Calmly, Claire began climbing the stairs. She had a lot of thoughts crossing her mind especially as she pondered why the man wanted to see her all of the sudden. Several times she had hoped he would come knock on her door and say hello to her. He behaved like they were absolute strangers and now, he was demanding to see her. Claire got up and became confused. She had not really taken a tour of the house since she came in and had no idea which was his study. She seriously would hate stumbling into any of her step siblings room. Claire thought about going back to Martha when a door opened. Possibly it might be her father but then, she was disappointed when a young man she had never seen in the house before stepped out. He saw Claire and gave her a weird smile that said hello hottie. Andrew came out after him after putting off the music in the room. He began walking towards her and saw her.
“Woah, Claire. Dad’s been looking everywhere for you,” he said trying to make her afraid
“Dad?,” his friend asked
“Oh yeah Jasper, meet Claire my stepsister,” he introduced the young man
“Oh my. You never mentioned she was this gorgeous though,” Jasper said and waved hello.
Claire nodded.
“Jasper’s got a thing for blondes especially smallish ones.” Andrew said.
Claire nodded and asked him where the study was. He thought for a little bit and then asked his friend to wait for him outside. As she followed him to the place, Claire could not help but wonder just what things Andrew had been telling his friends about her. She wondered if he said she was a blonde or added that she was a dumb one as well. By every ramifications, she was older than both of them at least by two years but neither seemed to care. Jasper looked older than Andrew who was twenty. Andrew led her to the room entrance and asked her to knock before entering as that was their father’s basic rule. Claire thanked him and he told her to try not to get fried. Claire flashed him a smile. At least unlike Deanna, Andrew was nicer. Claire stood in front of the door trying hard to catch her breath as she braced herself for what was coming. She inhaled and exhaled before knocking on the door.
She heard her father’s voice asking her to come inside. Claire sighed and pushed the door open.
“Shut the door behind you,” he said without lifting his head from whatever it was he was writing.
Claire took liberty after closing the door and waiting for him to finish to look around the room. There were there shelves on the remaining three walls of the room filled with both books and journals. On his desk was scattered books of all types and he seemed really busy to even look at her. Claire observed her father, he seemed different and had cut his hair unlike she remembered him. He now sported a low cut that had white hairs on it. Claire’s father must have aged a millennium in a couple of years. The hairs on his arms which she could see had white mixed with them. He was there bent over ready through and writing with his glasses on.
Earlier, Claire wanted to get angry with him for being the kind of person he was to her since she arrived. But looking at him now, her mind was clouded with sympathy as tears threatened to spill out. Ten long years was ample enough to draw out emotions. She stood still waiting patiently.
” Won’t you sit?,” he asked her without looking up
“No, I prefer to stand.” Claire said.
Alright, that did get his attention. He sat up and took off his glasses. Claire noticed the wrinkles at the corner of his eyes. He must have been stressing a lot. He observed her for a while and muttered under his breath that she was grown. Claire was flustered but pretended not to hear. She told him that she had come after Martha told her he wanted to see her.
“Ah yes. Where went you all along?,” he demanded.
Claire told him she did not understand and he said she had them all worried. Claire told him she went to seek out a job. Mr Willows could not believe his ears and asked her what she needed a job for. Claire sighed and decided not to answer. He asked her why she had stayed out that long if she had gone to look for a job. Claire told him she found one and started working immediately. He scoffed and then saw she was serious. He felt disappointed and asked why she had not informed him that she needed a job.
Alright, that last bit got Claire really good.
She asked him what she thought her to be, probably some supernatural being that knows when a person wants to see her. She had been there for days and he never had asked of her or seen her. If he had not wanted her, he should have made it really clear than playing the games he was playing with her. The anger coursing through her veins mixed with the pain in her heart which brought tears out of her eyes. That was Claire whenever she was super angry and hurt. She normally feels torn in a thousand pieces and shows it all off through her tears.
Mr Willows obviously was beaten down. He sat there watching his daughter. The truth was not that he hated Claire but he was not sure what explanation to give his daughter whom he had ghosted for ten whole years because he had gotten his mistress pregnant and eventually had to marry her. Lucille had been the reason for his family breaking in pieces after Jane had seen that message on his phone. Jane went haywire and started a relationship with her co worker, Tom. That was when the last straw broke the camel’s back and she caught him smoking in the house. Jane who was asthmatic had a seizure somehow and she broke up with him. He wondered how he would explain to Claire all the times he wanted to call her and when Jane threatened to get a restraining order against him. It was only then he decided to embrace fate and let go of her. If only he knew that fate would bring her back to him and this way too. He could not bad mouth his ex wife. It was all his fault. Willows sought something to cool off the heat.
“I hear you don’t have a phone,” he said to her
“Are we done here?,” Claire asked him.
He could see he had awoken the dragon in her. She was just like her mother when she was angry. Jane would never let herself be distracted. It was only sad she did not have her mother’s genius brain.
“I got you one,” he said and drew out his drawer.
“I don’t need it,” Claire said and walked away.
Willows watched her leave and sighed. He knew what to do to pacify and hoped it still works as he remembers from ten years ago.