Ok, this is an extra long chapter, sorry it's been a few days. I don't own any of John Hughes intellectual property - the other characters are all mine. Hope you like it.
Robert Standish woke up early and realized he was a little hung over. He ordered room service, ate some toast, drank a pitcher of orange juice, and debated with himself. Should he call the police and have them go to the house check for the trespassing whore or should he call the house and see if she was still there. Robert remembered a time when he thought he loved her, he wasn't sure if he ever had anymore. He desperately wanted to protect Claire; she was growing into a fine young woman, someone he was really proud of, and Karen did nothing but fuck that up.
He finished the coffee he allowed himself after drinking the juice. As he got ready for his presentation to other bank investment officers on the new computer program they were trying to institute. Robert was sure computers would be the way to go, in fact he was so sure of it that's where he invested a chunk of John's money.
He straightened his tie and thought about what he would face when he returned home. Maybe he should just go straight to Sarah's to pick Claire up. He decided to give Karen one more chance to be a civil adult. So he sat down at the desk in his room, looking down at his presentation he took a deep breath and dialed his home number. The phone rang six times; he told himself he'd give it ten before he hung up.
A very irritable sounding Karen answered the phone, "Hello, do you have any idea what time it is?"
Robert took a deep breath and tried to temper his rage that she had the gall to still be there, "Hello Karen, it's nine in the morning, a time when many, hell most people over the age of 18 are up and about."
"Oh, Robert… I, uh, I just dropped by to pick up a few things I'd left behind." She changed her tone to something almost saccharine sweet.
"You don't have to lie to me Karen; I spoke with Claire last night." He was just tired of this fight, but knew it was a long way from over.
The irritation and he suspected hangover returned to her voice, "You can't keep me from my own house forever Robert. I bought most of these things; that means they're mine. And where the hell did Claire run off to, a friend's house? She didn't even let me know she was leaving; I mean really, she is getting so disrespectful I just don't know what to do with her any more. "
Robert took a deep breath and exhaled desperately trying to keep a reign on his temper. "Where Claire went is irrelevant, I know where she is, and she is safe. Now, you signed an agreement stating that you would not come to the house without my permission and my presence. You are breaking that agreement Karen."
"What do you mean by that? Where Claire went is certainly not irrelevant! She's my daughter too Robert, you can't keep letting her do what she wants! She has gone straight down hill in the last few months. She's become a disrespectful bitch who associates with the wrong crowd while alienating everyone she's been friends with her whole life! As for that damn agreement, I didn't realize you had to be here! I have a right to get my things!" She was all but screaming now.
In a tone that would have frightened most people he replied, "I paid for everything in that damn house, which means those things are mine, not yours. You've destroyed so many things I am tempted to bar you from the house entirely, now you have a choice. Get the fuck out of the house now or I will have you removed by the police for trespassing."
Karen screamed, "You rotten bastard, I am not trespassing this is my house. And what about Claire! Where is your little daddy's bitch?"
"Claire is none of your business, and you have 1 hour to get out, or the police will remove you. Good bye Karen." Robert replied to her screaming, and he hung up.
Back in Shermer, Claire walked hesitantly down the hall towards Sarah's room. John would in no way help her out by talking to Sarah directly; Claire half smiled as she thought for a second about how he'd pushed her into being this brave. He was sitting in the kitchen doing something; she didn't know what.
Claire knocked on Sarah's door tentatively. She was unsure how to behave around Sarah, on the one hand she was her teacher and she had a certain way she was expected to behave while at school, her mother had drummed into her head…. The thought literally stopped Claire in her tracks. Why was she reverting to shit her old lady would say, that same woman whose fucking manicure had caused her to get stitches. She could swear she heard John in her head, thinking of the gorgeous boy who was forcing her to be brave.
All those comments went through her head in the split second before Sarah said, "Come in." Claire thought she sounded falsely cheerful, but she followed the instructions and opened the door to come in. She'd only been in Sarah's room a handful of times, often to retrieve something in an emergency. She didn't even know if this was the right thing to do, but Claire knew that before the end of March she never would have questioned someone else's feelings. "Hi Sarah, I guess, I like, I just wanted to make sure you were ok. Uhm, John mentioned that you had reason to be…I don't uhm, upset and I hadn't done anything wrong, but you, well you look sad, and I uhm, well I want to do something to make you feel better." Claire felt like she had just vomited up those words, she sat down on the bed, and stared at her ring. The emerald just made her feel better.
"No sweetie, you didn't say anything that upset me, and yeah, I have a lot of reason to be fairly unhappy today. I'm just, well it's just… "Sarah sighed and tried to collect her thoughts. Claire saw the backyard out the window. So she decided to tackle simple, real questions and leave the feeling stuff till another time. She decided then and there to make that simple change: tackle the task at hand and everything else would fall into place, it was the opposite of how her parents had always communicated, by pushing each other to snapping, and she did not want to do that. "Did you have a garden out there?" She pointed out the window. Sarah could have kissed the girl for giving her something to focus on.
"Yes, I planted a vegetable garden there last year. The whole yard really needs cleaned; I keep meaning to ask John if he'd help me." Claire chuckled, "I was wondering if maybe we could do that today; clean up the yard I mean, uh I saw the patch there and well, I thought if we could maybe do something together. John said you sort of said you like having us around and while I know we're uhm like a poor substitute but if you wanted to do it anyway I thought it might be kind of cool to uhm work on it… and uhm, the big tree there would be a really nice place to take prom pictures… uh, like, I always kind of wanted to like plant flowers but uhm my mom said it wasn't dignified, and gods I'm rambling at you aren't I?" Claire blushed when she noticed Sarah's eyes getting kind of wide; she happily also noticed a hint of a smile.
'I would love to have your help, and well my baby boy loved playing outside so it could be kind of a way to honor him. If you would like to help me with the vegetables, we can till up a patch for flowers as well. I have a set of chairs and a table we could put out if you we have the energy." Sarah smiled as Claire rambled, it reminded Sarah how much Claire was like her father.
Sarah stood up and stretched, having the kids here really did help. She felt distracted from her sadness. When she moved here she promised Joey she'd let go. Interacting with these kids, who had become like family to her through a harrowing set of experiences they'd gone through together, really helped. "I think I have an extra pair of gloves, I'll dig them out. If you'll go and convince John to help us out, I'll change into something more appropriate to yard work and we can get started." She smiled at Claire.
Claire hopped up, suddenly very excited. She had never done anything like this before; when she finally found John he was leaning up against a tree in the back yard and appeared to be smoking a joint. At first she started getting upset, why did he have to get high at a time like this, but then she noticed all the equipment needed for cleaning and tilling were leaning up against the privacy fence. It also occurred to her that she didn't really want him to change his ways, and if that meant she put up with him smoking pot well so be it. It had certainly helped her the other day. All these thoughts were banished when she straddled John's hips, moved his hand away from his mouth, and kissed him thoroughly. She inhaled the smoke he blew in her mouth. When the kiss was over she put her head on John's shoulder and blew out the smoke. As she did this Sarah came out of the back door.
"Well excellent, you found my tools, so are you two going to help out or make out and smoke all day?" Sarah said teasingly.
John replied," I vote for the second, but I am pretty sure if Princess here can keep her hands to herself for a few hours we can help you out as well."
Claire sat up very quickly, and a look of complete worry crossed her face, "Oh fuck, I am being way to forward and clingy aren't I…god John, Uhm…" She started to stand up and he grabbed her hips quickly unwilling to let her go just yet. "Breath Cherry I was giving you shit, nothing serious, and I didn't mind your so called forwardness at all, if you will simply take a minute and relax you'll know that." He pulled her hips forward just slightly so she could feel how hard he was. This caused her to blush intensely and quietly asked as she buried her face in his hair, "I turned you on by doing just that?"
John threw back his head and burst out laughing. Claire looked a little mortified and started to get angry. "Keep your britches out of a twist sweets, you can do that by just walking in the room. Straddling me and shotgunning a hit is like hitting it out of the fucking ball park. Now Sarah knows you are blushing, and well I'll just think of baseball or politics or fucking history class and we can get something done for Sarah today." John kissed Claire's forehead and kept his hands on her hips till she stood up right in front of him. "Ya know, this position has its merits too," If John didn't think Claire could blush more, he was wrong. "God damn Cherry I love making you blush." Claire moved out of his grip and stuck her tongue out at him, which only caused him to laugh harder.
The three of them spent the rest of the clear, warm, and sunny afternoon raking, tilling, generally cleaning up, and pulling weeds till they had a nice looking yard with only a few patches needing grass and two places for gardens. Sarah said, "I don't know how long it's supposed to remain this nice, but if you want to go with me some afternoon to pick out plants we could maybe get planting done next weekend."
John complained, "Wait there is more to this process?" He wiped his forehead off and left a smudge of dirt across it, "I think I might get a detention or something next Saturday, this is hard fucking work!"
Sarah and Claire both laughed at him; However, Claire grabbed her back moaned a little when she got up. John moved quickly over to her and helped her finish standing. "You sure you're alright Princess?"
Sarah looked mildly concerned having heard the note of pain in Claire's voice. Claire shook her head, "I'm sure it has something to do with never having done an actual day's work in my life, remember, I am working on being a reformed Richie princess. Sarah commented, "You don't have to do it all in one day, and I think you need to go see a doctor about your back, you wince way too often, and even if you don't say anything those of us who know you can see it."
Claire shrugged, "I'm sure it's fine." She was sort of getting used to the constant pain in her back, enough so that she didn't think anything of it. John finished putting all the yard tools in the garage and exited to join the conversation. "I agree with Sarah Cherry, you didn't used to look hurt so often."
Claire rolled her eyes, "Look, I'll mention it to my doctor when he takes the stitches out of my arm next week, will that satisfy?" She looked between the two of them. They looked at one another, then back at Claire and nodded. Claire threw her arms up, "now that's just not fair, I am sure you two just had a conversation without saying a word!" Sarah laughed, "Now you know how I feel half the time!" With that statement she walked into the house. The light was blinking on her answering machine; she pressed play, and heard Robert's voice. Hearing his voice made her smile; his recorded voice sounded a little haggard, "hi Sarah, it's Robert. Tell Claire it should be fine for her to go to the house, though I sent Rose home so I'd rather she stayed at your place for the night. I'm trying to find a red-eye to get me home a little faster; this conference just came at a bad time. Though I think I wowed them with my presentation. Anyway I think I am about to run out of town. Talk to you all later." Claire and John walked in for the end of the recording to see Sarah leaning against the counter listening with her eyes closed and a sweet smile on her face.
John, of course, had to say something, "You know he's soon to be a divorced guy, I could buy some ear plugs or something." Sarah's eyes flew open, "It's nothing like that John, don't be an ass." This caused John to crack up and walk out of the kitchen. Claire sat gingerly down on a chair in the kitchen. "It's funny, I wasn't kidding, that was the first time I have ever done anything like yard work. My mother would be mortified to know I had so much fun digging in the dirt today."
Sarah looked Claire over, she looked generally happy and quite filthy; however, Sarah thought she looked like she was in pain too. "Well I suggest a hot shower. You heard your dad, you want to take John with you over to your place to pick up clothes?" Claire shook her head, "Honestly, all I want right now is that hot shower and a nap." Sarah smiled, "not a bad idea, I am pretty tired myself, and we're not really supposed be working this hard yet. But I feel somehow better for having done it." Sarah was looking out the back window over the yard they'd just worked on. Claire struggled to stand up and walk over to the window, but her back just hurt too bad. It was as though suddenly she really couldn't get up and she gasped. Sarah spun around at the gasp, "Claire are you ok?"
Tears sprang to her eyes and in a very frightened voice she said, "I, uh, I don't know. I don't think I can move.. she whimpered a little and cried softly, my back… I.. it…. hurts." Claire tried to put on a brave face and held in the sobbing she wanted to do, because she was afraid it would hurt. Sarah rushed right over to her and put her hand on Claire's back, "oh god sweetie, I think you might be having muscle spasms, or something in your back. John!" Sarah hollered, "John we need you." He'd been getting ready to take a shower so rushed out into the kitchen in a hurry, not bothering to put a shirt back on. The tone of Sarah's voice caused him to have a moment of panic, "What? What happened? What's wrong?"
Sarah looked up at John and saw the wild panic in his eyes, "Calm down John. Take a deep breath, Claire is having back spasms. It's not really that uncommon for someone recently injured to have something like this happen." She looked at Claire, "Sweetie, you need to call your dad, and find out if you have a doc who can see you or prescribe you something. " She looked up at John, "If I run a hot bath for her, do you think you can carry her into the bathroom.' John smirked a little, "do I get to carry her naked?"
This caused Claire to laugh and then her back didn't hurt quite so much, or it did and she was getting used to it. "Can I just stretch out for a bit then we try the bath? Uhm, there" she pointed to a card on the table "that was the number to reach my dad. I want to try and get up, but can you help me to your room?" She looked at John. He nodded and walked towards her, before she could count to three and try to stand John had picked her up bridal style. "Someone told me it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission. I know you would have told me some shit about you being too heavy to carry, so I figured I wouldn't ask." As he distracted her by needling her, he reached his room and laid her gently on the bed. "So what else can I do for you?"
Claire smirked back at him, "Keep your shirt off and close the door?"
John laughed, "you've been spending entirely too much time with reprobates."
The comment caused Claire to giggle, "I don't think you count as a reprobate if you know the word.'
John appeared to fake annoyance with her, "Hey now, there are lots of smart reprobates out there, besides I room with an English teacher some of that shit is bound to rub off. Be right back." John walked back into the kitchen; Sarah was on the phone so he grabbed some frozen peas from the freezer and a kitchen towel and walked back to his room. "So I have an idea here. Can you roll to your side just a touch, I'll prop you up with pillows and stuff. Claire stiffly rolled over and true to his word John tucked blankets and pillows so she didn't have to use any muscles to stay in that position. Then he ran his hand down her back gently, and placed the peas at the hottest point. Claire stiffened a little at the cold; John stroked her arm, "settle down now cherry, it's just something cool to make your back feel a little better." He laid down facing her and stroked her face. "Princesses shouldn't work so hard." He smirked at her, "Want I should go get your stuff on my own? If your old man gave the all clear the house should be empty and well I know how to get to your room." Claire shook her head, "I don't want to think about the existence of that place, no matter how much I want my stuff I'd rather you were here with me. "
As it turns out, Robert had indeed gotten a red eye home. The hotel told her he'd left in hurry in the middle of the night. Sarah thought about it and found where John had written Claire's number on the wall. She tried that number and she was close to giving up, it was on the sixth or seventh ring a winded sounding Robert said, "Hello?"
Sarah chuckled at the thought of Robert running to find where the ringing was coming from. "hi there stranger, so where in your big old house does this phone ring to exactly?" She couldn't keep the laughter out of her voice, it was, in part, relief that he was back in town. Robert sat down on the bed, "laugh it up, but just wait, and it rings to Claire's room. Not a number I expected you to be calling. Isn't she there?" There was a hint of worry in his voice. "Of course she's here Robert; although I think overworked her today."
"I am sure she worked herself into whatever state she's in." Robert chuckled. "Is she whining about it?"
"Uhm, rather frighteningly no; I think she might have pulled a muscle or she just plain did too much today. We uhm, we worked in the yard, getting them ready to put gardens in. She said she never was able to get her hands in the earth before, but she seemed to be wincing last night and like I said, I think she did too much. She had a pretty bad spasm a bit ago. So, uhm, you sent everyone away… want to come by for dinner?" She really hoped it wasn't pushing too much, but even though they'd spoken regularly she missed him. "Is there, I don't know, a lot of … damage?"
Robert sighed wearily, "there's enough, and I will happily come to dinner rather than foraging here in a kitchen I'm likely to be yelled at for mucking about in. What can I bring?"
Sarah looked around her kitchen and thought about what she had to cook. "I don't really know, I'm not sure what I've got about"
"I could bring dinner with me."
Sarah sounded indignant, though she had a smile on her face as she bustled about the kitchen figuring what she had and could put together. "You absolutely will not. I'm a terrific cook, not trained or anything fancy,"
Robert cut her off hoping he hadn't offended her, "I didn't mean it like that,"
Sarah started laughing, "God Rob, you and Claire are so alike. I was giving you guff you silly man. Why don't you come round about 6:30 or so, gives me time to clean up and get something started for dinner."
Rob sputtered, much like Claire did when John got her. "What a brat. I'll see you later. Oh, wait, god, uhm Claire… is she ok? She still had some of the painkillers her doctor prescribed to take on an as needed basis."
Sarah nodded, "Yes I know, she had them in her purse, and I saw John walk out of here with something from the freezer for her back. So, yes she'll be fine. Just something to keep an eye on, really; so I'll see you in just while." She hung up with a bit of a spring in her step. This was the first time she'd ever had someone over, not counting John before he moved in.
Sarah heard giggling from John's room, and she knocked on the door, "Hey guy's Robert is coming to dinner so try not to lose too many of your clothes – he'll be here about 6:30." She snickered as she walked away not even sure what expletives were coming from the other side of the door. Walking back into the kitchen she realized she was really pretty tired, and really not used to taking care of so many other people. She stared in her freezer for a few then opened the fridge… what could she put together, she used to be good at this. Ideas started to come to her as she looked at her leftovers. She felt better than she had in days.
On the other side of the door, John's antics and Claire's pain medication, topped by some of John's own brand of self medication had the girl giggling madly. Her laughter made John feel like he was the king of the world. After a few impromptu mockeries of some of the people at school, John plopped down on the bed next to Claire. The clock on his bedside said 5:15, and Sarah's knock while prompting a, "get your mind out of the gutter from John, and "what kind of girl do you think I am" from Claire had settled them both down. John was stroking Claire's hair, "You feelin any better Princess?" She smiled and nodded and tried to slide closer to him, but he noticed a distinct crinkling around her eyes letting him know movement still hurt. "How's about we lay here and close our eyes for a while so your old man doesn't think we've been making a slave of you… well that Sarah doesn't, I'd consider keeping you chained to the bed if I thought we'd be left alone." He leaned in putting his forehead against hers. "Can I admit something to you? You'll like it, I'm about to sound like a dweeb."
Claire giggled tiredly, "Now I definitely want to hear it."
John tweaked her nose, reached around her and grabbed the pea, mixed them up and put the cold side against her back again. She gasped, "How did you know?"
He shrugged, "Experience, I guess… frozen stuff gets warm after a while and needs readjusted. Now do you want to hear my dork like statement?"
Claire nodded, "You never actually sound like a dweeb you know, and if you did I am certain hell would freeze over."
He turned his head to look at her, "Thanks for the vote of confidence there Cherry. I wish your old man wasn't coming over for dinner. Not that I don't like him and all, but it means you'll be going home with him and I won't get to spend the night with you again."
Claire judged her back and decided to pull so John would come to her, "First there was no dweeb-like sentiments there even, and I kinda wish the same thing." When John had come close enough she stopped tugging on his shirt and started kissing him. The two kissed gently for a while and John's hand began to wander, she moaned into a kiss and he pulled away. His chuckle was a very masculine sound as Claire whimpered when he pulled away. "Look Cherry, your old man is gonna be here in like an hour, so much as I would love to continue lying here getting all I can from you. I think you need some rest; mind you there is a part of me kicking my own ass for saying that, but well the truth is, you don't fuck around with back injuries. If I promise to lay here with you the whole time, will you try and get some rest?" John had moved close enough that Claire could comfortably lay her head on his chest; she nodded but didn't say anything else.
After just a few minutes John could tell she was asleep. He stroked her hair and lay thinking about this amazing girl. He still wasn't sure how he landed her. He'd been a total dick that day in detention. He knew he was no party to be around, and he'd gotten the shit beaten out of her multiple times, but she still liked him and until recently he didn't think anyone liked him. He thought he should go help Sarah, but that was his last thought. Not long after Sarah poked her head in after not getting a response to her knocking.
"I don't know Rob, I'd ask her if she was up to the car ride home, but she and John are both sound asleep, and I don't think Claire ever even got in the shower." She listened for a minute, "She really hasn't been a diva at all, I promise. I swear the two of them together are a breath of fresh air for me and she worked her heart out today. I told the two of them that they could help me pick out plants. Of course, John bowed out swearing he was just grunt labor." She laughed and listened for another minute. "I don't have any desire to hire a landscaper Robert; I like doing yard work. Yes, I am serious. Alright, let me off the phone so I can finish dinner it's not like you won't be here in a half hour." She cradled the phone on her shoulder and stirred one of the pots on the stove. "Well then bring clothes you think she'd wear and make the decision about staying or going when you get here. Yes, I know I'm brilliant." She laughed and said goodbye again.
Late the night before, Robert had arrived home to a front hall littered with broken plaster and one of his busts lying on the ground near the door. He was almost afraid to go further, but he managed to make it to his bedroom without tripping. He turned on the light to see the room in total disarray. He picked pillows and blankets off the floor, put the sheets back on the bed, and almost decided to sleep on the couch but he was afraid Karen would have found a way to destroy that as well. He stripped off his suit and stepped under the hot jets of his shower, and afterwards he stumbled to bed. The next morning he called his lawyer, and wondered briefly if the police officer who'd been sent round had found Karen or just the mess she'd left behind. Every room he went into he found expensive items destroyed or missing. After discussing it with his lawyer he was told to leave it and the lawyer would take pictures. Robert commented that he had taken some, but he'd also had a put up a few cameras in his house. After the beating he saw her give Claire he didn't want to be unaware of what was happening in his house, so there should be some tape of Karen doing the damage. He took pictures of everything and told his lawyer he'd have the tapes as well as the film sent over to him.
Robert went into the den, a room Karen virtually never entered, so he had some hope she hadn't done something like destroy his favorite TV. She hadn't, and she didn't know how to work the stereo so that was safe too. He left his jeans and white t-shirt on and wore a pair of slippers the next morning. He wished he'd asked Scott to come in this morning, but he could make his own coffee and he couldn't remember the last time he'd been home alone, really by himself. He drank coffee and read the Sunday paper in peace and quiet. He got some paperwork done in his half remodeled office, and began wondering about Claire a little after mid-afternoon, he picked up the phone to call Sarah's house. She picked up on the second ring, "Hello?"
They talked back and forth and he was almost relieved to get the offer of dinner. He didn't really feel like going out, but he wasn't sure what to do with any of the food in the refrigerator. He had no real idea how to cook; his whole life there had been someone to do the cooking for him. He called because he didn't know if Claire would be up to coming home if her back had been bad enough for her to willing take pain medication. He noticed that her mother's drinking had translated into Claire appearing to hate most kinds of medication. After his conversation with Sarah, Rob went up the stairs to Claire's room and grabbed a set of comfortable clothing as well as the extra necessities. He didn't think he wanted her going to school tomorrow. Robert decided he wanted to take Claire into the doctor to see about her back, if she still wanted to go to school after that she could.
Robert changed his shirt, pulling a red polo over his head and running a brush through his hair. He was going to stop at a grocery store and pick up some bread or something for dessert. It was simply bred into him that it was rude to go to someone's house for dinner without an offering of some kind, even if Sarah told him she had it all covered. He ended up purchasing both fresh baked bread and a cheesecake because he couldn't decide between them. As well as a bouquet of flowers. It was no wonder Claire said he wasn't allowed in stores alone. He grinned to himself as he left with his purchases.
It was 6:30 on the dot when Robert rang the doorbell at Sarah's. She wiped her hands on a towel and hobbled over to the door. She opened it with a smile, "come in Robert, welcome to my humble abode."
He handed her a bouquet of wild flowers. My father said I should never arrive at a woman's house for the first time without flowers, and while I know I've been here before this is the first time it hasn't been either under duress or during an emergency. So, I well, I hope you like them."
Sarah chuckled, "I love them: she put her face up to the lily and smelled it. Let me put them in some water, follow me to the kitchen. I haven't even woken the kids up yet, the chops need another 15 minutes or so in the oven, though everything else is ready. I hope you like simple fair – I've made pork chops, stuffing, and a salad."
Robert's stomach growled loudly, and Sarah knew where Claire got her penchant for blushing as Robert turned bright red. "I, uh, I brought bread and cheesecake because well, I uh, well I couldn't choose between them. Claire says I shouldn't be allowed in stores by myself." Sarah laughed, "You won't catch me complaining, I love cheesecake and fresh baked bread is a perfect addition. Want to help me set the table? I almost never get the chance to actually use my dining room. When it's just me, or just John and I; we eat at the kitchen table." She reached into a cupboard and pulled out dishes. She handed them to Robert and pointed at the table in the other room. Sarah was so glad she'd cleaned up the place and the table was already cleared and wiped off.
"You were taught to be chivalrous, and somewhere along the way I learned to utilize every bit of help in my vicinity; I think that may have been somewhere in my teaching school." She grinned at Robert while she got silverware out of the drawer and folded a few paper napkins.
"You are getting around pretty good in that cast of yours, but aren't you still supposed to be on crutches? Robert asked, finding himself enjoying her company, he'd never met anyone quite like Sarah Dearing.
Sarah rolled her eyes, "theoretically I suppose, but the cast is supposed to come off tomorrow and I guess I want to get all the use I can out of it now cause I know once the cast is off I have to be bloody careful again." She handed Robert the silverware and napkins, he stared at them for a moment then turned back to the table, he guessed to continue setting it. Another first for him and when he put glasses out as well without Sarah's prompting he felt quite proud of himself. It was really very silly, but this was something servants had done his whole life.
Sarah opened the oven and Robert saw her about to bend down and grab the hot glass pan without anything to protect her hand, he jumped up and pulled her hand away without a thought. "You'll burn yourself."
She laughed and blushed, "I'm sure I'd forget my head some days if it wasn't attached. Thank you."
Robert grabbed the towels Sarah had been using and pulled the pork chops out of the oven for her, "uh what do I do with these?" Sarah told him to set the corning wear pan down on the hot pads on the table. Sarah began putting the stuffing in a bowl. Robert watched her for a minute," are you sure I can't help anymore?" Sarah thought he sounded like a little kid, so she thought about it for a minute. "Well three things need done, besides putting this bowl on the table, and they are 1. To get the salad and dressings out to the table, 2. waking the kids, or 3. cutting the bread, which job do you want?
Robert thought about it, and while waking Claire was rarely a happy time for the girl he wasn't sure he was up to seeing her in her boyfriend's arms and bed. "I'll do the salad thing, please tell me what to do with a minimum of wisecracking about my choice." He crossed his arms in front of him in a kind of defensive pose.
Sarah arched a brow at him, "There is salad on the bottom of the fridge – the bowl is covered in saran wrap which should be pulled off, there's a variety of salad dressings on in the door, and uhm, pull the crotons out and I'll put them in a bowl. By the way I wouldn't have wisecracked about your choice, in your shoes I probably wouldn't want to wake them either. That said…" she made the noise of a chicken as she hobbled out of the room.
Robert sat down and laughed till tears came to his eyes. Never in his life, again and again that statement kept coming up; he wondered if this was how Claire felt. He got the salad out and unwrapped, he looked in a bunch of cupboards before he found the crotons, but in the search he also found a bowl to put them in. Once again he felt a silly, but wonderful feeling of pride. He'd done another new thing, a behavior that his entire family, and probably most of his friends would be appalled by, and he realized people like Adam might get it. He ate a few of the crotons as he put everything out, and he sat down in the kitchen thinking.
Sarah came back followed by a sleepy looking John pretty much holding Claire upright. There was a look of pain in her eyes which she quickly covered. Robert wondered when she learned that trick. "Hi there Angel, I heard you were playing in the dirt today." He walked over to her for a hug and John gently transferred the obviously injured girl. "Are you sure you don't need me to take you to hospital sweetie?"
Claire kissed her father's cheek. "Look I am willing to see a doctor, but no more ER trips; I'll live through the night. Besides, I don't want to miss out on whatever smells so good."
Robert smiled and kissed his daughter's forehead. "I'm glad I came home early. What can I do to help you to the table?"
John piped up, "I tried to get her to let me carry her, which is probably the fastest way of getting us there, but she totally vetoed the idea and said she could walk. I'm pretty sure what's she's doing isn't walking. If you take most of her weight, which we both know is next to nothing, so shut up sweets, she can move ok."
Claire snarled a little, "I wasn't going to say anything and I can walk. See watch," she took a step away from her father's arms and moved very quickly to grab a chair so her knees didn't buckle from how much it hurt. Robert and John both rushed to her, and John backed off a little not wanting to get in Robert's way. Rob shook his head and stepped back, telling John, without words, that he could help her in. John nodded a thank you.
It was beyond fucking weird what had happened there between Claire's old man and him, but it seemed good so he wasn't gonna bitch. He wrapped his arm around Claire's shoulders, and squatted down just a little to pick her up bridal style. Claire yelped and said, "John, damnit… I could have made it in here by myself." John set her in the most comfortable chair in the room and grabbed a pillow to put behind her back. Claire sighed when he finished doting on her. John walked to his chair saying as he went, "Sure princess, you could have walked to a chair, which wouldn't have been comfortable for you. It would take you a fucking week to get there so the food would be cold, and last but not least you would have been too tired to fucking eat when you got there; so just say fucking thank you."
Claire looked properly chastised if a little offended and she quietly muttered, "thank you."
John looked her straight in the eye which always made her both nervous and excited. "Besides, I don't like seeing you in pain and I am pretty sure no one else in the house does either, so deal with it."
She wanted, for a moment, to be indignant; however, she realized there was just no point. She needed to just move on. "So how come you are home early Dad? I thought your conference lasted till Monday?"
Robert shrugged and waited for Sarah to be seated before he even considered eating. "Couple of reasons, the conference… sucked I guess is the best way to say it. Really boring actually, I was a little worried about you, and well I was a bit worried about the state your mother left the house in. As it is, well uh, if it's ok with Sarah, I brought a change of clothes with me. There is essentially rubble and broken glass all over the house; between your back and the fact that you'd be probably relegated to your bedroom, I thought I'd give you the option to stay here till I can get it all cleaned up. And I want to take you to the doctor tomorrow." He raised his hand, "no arguments please. You aren't in an ER right now because I am either stupid or generous, take your pick."
Sarah finally finished what she was doing and came to the table to sit down. "Dig in. There is no ceremony here." She set down a basket of fresh bread and some butter. John got his meal, then Claire and Robert started at sort of opposite ends of the meal she got salad, he got his meat. Then they switched, Sarah got her food as well. The meal was a marvelous experience for all involved. Everyone enjoyed Robert's dry wit, which somehow matched John's slightly filthy one. Between the two of them the ladies at the table were highly entertained and the two men had fun challenging one another in a playful verbal interchanges.
After the meal, Sarah brought out small plates and the cheese cake, as well as some coffee for everyone. Dessert was enjoyed, and John, who'd been keeping a fairly close watch on Claire said, "You ready to stretch out again with some painkillers in your system Cherry?"
She nodded, "Thank you, for letting me stay another night Dad; um, can I ask what you brought?"
Robert got up and returned with a large bag full of clothes and folders. "I didn't know what you wore over here, so I didn't know what you had, and uh, I kind of guessed at everything. Though, you'll find a new toothbrush in there as well."
Claire started to reach for the bag and at her twist gasped a bit. John walked around the table and grabbed the bag, "you can check it out in the bedroom, toots." Claire opened her mouth to snap at him but caught a look from both Sarah and her Dad. "What? I didn't say anything!"
This made them laugh, and Sarah countered, "You didn't have to you were thinking that loud. Chances are good he'll be back to help you to the bedroom as well, he doesn't deserved snapped at for helping you or taking away the temptation to hurt yourself." This caused Claire to practically harrumph, but she pouted quietly.
John came out, pulled Claire's chair away from the table and said, "Want I should help you go stretch out or were you gonna make it in there on your own?"
Claire stuck her tongue out at John which only made his smirk grow. "I'm sorry sweets, I don't read sign language. Guess I'll just sit down and have another piece of that cheese cake." He started to walk around the table when Claire all but squeaked to which he replied, "Now, now, you're teasing me by acting like klepto, use your words Claire."
She was practically bursting with indignation, but said, "John, will you please help me stretch out after I say goodbye to my Dad and goodnight to Sarah. If I am going to take another painkiller, I'm probably gonna fall asleep pretty quick." John motioned with his hands as if to say, 'have at it, I am not stopping you.'
With some apparent difficulty Claire stood up. She walked the two paces to her Dad and leaned against him; he held her close trying to hold her tight but gently. "Thank you for coming and bringing me stuff, and well for being so cool Daddy. You are the best." She hugged him as tight as she could under the circumstances.
"I know you hate being out of commission Angel, but look at it this way; if I take you to the doctor in the morning you either go to school from there, or you have a day off; in the meantime, you get to spend another glorious night at casa da Dearing. I'll be round early to pick you up, so you can probably get ready at the same time you would for school, I hope I picked out ok clothes for you sweetheart."
Claire kissed the top of her father's head and looked at John with a plea for help. Robert asked, "Is there anything I can do to help you?" John looked back over his shoulder having picked Claire up, much to her dismay, "if you have any muscle relaxers she could probably use a couple of those." As if to prove she wasn't feeling well she put her head on John's shoulder. "I'm good, but thank you for asking, I am just feeling tired. It was a nice to have dinner with you, Daddy, and thanks for letting me stay." With that John carried her into his bedroom. He figured the gods somewhere must be repaying all the shit he'd been through in one mighty sweep.
John laid Claire gently on the bed and stroked her hair. "What can I get for you? Do you need meds? Ice?"
Claire pulled John towards her, "right now all I need is you." With that she almost toppled him over as she pulled him into a kiss.
Please please review - I am going to be wrapping up the story over the next several chapters so I want to know where you see all this going...