for her. How many times could I tell her she wasn’t to blame? I supposed there was no easy fix, and I was certainly no shrink, but maybe she needed one.
    Scanning the room, I saw Ian chatting with Claire’s folks, Maddy Conroy standing right next to him. Seemed my son had picked up a little sidekick. According to Claire, the child still came around to make art almost every week. The spare key now had a permanent home under the studio’s doormat. But my attention reverted to Ian.
    “Look how our son hits the right notes with our folks.”
    “Why are you so surprised? He’s their first grandchild, and they adore him.” But now another shadow appeared on my wife’s face. “I’m glad he’s enjoying himself. But...Jack?” Her voice became a whisper.
    “Yes?”
    “What’s the real reason he’s moving out? I mean, why isn’t he working with us at Barnes Construction?”
    She’d touched an already frazzled nerve, but more worrisome were her bizarre questions. “Honey, you were with me when he told us about his new job. You heard me ask him about it since then. Don’t you remember?”
    “I think...I really think it’s my fault he’s leaving. I’m a bad mother...such a bad mother.” She began walking toward the bedroom wing, away from our guests, and I grabbed her arm.
    “Buck up, Claire. No running. You’ve got people here, a party going on. And by the way, you’re normally a great mother.”
    A kaleidoscope of scenes ran through my mind. Claire pushing a baby carriage, Claire playing catch with Ian and then with Kayla, Claire and the kids working in her studio—a fun project we worked on together. Claire loved being a mom.
    And I thought I was a pretty good dad. Always imagined Ian and I had a special relationship, that he trusted me. Now I wasn’t sure. He had a home. No one was pushing him out the door.
    “I want him to be happy,” Claire said. “I told him so. You know I told him.” She paced two steps back and forth, her hands fluttering. “But his bags are packed to the brim. He’s ready to head out, maybe even tonight.”
    Too many memories accosted me, too many emotions. Ian was leaving us. He was really doing it. And my wife? I couldn’t understand her strange questions and thoughts. A heavy ache lay in my heart, almost as heavy and familiar as the one from last September. I was the one who wanted to be alone now. I popped an antacid instead, left Claire, and approached my son.
    #
    “Hey, champ,” I said, putting my arm around him but facing Maddy. “Can I steal him for a minute?”
    She grinned and disappeared. But Ian’s brow lifted; suspicion darkened his chip-off-the-block blue eyes. He glanced at his doting grandparents, and instantly his natural smile and accompanying dimple were in place. “No more homework lectures, Dad. School is definitely over.”
    Everyone chuckled, including me. Ian had never needed lectures about schoolwork. His report cards had reflected his fine abilities...at least until this year. Other than saying “do