Clair got back to the Tortuga with her dad, feeling sore and exhausted. She couldn't wait to call Abigail and tell her about that day's adventures. That particular day, they had gone to a desert and looked at scorpions.
Clair walked to her room and sat on her bed. Then she pulled out her computer and started the call with Abigail. Abigail answered and as they greeted each other cheerfully, Chris called, "Clair! Dinner!"
Clair rolled her eyes and called back, "Just a second!" Then she looked at Abigail and said, "I gotta go. Dinner's ready. Talk to ya later!" Then she ended the call and rushed to the kitchen.
"There you are," Chris said, trying but failing to keep the relief out of his voice. He never did get over the fact that Clair had been unable to be with him and was being abused by her mother. Clair rolled her eyes.
Chris looked at her with disbelief. "Did you just roll your eyes at me, Clair?" Clair rolled her eyes again and sighed.
"Clair," Chris said sternly, "I don't want you doing that."
Clair grinned mischievously and the rolled her eyes again.
"Clair!" Chris said sternly, "I said that I don't want you doing that!"
Clair grumbled and huffed, but didn't roll her eyes again. Chris watched her for a moment before looking at everybody else, who were looking at them in shock. "What?" Chris grumbled, settling down to eat. Everybody except Clair watched him warily, as if afraid that he would turn on them.
Chris asked Clair, "So. What did you think of the scorpions today?"
Clair huffed and said, "They were fine, dad." Then she rolled her eyes.
Chris stood up abruptly and said, "Clair! I told you not to do that! Go to your room!"
Clair looked at him with a disbelieving face, which quickly turned into a face of anger. "I'd rather be with mom!" Clair said as she got up and turned around quickly. Then she started walking towards her room.
Horror, hurt, and then anger passed across Chris's face. "You'd rather be with the person that hurt you? That broke your nose and left bruises all over you?"
"Being hurt is better than being embarrassed!" Clair shouted as she stomped up to her room.
Chris sat down, rubbing his forehead. The last thing Clair heard as she left the room was Martin saying to Chris, "You need to lighten up, bro. And really? You were with her all day. What were you trying to do? Were you trying to annoy her with that question?"
"I was TRYING to give her a normal life! I was TRYING to do something a normal dad would do! Is that so bad?" Chris got up quickly and walked out of the room, fists clenched. Jimmy, Koki, Aviva, and Martin watched him walk out in amazement. Clair was already in her room when Chris was yelling, so she didn't hear a thing.
"She's not a little girl anymore, Chris," Martin called after him.
Chris paused in the doorway and mumbled, "But she is still my daughter," before continuing to walk away.