Finally, she stood up to go back downstairs. “Dr. Baker’s right. I’ve got to get out of here.”

Chapter 6

Anna decided to spend a second month with Clare and kept the two of them so busy that Clare had little time to brood. Clare knew her mother had stayed more to keep her company than to help her. While she still had the limp, Clare soon found she could leave her cane at home. As her strength returned, they took long walks on the beach and went out for dinner with friends who were delighted to see Clare after her long illness. One weekend, her brother Tony and sister Sue came from Connecticut with their families. The girls were home, too. Having a full house was almost like old times.

Almost.

Ten days before Kate was due to leave for Nashville, Dr. Langston cleared Clare to drive. Anna took her to renew her driver’s license, and Clare drove them home in her Volvo with the utmost caution, never exceeding thirty miles per hour on the short ride.

The next day, Jack called. She hadn’t spoken to him in a couple of weeks. When she heard his voice on the line, her stomach took a nervous dip that made her want to swear with frustration. Nope, still not over him. His voice was so familiar and comforting, like a well-worn pair of slippers or a favorite pillow. Knock it off, Clare. He’s not your source of comfort anymore.

“How are you?” he asked.

“Fine, and you?” They were so sickeningly polite. She wanted to scream.

“Still sleep-deprived. I’ve had no luck convincing Andi to hire some help. She wants to do it all herself until she goes back to work.”

Did his new wife have to be so freaking perfect? Where was the justice? “I don’t blame her. You never got anywhere with me on that one either.”

He chuckled. “No, I didn’t. The reason I’m calling is I was hoping we could sit down with Kate to talk about her move.”

“I thought you had that all figured out.” She couldn’t help her snippy tone. This whole thing had, after all, been his deal with Kate.

“Hell no, I don’t have it figured out. That’s why I want to talk to her. I want us to talk to her.”

“Why do you need me? This was always between you and her.”

Jack sighed. “This was between her and I before you recovered. Now it’s between all of us. I thought you’d want to be part of it.” He paused. “I need your help, Clare.”

Damn him! Why did he have to say that? He’d gone straight to her Achilles’ heel: her need to be needed. “Fine. When do you want to do it?”