Thanks to devinee for giving me an idea for this chapter.
Claire was walking through the streets of the town. She was just so mad at her father she had to get out of the house. She didn't want to go to her boyfriend's house because she knew her parents would be able to find her there. So she was hoping she could stay at a friend's house. While she was walking around she heard someone trying to get her attention. "Excuse me aren't you Bo Duke's daughter?"
Claire turned around, "Yea I am. I'm Claire."
"Hi, I'm Janine."
Claire looked at her, "I remember you. You and my father had a thing going on didn't you? I remember you coming to the house every once in awhile."
"Yeah that was me. So what brings you out this time in the morning? Problems at home?"
"Well yea you could say that."
"Let me guess is it your mother?"
Claire shook her head, "Not at all. It's my father. He's finally admitted that he never did want me in the first place."
"Trust me I know how your father can be. But you know even though this all happened in NY, we all knew the news here. I guess once he told his cousin and uncle the news well you know how it is here in Hazzard, news spread around quickly."
Claire looked like she was about to cry, "I just don't know why he didn't just leave my mother alone then. If he didn't want me, he didn't need to be around."
Janine thought this was great; she could use Claire and the way she was feeling now, to try and get Bo back. "Claire, do you need a place to stay?"
Claire nodded and Janine smiled, "Well I have an extra room at my place you can stay there."
Meanwhile at Bo and Christine's…..
They told the other kids in the best way possible what had happened. They told the kids due to the problem they didn't have to go to school if they didn't want to. Jesse said that if he didn't go to school he would be worried all day and plus he promised that he would let all his and Claire's friends know what had happened. The younger kids did want to go to school and Bo and Christine thought that would be fine because if anything they would just pick the kids up.
Christine went to the bedroom and saw Bo sitting on the bed looking through old photo albums. "When did it all go wrong?" he asked not looking up at Christine.
She sat down next to him, "Bo it never was 100 perfect in the first place."
He looked at her, "What do you mean?"
"I mean us Bo. We were never the perfect couple. Many people believe that we were, but we both know we weren't. I mean..." Christine couldn't go on. She was speaking the truth but no matter what it was still painful, even after all these years. She took Bo's hand, "Bo you are a great father, don't think differently."
"But not a great husband right?" he said.
"Bo that's not what I meant. I think you're a terrific husband. Sure we had our problems, but did we not overcome all of them. This is just another one of those problems we need to figure out."
At Janine's
"Thanks for letting me stay here Janine. I just can't go home right now. I can't face my father."
"It's no problem Claire. You can stay however long you want."
"So you were saying that you knew how my father felt about me?"
"Oh yes. I mean it was all over. You know your father was with me before he met your mother. And when news came to Hazzard that Bo Duke was living in NY and was going to be a father, no one could believe it. Then he would call up his uncle and cousin and well you know how long secrets stay here."
"It's just that…I remember my parents always fighting when I was little. Couple of times I would hear my dad blame my mother saying he didn't want to be a father. What I don't understand though is that he didn't have to be my father. My mother told me that my Uncle Luke was even willing to raise me with her."
"That's right your Uncle Luke has always loved you like you were his own daughter. And you know what he still loves your mother."
"How do you know?" Claire asked.
"Well it is obvious….but one of those times when your father was in the hospital, I saw the two of them getting quite cozy with each other."
"My mom said she doesn't love him anymore."
"Or maybe that's just what she wants to believe. What would you like to see happen Claire?"
"My mom to be happy. And to have a father who loves me. What are you getting at?"
Janine thought to herself, "She's willing to believe anything I tell her. I think I can make her even madder at her father."
"Well you see your father still hasn't been faithful to your mother." Janine said thinking that this was a great like to tell Claire cause she'd believe it.
"But he said he never would cheat on her again."
"Yea and he also told me we were going to get married. Claire your father is still sleeping with me." Janine lied.