“I’ve heard a lot about you.”
The tense atmosphere in the room is suddenly lightened by their conversation.
“You have?” Mere does a double take.
Gram nods. “My Cookie is quite smitten with you…and your dad.”
“And we are smitten by Clem. Aren’t we, Dad?”
Keith peers at me before giving Mere a gentle nod.
That small gesture skyrockets my heartbeat.
22
KEITH
We are back at my house, packing our stuff to take with us to the apartment.
I lift a photograph of Melanie from one of several photoshoots she did during her pregnancy. Today, when I glance at her, she doesn’t look back at me with the same intensity. There is no life coursing through her picture, unlike all other times.
I’m arguing with myself whether to take it or not when I hear Mere’s voice. Grabbing my packed bags, I leave the room after placing the picture back on my night table at the last moment.
Carter is sitting with Mere on the couch, while Lukas stands guard at the door and Gavin is in the pickup truck.
I’m beyond fucking grateful for these friends and their support today.
“Clem’s not packed yet?” I look around and see Mere’s three bags on the living room floor, but no sign of Clementine.
My daughter shakes her head, gently scratching the kitten resting on her lap, her face ashen as she glances around the house.
Yesterday’s event has shaken her pretty bad. She wouldn’t even enter the house. I had to hold her hand and walk her inside. Only when Carter promised he’d be with her the entire time while she packed, did she let go of my hand.
If it was not for the kitten left alone here last night, I’m sure Mere wouldn’t have even come to get her stuff.
I don’t know how Clementine’s handling it. I climb up the stairs and knock. When she doesn’t open, I turn the knob and walk in, but the room’s empty.
My brain goes on alert. I race to the open balcony door and find her sitting on the small ottoman, hiding in the corner.
“Clementine,” I whisper.
She quickly wipes her face with the back of her hand and gets up.
When she walks past me, I grab her hand. Her sad face cracking my depressed heart a bit more. “Clem. What happened yesterday…is not easy. You take all the time you need to feel all right, okay?”
I let her go when she nods, but I don’t think she heard any of my words.
I stay in the room while she mechanically draws out a simple duffel bag and starts packing a handful of clothes.
“I’m ready.” She zips the gray bag.
Her uncharacteristic tepid behavior irks me. Even when I lost my shit around her, there was always a spark in her eyes, which is absent today.
I grab the duffel from her hand and place it on the floor. Next, I open her cupboard and take out her hot-pink bag before throwing her numerous shoes into it.
“Keith, what are you doing?” she asks in a high-pitched voice.
“You wear a new pair every day, no?” I turn toward her and cock my head to the side.