Page 61 of Not Mine To Love

“Google. Can you find her?” she said, sitting down and gripping her purse tightly. I could tell that she had been crying. Her eyes were puffy and red.

“Ana’s missing?”

“Yes, child. Isn’t that what I just said?”

I sat heavily and said exactly what I was thinking, “She’s probably not missing. She’s just avoiding you. Maybe she’s tired of dealing with your craziness. I know I would be.”

“My craziness?”

“Craziness. Insanity. Whatever you want to call it.” I didn’t censor myself. I was so over Claire and her nonsense. “Anyway, get out of my house. You’re not welcome here.”

“But I need your help.”

“Don’t care.”

“But Ana needs you.”

“I’m sure Ana is fine. The only thing she needs is for you to leave her alone. Leave her alone. Leave me alone. Get out.”

“You don’t have to be so rude.”

“Claire, your entire existence is rude to the universe. Get out.”

She looked ready to fight, but then her shoulders slumped and she started to cry. I didn’t move to comfort her, but I did hand her a few tissues. As far as I was concerned, she was responsible for my unhappiness.

“I’m not a terrible person. I swear,” she choked out, and I made a non-committal sound.

“I just want what’s best for her.”

“Yeah, really? Trying to sabotage your daughter’s happiness doesn’t sound like wanting the best for her.”

“The whole engagement was a sham anyway.”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine, keep making excuses for your behavior, and I’ll keep eating chips. Get out.”

“Do you know where she could be?”

“She’s your daughter.”

“She doesn’t want to talk to me.”

“The only person who might know where she is, is Julius. So go cry on his couch.”

“He won’t speak to me.”

“Well, can you blame him?”

“I really messed things up.”

“Yeah, trying to ruin your daughter’s life doesn’t exactly make you mother of the year.” I felt like I was channeling Dana. That was totally something she would say.

“Why are you being so mean?”

“Mean?! You’re the definition of mean.”

“Do you think that’s why Ana won’t speak to me?”

“Yes! That’s exactly why!” Was Claire really that dense when it came to human emotions? Apparently so.