Now, she suddenly decided to renovate it and let our old tradition return. I guess we'd be spending our holidays there again.
"Hello Darling!" Mom said brightly, squeezing Claire with so much love. "You look tense, are you okay?" She asked as she broke the hug to look at Claire.
"Yes, I'm okay." Claire replied, looking around at the workers. "What's going on here?"
"I'm renovating the house, it's been ages anyone spent time here." Mom said in a faraway voice, then held Claire's shoulders.
"I lost my dear husband and two months later, I heard I'll be having a grandchild. I guess it was Philip's way of consoling me. It's too bad I wasn't there while you grew up."
"Why weren't you? I always asked Dad if we could come visit yo
As soon as I got out of Claire's room, I bumped into Lucy who was eavesdropping. She quickly stood straight and pressed her lips together, suppressing a laugh. "What are you...?" She shushed me and led me to my room. "You guys made up?! I'm so glad Matt!" She said excitedly as soon as we entered my room. I gave her a smirk and went into my walk-in closet, taking off my wet clothes and putting on dry clothes. "Everything is going so smoothly. Hopefully, Antonio will refuse to go with Thomas and I'll have my kids with me." Lucy was saying while I changed my clothes. I could feel her pain. I never wanted to divorce Doris because I didn't want to lose Claire, even if it meant I'd never be with the love of my life Abigail. "What do you think, Matt? Do you think Antonio would chan
The minutes blended into hours and Richie arrived with his family for dinner. Claire was already downstairs when I got there, talking excitedly to Nessa. When did that happen? And she was holding a bouquet of roses. I couldn't tell if Nessa gave them to her as a peace offering or if Archie gave them to her.Abigail was there too, chatting with Luciana and Margo, Richie's wife. Everyone was lost in a chat, even Jacinta was making eye contact with Antonio and I could tell they were communicating privately. Richie was holding his two years old daughter Eva, and he was arguing with Archie, just like always.No one noticed me.Anyway, I took my sit next to Richie and diverted his attention from his son. The food arrived and we all ate, still talking as we abandoned our table manners. It was then that I noticed James wasn't with us.&nbs
Claire I was furious and bitter and hurt and... and sad. He lied to me! Abigail lied to me too! I knew they couldn't be just friends, they're lovers. I knew the way they looked at each other was off! Couldn't they at least wait until my Mom's buried? "I hate them both!" I pushed down all the books on my library in anger. How could he do this to me? Is Abigail the reason he left us? So he could be with her? Did he and Mom get divorced? Must be... I mean, Mom wouldn't remarry if they didn't get divorced, right? But doesn't he care about how I feel? Is Abigail more important to him than James and I? What if they are secretly married and he's just lying to me? "Then I'll never forgive him!" I said angrily to myself. I felt my nos
The flight to Los Angeles was a really pleasant one. Although I imagined the airplane to have more passengers, we were the only ones on it.I didn't know how long the flight lasted, mostly because I slept like a log. In fact, when I woke up, I was in a limo heading to my Aunt's house. I guess I'll blame my tiredness on the raging headache that claimed my sleep throughout the night.I planned to support my Aunt but with that state, I couldn't hold up myself. They had given me painkillers that morning but nothing changed. I avoided my Dad until I left with my Aunt and cousins for LA. I still didn't know how to face him and thinking about his betrayal just increased my pain.When we got to their equally large house like my Dad's, I was placed on bed rest. It was better I didn't ruin their last day together by making them look aft
Claire"What?!" I exclaimed, waking James up. How long was I unconscious? Two days?! That's longer than the last time."Claire? Are you okay now?" James asked me but my attention was on Jacey. I tried to talk to her in my head, I wanted her to read my thoughts."Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked, confused. I was equally confused, couldn't she read my mind?"How is it possible that I would be unconscious for two days?" I said clearly in my head. She just stared back at me."Can't you hear me? I'm trying to communicate with you.""Oh! Through thoughts? That won't work anymore.""Claire?!" James snapped, clearly annoyed I'm ignoring him.
Do you know that feeling where all the regrets and guilts that you've kept buried for so long burst up to the surface in full force, crushing your very soul? Well, that's how I felt as I saw my Mom for the last time before she was put into the grave.I could barely stand upright, but I had help from Jason as let me lean most of my weight on him. As soon as we met Uncle Mark's family at the cemetery, Jason stayed close to me, asking me every five seconds if I needed anything at all.When the coffin was opened for us to see her and deliver some speeches, Jason held my hand and didn't let go, even after she was buried.My head began aching from the crying, so he took me to a bench where we both sat, still holding hands.I got calm. At least now she can have peace but there's definitely n
MattIt's been a total of two years and eight weeks since I pulled my daughter's unconscious body from the fountain; and ever since then, she has been in a deep coma.I could vividly remember the whole scene; returning from a conference only to hear shouts coming from the fountain side. I saw Claire struggling to keep that bloody bastard Thomas away from Jacey and James and my good for nothing security men were doing nothing!I was running over to restrain Thomas when I saw my daughter flying into the fountain, head first. I went to her instead and pulled her out of the bloody water.She hit her head pretty bad.I took off my shirt and pressed the wounded spot on her head, hoping to stop the bleeding. I was so sure I lost her when my shirt was totally soaked and t
ClaireI need to get away with James... That was all I had in mind as I opened my eyes. I expected to see Frank punching my Mom, but instead, I was staring at the ceiling of an unfamiliar room.Where is James?! I tried to sit up but I couldn't move my body. What happened to me? The last thing I could remember was grabbing James and trying to leave the house when Frank grabbed me."It's okay, Claire, you're okay." I saw someone's f
I was standing in the parking lot, away from the couple I was staring at. Jason... He was holding a brunette's hand... and that hand had a diamond ring on its ring finger.He was freaking engaged?!My heart pounded deeply in my chest. I was too late? But... he was my soulmate, right? Wrong. Probably the same time I stopped believing in soulmates was the same time he seized being mine.He was smiling so fondly at the brunette and I couldn't see her face but I knew she had a big smile as well. "You have no right to be sad... You have no right to be sad..." I kept muttering to myself, over and over again as I worked up the courage to leave there."I don't believe it! It's Claire Wagner!" I stilled when I heard a lady shriek. Other students stopped to stare at me and a few began making their way towards me.I diverted my eyes back to Jason, he and his brunette were staring at me, he looked confused.I turned around and bolted for my car, driving out of the campus. Some crazy fans ran af
"Hey single lady, come home." I kept staring at my phone. What the actual hell? That jerk has been ignoring me for the past two years and just a few minutes after my boyfriend broke up with me, he sends a text?!I was furious and sad and relieved... God! I just wanted to hug my cousin so badly!Judy's call came in before I could reply to Antonio's text; she had been my personal assistant since I moved to Paris. Emma couldn't come with me because she wanted to be a full time Mom to Shelby and she did say she was getting married in a month to a guy she met.I didn't try getting close to Judy though, she just wasn't as free with me like Emma used to be, she just wanted our relationship to be professional and I didn't mind at all.Of course she wouldn't be calling if she knew I was on a date with Archie, but I didn't tell her and she probably thinks I've disappeared.I picked up."Hey, Judy.""Hello. Where are you?" See that? She's so uptight."I was originally on a date with Archie but I
"There's my girl!" Archie cheered, hugging me and kissing me firmly on my lips. "I'm sorry I couldn't make it to the award show but I'm proud of you nevertheless." I moved aside to let him into my apartment and he went straight for the glass plaque I had left earlier on the breakfast table."It looks great. Breakout Star, Claire Wagner." Yup! That's me. The newest eighteen year old who has been working her ass off for the past two years, juggling three careers as a model, actress and my all time favourite, a photographer.It hasn't been easy and I can't stress how many times my parents have told me to take a break and come home just to relax, but I've been stubborn like always. Working keeps my mind away from depressing stuff like worrying about Jason who I haven't seen in the last two years and he doesn't even have a social media account, I mean, who doesn't have a social media account?And even Antonio! That dumb jerk gave a stupid excuse and avoided attending my parents wedding, he'
"Will you be my maid of honour?" I was staring back at Mom, waiting for her to say she's just kidding but she was really waiting for my answer."Me?!" I was surprised. "Are you sure? What about Alice?" I said, gesturing to the other woman who sat next to me on the lounge."I'm married and even if I'm not, you should be her maid of honour." Alice replied before Mom could."Yes, Claire, I want you to be my maid of honour. I can't think of anyone better than you." I was flattered, but of course I wouldn't be if I had seen it before now, but my wacky abilities have deserted me for a while now; even after an entire week after I woke up, I still can't tell the future."Yes!" I said excitedly and Mom hugged me immediately, sighing in relief."Thank you. You know what? This calls for a celebration. How about all three of us hang out together? Like a girls' day out. We could go to the spa, get makeovers, manis-pedis, new hairdos...""Okay that sounds like a mother-daughter outing and I already
"Are you insane?!" Antonio half-yelled at me. I pretended not to hear him as I ate my birthday cake. After Archie was done with his call, he told everyone we were dating and though my parents weren't so thrilled about it, everyone was cool with it."You can't go from being in love with Jason to being Archie's girlfriend.""I can and that's what I'm doing." I said nonchalantly."Claire, you can't do that.""Why? Archie likes me to bits and I think he's totally lovable, hence, we're dating. And don't forget we already told our parents and they are okay with it.""Your Dad wasn't okay with it, he knows you should be with Jason, he's just being nice.""Which I expect you to be too. Archie is a great guy and Jason is far from my reach anyway. To be honest, I don't think I would have any feelings for Jason if not for that soul mate bullshit.""Bullshit?! Is this why you shut me out? Because you're harbouring crazy thoughts like this?" Antonio was pissed, I knew that but I wasn't going to le
"That went well." I stilled when I heard Antonio's voice behind me. What was he doing in my room? "Did you forget I can tell the immediate future? I knew the surprise would be ruined and you'd lock yourself up here." Oh, well.I sank to the floor and just hugged my legs. "You're sad, I get it. But look on the bright side...""There's not bright side here, Antonio. I love him yet I told him to get lost. Who does that?!" I hugged my legs tighter. Antonio came over and sat next to me."I don't know what to tell you, all I see is you spending the next two years missing Jason while you figure your life out." Two years?!"It's going to take that long?""You can't see your future?""I can't see anything, my abilities are messy right now. I can only tell the present and read someone's mind.""I see. That's probably because you haven't healed completely from the accident." I sighed."That's not important to me. I'm going to spend a full two years without Jason? Will we ever get back together?
"Claire?! Wait!" I didn't listen to Jason, I kept walking until I got to the car. He caught up to me."What happened? Are you okay?""I want to go home. Can you take me home?" I avoided his eyes."Yes, but what really happened? Did my mom say something...?""Just forget it. Like I said, I'm tired." He exhaled and unlocked the car. We both got in.I didn't say anything while he took me home, I could very well feel his eyes on me, but I kept my eyes away from him all the time."Look, I'm sorry about my Mom, I'm definitely sure she said something to you. She can be a little uppity sometimes but..." Oh, he got that one right."Don't apologize, she didn't do anything wrong.""Oh, okay." We were quiet for a few minutes more. I knew what Antonio expected me to do, break it up with Jason; and the easiest way to do that is when he thinks I don't remember him. I didn't want to, I really didn't want to but Jason has a lot planned out for himself and I'm just a roller coaster of drama and danger,
"Claire?!" I turned away from Jason to Aunt Miriam.Uncle Mark's family was all the distraction I needed to get my mind off Jason... and his lips. Well, at least for the meantime.Kevin was an adorable kid, he looked every bit like Aunt Miriam and Jane tried acting a bit mature to impress me, but she was still the cute little girl I know. Of course they were glad to have me, especially Tyler, it wasn't even as if I've been in a coma for years, they acted like I've only been gone for a week.Uncle Mark was happy Renee got what she deserved but he didn't know about my abilities, none of them did and I wondered why Dad didn't say anything. There are family after all."You ready to go? Mom's expecting us now." Jason whispered to me. I was playing dress-up with Jane and Aunt Miriam."Yeah." I apologized to Jane and Aunt Miriam, I had to promise to return before they let me go and I was back in the car with Jason."So, you said your Mom lives with her dogs, right?""Yeah.""Did she explain
It's my birthday? I pulled away to check my phone, it was really the second day of April. I'm sixteen!I crushed Antonio in another tighter hug, excited."I'm sixteen!""You sound like you've waited a long time for that, even after you skipped two whole years." I ignored Antonio's teasing and got off the floor."I'm happy because I finally remember Jason and now that I'm sixteen, my Dad won't mind me dating some..." A knock on the door interrupted me."Uhm, Claire? Can we talk?" It was Jason. I made for the door but Antonio blocked my path. Great! They still had a beef."It's not about that, trust me." Antonio said in a whisper. "You've regained your memories, I have no reason to stay mad at him, it wasn't even his fault to begin with. I'm stopping you because you can't tell Jason you remember him. Pretend you don't remember him, I have a reason." That's crazy! I just hurt his feelings out there and two weeks ago, I was about to tell him how I feel about him, why do I have to stop now