Claire at Sixteen (4 page)

“Will you calm down?”

Bingo! Claire settled in for further revelations.

“I am calm.”

“You're as calm as a tornado.”

“I'm calmer than I was, all right?”

“All right, I grant you that,” Sam said. “At least, you've stopped breaking glasses.”

“Was I real obvious?” Evvie asked. “I couldn't help myself, I was just so shocked.”

“Thea didn't notice anything,” Sam said. “And I don't think Scotty did, either.”

“What about Claire?”

“You can never tell with Claire,” Sam replied. “She never really lets you see her.”

Claire wondered if that was a compliment in Sam's world. She hoped so.

“They can't understand what it meant,” Evvie said. “I barely understand what it means.”

“It doesn't necessarily mean anything,” Sam said. “It could be a coincidence.”

“Two Sebastian Prescotts? Forget it. And you know, there was always something familiar about Schyler. Now I know why.”

“You're really pushing it,” Sam said. “And you're wound up over nothing, even if it isn't a coincidence. What difference does it make?”

“I don't know,” Evvie said. “It startled me. Think how you'd feel if someone mentioned Linda Steinmetz casually in your presence.”

“Nobody mentions Linda Steinmetz casually,” Sam declared.

Who's Linda Steinmetz? Claire wondered. Some relative of Sam's, she assumed, but how did she figure in all this? And why wasn't Evvie being more specific about Sebastian Prescott? Did she expect Claire to do all the work?

“I guess as long as nobody knows, it doesn't matter,” Evvie said. “I wonder if Clark does. No, he couldn't. He wouldn't have been throwing Schyler at me that summer if he'd known.”

“I'd like to throw Clark at something someday,” Sam declared. “Now that we've decided nobody knows, and therefore nobody cares, how about getting a little sleep? Tomorrow's my last day before I have to head home, and I'd like you to be awake for it.”

“Oh, Sam,” Evvie said. “I'm sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” he said. “Relax. Tomorrow none of this will seem important.”

“I can't relax,” Evvie said. “I'm going to get myself a glass of wine. Would you like some?”

“No thanks,” Sam said. “Hurry back, okay? This bed is cold without you.”

“Think how it'll feel when you're gone,” Evvie said.

Claire used the romantic moment as an opportunity to slide back into the sofa bed. Thea continued to sleep, and Claire closed her own eyes, and breathed deeply. Evvie didn't even look at them, just crossed the room to the kitchen. Claire sneaked a look at her, but Evvie was no longer shaking, and the wineglass she held looked secure. Claire felt annoyed. All she'd really found out was that something indeed was wrong with Scotty's grandfather, that somehow Schyler was involved, and that nobody talked about Linda Steinmetz casually. And the Linda Steinmetz business was useless as far as she could see.

The link was the name Sebastian. It wasn't that common, either as a first name or a last. Sebastian Prescott was Scotty's mother's father, so maybe Sebastian was an old family name, too, Scotty's grandfather's mother's maiden name. That could make Nicky a distant relative of Scotty's mother. Third or fourth cousins.

Claire tried to remember what Nicky had told them about his family. Not much. It was never his favorite topic of conversation. Thea used to get the most out of him about it, but Claire hadn't paid all that much attention. The Winslows had always interested her, because the Winslows had money, but Nicky's family had been poor.

Or had they? Claire propped herself on her elbow and thought about what she knew. Nicky never really talked about his parents' background, which Claire had assumed meant they were pretty sleazy. Nicky wasn't one for downplaying a good connection. His parents met, somewhere, somehow, and his father fought in World War II and died on D-day, along with thousands of other soldiers. That was pretty much it for the Sebastian side. Nothing about aunts or uncles or grandparents. Maybe his father was an orphan. Claire's family history was littered with them, so it wouldn't surprise her to find out Nicky's father had been one, too.

But what if he hadn't been. What if he had all those aunts and uncles and cousins other people, people like Scotty, had in droves. What if somehow Nicky's father was related to Sebastian Prescott. They could have been first cousins.

Claire tried to think what good having a rich cousin on his father's side would have been for Nicky. Probably not much. And if there'd been any kind of social position in Nicky's family, he would have used it to convince Aunt Grace when he'd been courting Megs.

But the names were the same, and Evvie was upset. Evvie didn't upset easily. And it was something Clark might know about, only he didn't. Which meant there was a secret, and it was a big one, and somehow Evvie knew, and she'd told Sam, but she hadn't told Claire, or Thea, or presumably Sybil.

Claire realized that that was the most startling thing of all. It had never occurred to her that Evvie might keep things from her sisters. Thea told everything to everybody, and Sybil told Claire all the things that mattered. Claire kept things to herself, but the others accepted that. Evvie, though, Evvie had always seemed pretty straightforward. But she wasn't. She knew something about Sebastian Prescott that worried her, and she knew something about Linda Steinmetz as well.

Claire turned over with a sigh. Whatever was going on, Evvie wasn't about to tell her, and Thea obviously didn't know. Her best bet was Sam, and she'd try him in the morning.

So the next morning, when Claire heard Sam get up, she roused herself, and went into the kitchen to put on some coffee. Sam loved coffee, so that would be a good start.

“Claire,” he said. “What are you doing up?”

“I'm a light sleeper,” she replied. “I heard you, and I knew I wouldn't fall back asleep. Do you mind the company?”

“Not at all,” Sam said. “Thanks for putting up the coffee. Evvie's still out. She can sleep through anything.”

“Thea and Sybil are the same way,” Claire replied. “It comes from sharing rooms all those years.”

“You shared, too,” Sam pointed out.

“I'm different,” Claire said. “I'm like Nicky. He doesn't need much sleep, either.”

Sam nodded. “Do you want anything for breakfast?” he asked. “There's leftover garlic bread, and I think there's half a cheese Danish lying around somewhere.”

“I'll pass,” Claire said. “Why are you up so early?”

“Nerves,” he replied. “I get nervous when I know I'm going back home. I don't know why. I lived there fourteen years and I was never nervous. Actually, that isn't true. When I'd spend the summers with my other grandparents, right before I'd leave Long Island, I'd be a wreck, and then, before I'd go back home, I'd be a wreck all over again. I forget that sometimes. Things with Evvie are so easy, I tend to forget how life used to be.”

“You love her a lot,” Claire said.

“That I do,” he said. “Oh, there's the Danish. Sure you don't want it?”

“Positive,” Claire replied. “Were you worried about her last night?”

“No,” Sam said. “Should I have been?”

“The way she dropped those glasses,” Claire said. “It was unlike her. Evvie doesn't break things.”

“The way you break hearts?” Sam asked.

Claire smiled.

“What went on with you and Scotty?” Sam asked. “You were gone long enough to bake the bread from scratch.”

“I like Scotty,” Claire said. “A lot more than Thea does.” She was aware that Sam was shifting the conversation, and decided not to let him get away with it. “So Evvie's really okay?”

“Why shouldn't she be?” Sam asked.

“I heard her walking around last night,” Claire said. “I worry about her.”

Sam laughed.

“All right, I don't worry about her a lot,” Claire said. “But I do sometimes. Like when she can't sleep and she's dropping glasses. Is she all right? Should she see a doctor?”

“Evvie is fine,” Sam said.

“She isn't pregnant, is she?” Claire asked.

“No, she isn't pregnant,” Sam said. “But when we decide to have a kid, we'll be sure to tell you.”

“I'll be an aunt then,” Claire said. “Don't rush on my account.”

“It's hard to picture your family expanding,” Sam said. “Although I guess it's bound to, when Evvie and I make it official. Do you think your sisters will mind?”

“Sybil wishes she came from a bigger family,” Claire said. “At least a more varied one. Thea thinks Nicky and Megs are so perfect, she can't understand why anyone would want anything more.”

“What about you?” Sam asked. “What would you like?”

“First choice?” Claire asked. “Heir to a major throne of Europe. After that, I guess Nicky and Megs will do. Do you miss having a big family?”

“I used to wish I had a brother,” Sam said. “A big brother who'd explain things to me.”

“I bet you missed your parents,” Claire said.

“I don't remember them,” Sam replied. “Sure, I wanted parents, but it wasn't like I had a lot of memories to go on. And my grandparents saw to it that I had plenty of love.”

Now that the cheese Danish was gone, Claire regretted not having eaten it. It was hard to outsmart people on an empty stomach. She opened the refrigerator, and was relieved to see an apple. That would do just fine.

“I used to think Evvie fell in love with you because you were an orphan,” Claire said, after taking a bite. “Megs is an orphan, and so's Nicky, but they aren't that easy to come by anymore. Real, full-fledged orphans. Families nowadays are more like Kip's. You know, father gone, mother drinks, but they're both still alive. Useless but alive.”

Sam laughed. “You have such a compassionate nature,” he said.

“Thea's compassionate enough for both of us,” Claire replied. She took another bite of the apple, and wondered how hard to push. “Why did you fall in love with Evvie?”

“I don't know,” Sam said. “I guess I figured I had nothing better to do for the rest of my life.”

“I love a romantic,” Claire said. “It just seemed to me, since you didn't have much family, you might have preferred someone who came with a full set.”

“Evvie has more than enough family for the two of us,” Sam replied. “Look how many sisters I'm getting.”

“Lucky Sam,” Claire said. “Scotty has it best, I think. Parents and a brother, and cousins and aunts and uncles. Even grandparents.”

“None of whom were home for Christmas,” Sam pointed out.

“He has Clark,” Claire replied. “Clark's his cousin, sort of. So Scotty had family for Christmas.”

“You make a good coffee,” Sam said. “Did Meg teach you?”

“I guess,” Claire replied. “I've learned lots of things without anybody really teaching me. I pick things up.”

“I wish Meg had taught Evvie how to cook,” Sam said. “Or sew, or iron. Evvie vacuums well, but that's about it.”

“That's more than I'll do,” Claire said. “If Evvie isn't pregnant, what was she so upset about last night?”

Sam nearly choked on his coffee. “You don't give up easily, do you?” he sputtered.

Claire looked straight at him. “Not when it concerns my family,” she declared.

“If Evvie was upset about anything it was me,” Sam said. “She's very sensitive to my moods.”

“It was more than that,” Claire said. “Sam, I see things. I saw how Evvie reacted when Scotty got that phone call. At first I thought she was worried Scotty might have a new girlfriend, that he was going to dump Thea, but I don't think that's it.”

“If you were worried about that, you wouldn't be chasing after him yourself,” Sam said.

“I'm not chasing after Scotty,” Claire said.

“Claire,” Sam said.

“All right, what if I am?” Claire said. “I feel sorry for him. He's spent two years pining over Thea, which is the most ridiculous waste of time I can imagine. And we're not going to change the subject. Evvie's upset about something, and it started last night when Scotty got that phone call. It's something about Scotty's grandfather, isn't it. Sebastian Prescott.”

“I'm surprised you even remember his name,” Sam said.

“It's not the kind of name I'd forget,” Claire said. “Who's Sebastian Prescott, Sam? What does he have to do with Evvie?”

Sam looked Claire straight in the eye. “I have no idea,” he said.

“You're a liar, Sam Steinmetz,” Claire said. “And a good one, too.”

Sam laughed.

“I never would have suspected,” Claire said. “Does Evvie know you lie?”

“She knows,” Sam said.

“That's amazing,” Claire said. “What do you lie about?”

“Everything,” Sam declared.

“That's probably a lie, too,” Claire said. “I like your style, Sam. You come off so clean-cut and wholesome, and underneath it you're completely dishonest. You sure Evvie knows?”

“I'm sure,” Sam said. “How is it you can spot a lie so easily?”

“I lie constantly,” Claire said. “But you know that. That's why it's so hard to get any straight information out of you. Because you really are like me. That's amazing.”

“I don't like lying,” Sam said. “And I have a feeling you do.”

“Of course I do,” Claire replied. “One good lie is worth three boring truths. You mean, you lie because you have to?”

“For the most part,” Sam said. “And from force of habit.”

“Why did you lie about Sebastian Prescott, then?” Claire asked. “Because you had to, or from force of habit?”