Photographs of Claudia

by KG MacGregor

  other, and that we’re both committed to be there for a child.” If

  this turned on gay versus straight, she couldn’t compete. “You

  saw it for yourself with Zack. He loves his mother and Sharon

  too, and he’s turned into a great kid.”

  “But he deserves to be with his father too.”

  “He is. Lydia and Zack’s dad share custody and everybody

  makes it work. This is one of those times I was trying to tell you

  about. If the adults aren’t happy the kids won’t be either.” From

  Claudia’s hopeful look, her arguments were gaining at least a hint

  of traction. “I love you. You’re the most important thing in the

  world to me, and now this baby is too. I promise you we’ll have

  a fantastic life.”

  “What are we going to live on? You said you didn’t have

  money for extras right now. No one’s going to hire me like this,

  and certainly not next fall when I have a newborn baby and no

  husband.”

  “We’ll make it. My house is paid for and business is good. I

  can put off the workshop for a couple of years until—”

  “No, that’s your dream.”

  “You’re my dream. Don’t you understand that?”

  0

  All the fight and frustration left Claudia’s face in that instant,

  replaced by the first smile Leo had seen today. “Do you have

  any idea what you’re getting yourself into with all these crazy

  promises?”

  “Yes, I do.” Oblivious to anyone who might see them, she

  lowered her lips for a kiss. “All you have to do is love me like I

  love you.”

  “Oh, Leo. I already do.” She held Leo’s face in her hands.

  “You’re my dream too.”

  “This is going to be a lucky baby.” She folded Claudia into

  her arms, where they swayed gently for several minutes sealing

  their pledge.

  “I have to go break the news to my parents.”

  “I’ll go with you.”

  “No, I can’t tell them about you yet. They’ll just make it that

  much harder for me to leave. You have to give me a little time.”

  “I’ll give you the whole world.”

  Mike was going to be hurt, and probably furious, Claudia

  acknowledged as she neared her parents’ home. When she had

  called him the day before with the news, he accepted responsibility

  without even a hint of protest, ready to do the right thing. In his

  mind that meant getting married right away, and it went hand-

  in-hand with her moving to Taiwan so they could be a family.

  It was fate, he said, as he professed his love and even vowed to

  support whatever career she wanted when they returned to the

  States. She reminded him of their talk a month ago when she

  explained that her feelings for him had changed. He countered

  that they could change again, especially with a child to bring them

  closer. Through it all, he kept up his calm, caring tone, never

  once invoking the types of demands or threats he sometimes

  made to get others to bend to his will. In the end, though clearly

  discouraged by her reluctance, he promised not only to help her

  financially, but to charm her until she changed her mind, even

  from halfway around the world. She had to admit it was one of

  the sweetest moments of their two years together.

  Still, it didn’t diminish her feelings for Leo or her certainty

  that she wasn’t the straight woman Mike had fallen in love with.

  Moving to Monterey—and out from under the microscope of

  her parents and the Pettigrews—was her chance for a clean break

  between the old Claudia and the new. Best of all, she would go to

  sleep every night in the arms of someone who not only loved her,

  but believed in her dreams.

  Her stomach knotted at the sight of the luxury sedan and its

  chauffer in her parents’ driveway. No doubt Mike had called his

  mother, despite her plea that he wait a couple of days until she’d

  had the chance to break the news to her parents on her own

  terms. At least it was out in the open now, and this would spare

  her the intimidating visit alone to Marjorie’s house to return the

  ring. The two-hour drive from Big Sur had been exactly what she

  needed to set her resolve, and she ran through it once more in

  her head to fortify her steps to the door. Since talking with Leo

  and reaffirming their love, there was nothing less that could make

  her happy. Once her family got to know Leo, she would come

  clean about their relationship. Sure, life in Monterey would be

  a struggle financially at first, but she could probably count on a

  little extra from her father, and would accept Mike’s offer of help,

  at least for medical expenses and child support. He was just as

  responsible for this as she was, and she wanted him to be a strong

  presence in their child’s life.

  With a deep breath to steady her nerves, she entered the

  foyer, immediately spotting Marjorie Pettigrew on the sofa in

  the formal living room. She was dressed in a gray tweed skirt

  and black velour jacket, a teacup and saucer poised daintily on

  her knee.

  “Where have you been, darling?” her mother asked.

  Claudia shook off the endearment, which she heard only in

  the presence of her mother’s social friends. “I drove up the coast

  to talk to someone.”

  Her father came to the doorway and put his hand gently on

  her shoulder. “Marjorie tells us you and Mike have news.”

  She met his eye with trepidation and nodded slightly. “It’s

  true.”

  Relief filled her as he broke into a genuine smile. “So when

  do I get started on this grandfather business?”

  “The doctor says the third week in August.”

  “So you’ve already been to the doctor. That’s good.” He

  hugged her tentatively as if she were fragile.

  She looked over his shoulder at her mother, who was clearly

  torn between excitement and foreboding. “Oh, Claudia, why

  didn’t you tell us?”

  Marjorie cleared her throat, set her cup and saucer on the

  coffee table, and pushed herself clumsily to her feet. “I think the

  more interesting question is whom did she have to see before

  even talking to her parents. I’m beginning to suspect my son

  might not be this baby’s father.”

  “That’s absurd,” Claudia said, pulling abruptly from her

  father’s embrace. “Of course Mike’s the father. He doesn’t doubt

  that so why should you?”

  “Because he doesn’t know you ran off all day to see someone

  else.”“He knows I don’t want to get married,” she stated forcefully.

  “I’ve decided to move back to Monterey and live with a friend

  until the baby comes. When the time is right, I’ll find a teaching

  job there.” She turned toward her mother. “It’ll be better if I’m

  not here. I don’t want this to be a problem for you.”

  “No, Claudia,” her father said. “You belong with your family.

  You’ll need someone with you.”

  “I’ll have someone, Dad. My friends will help.” She pleaded

  with her eyes for his support, which he acknowledged w
ith an

  almost imperceptible nod.

  “Surely you don’t think you’re going to run off with my

  grandchild,” Marjorie huffed. “If this baby belongs to my son,

  then it also belongs under his roof.”

  “With all due respect, that isn’t your call,” Claudia said. “Mike

  and I have already talked this over and he understands how I feel.

  I have no intention of cutting him out of this baby’s life.”

  “Don’t assume to know anything about what Mike

  understands. He is on his way here as we speak. You will get

  married and return with him to Taiwan while he finishes this

  project.”

  Claudia’s father drew himself into a defiant pose. “You don’t

  have the right to dictate our daughter’s life, Marjorie. There isn’t

  going to be a shotgun wedding.”

  “Suit yourself, but know this.” Marjorie stepped boldly into

  his personal space. “I will hire the very best attorneys money can

  buy to raise that child as a Pettigrew, and you can forget that

  cute little grandpa fantasy. When they’re finished dragging your

  daughter’s name through the dirt, she’ll be lucky if she ever sees

  this baby again.” She cast a menacing look at Claudia. “And that

  goes for anyone else who’s involved in this, so be sure you tell

  that to all of your little friends in Monterey.”

  Stunned by the viciousness of Marjorie’s threats, Claudia

  stood speechless as the woman whisked through the door to her

  waiting car.

  “I’m sure this will all work out,” her mother called after her

  in a cheerful tone that seemed to Claudia almost surreal.

  She charged up the stairs to her room with her father in

  pursuit.

  “Claudia, wait. Talk to me.” He caught her door as it started

  to close and followed her inside. “Sweetheart, you’re having a

  baby. No matter what else is going on, this is a time to be happy

  about that.”

  “How can I be happy, Dad? Marjorie Pettigrew’s controlling

  my life and threatening my friends.” She slumped onto her bed

  and buried her face in her hands as tears filled her eyes.

  “We won’t let her do that. She’s not the only one who can

  hire attorneys. We’ll sell the house if we have to, but you have

  to tell me what’s going on. What’s all of this business about you

  moving back to Monterey?”

  Though she wasn’t yet ready to share the news of Leo,

  secrets weren’t an option with so much at stake. “I’m in love with

  someone else,” she whispered.

  Her father’s face fell in unmistakable disappointment. “Does

  that mean…” He gestured toward her stomach.

  “No, this is Mike’s baby.” She crossed the room to close the

  door, since her mother had left little doubt about her loyalties.

  Then with all the courage she could muster, she met her father’s

  eye. “It’s a woman.”

  “I don’t understand. You aren’t…”

  “It doesn’t matter now, Dad. I won’t go back to Monterey

  and let Marjorie Pettigrew ruin her life. And she isn’t going to

  take my baby.”

  Chapter 27

  Present Day

  Claudia pasted a smile on her face and took the offered hand

  of Todd’s uncle Richard. This was her ninth dance in a row, and

  by her count she had at least four to go. Her feet felt like bloody

  stumps, swollen and blistered from over five hours in high heels.

  She should never have allowed her daughter to marry into a

  family with so many men.

  All around her, excited wedding guests celebrated with drink,

  feast and dance. As much as she detested her mother-in-law, she

  had to admit Large Marge threw a helluva party. Even Big Jim,

  now eighty-nine years old and confined to a wheelchair, seemed

  to dance with his eyes, the only expression he had shown since

  his last stroke four years ago.

  Mike would have been pleased…but who knew if he would

  have been able to squeeze it in. Social engagements were never

  high on his priority list.

  “Todd’s a very lucky man,” Richard said as he struggled with

  the swing beat.

  “I think we’re all pretty lucky tonight. There’s just something

  about young love that brings out our fun side, don’t you think?”

  He twirled her awkwardly under his arm so that she now

  faced the stage, where Todd and Eva slow-danced with their

  foreheads pressed together, oblivious to the band’s upbeat tempo.

  The ceremony by the sea had been visually stunning, perfectly

  scripted—except for Eva’s spontaneous decision to have her

  mother join in the traditional walk to the altar—and mercifully

  brief. The pomp was a striking contrast to the simplicity of the

  civil ceremony at City Hall on Wednesday. Today’s event had

  only been for show—Marjorie’s show.

  “I sure hope Corinne doesn’t get any ideas from this,” Richard

  said, nodding in the direction of his teenage daughter. She and

  her boyfriend had been joined at the hip all day.

  “You should have said something earlier. We could have

  made this a two-fer.”

  “Wish I had known. That’s an event I’d like to be looking at

  in the rearview mirror.”

  She joined their hands, palms pressed together, and swung

  her hips close. “Don’t go wishing this time away, Richard. It

  passes before you know it and you’re going to miss her like crazy

  when she’s gone.”

  The music switched abruptly and so did her dance partner.

  Todd’s grandfather, a charming gentleman who was also an

  incorrigible flirt, had promised all day to literally sweep her off

  her feet. To her chagrin, he made good on his word, lifting her in

  a dramatic spin that severely tested her tired bones.

  “Stop showing off, Karl,” she admonished firmly. “This isn’t

  a polka.”

  He laughed heartily, his eyes twinkling from behind his wire-

  rimmed spectacles. “I’m just warming up for Marjorie Pettigrew.

  Think I can get her to do the Dirty Dog?”

  The image of her mother-in-law grunting on the dance

  floor in front of all her friends was both hilarious and disturbing.

  “If you do, be sure you get my attention so I can alert the

  photographer.”

  Leo .

  Claudia had been in knots since learning from her daughter

  about the last-minute switch. If she hadn’t known better, she

  would have sworn Maria had broken her leg on purpose just to

  orchestrate the reunion. It shocked her that Leo had accepted

  the job. They hadn’t even spoken to each other since before Eva

  was born.

  Not that Claudia minded how it came to be that Leo was here.

  Any excuse to see her again would do as far as she was concerned,

  though having it happen in the midst of her daughter’s wedding

  wasn’t exactly the opportunity she had dreamed of for more years

  than she could count. Seeing Leo in her element behind the lens

  stirred memories and feelings that seemed a hundred years old

  and stronger than ever.

  Leo had changed little since t
heir days together, though

  her black hair was now streaked with gray. It still fell the same

  way across her brow, framing those unforgettable green eyes.

  Everything else—from her introverted demeanor to her slow

  exhale as she captured a stream of photos—was just as Claudia

  had remembered. That slow exhale jogged another memory, one

  that made her smile.

  “…but I think I’d have more fun dancing with Big Jim.”

  “Excuse me?” She hadn’t realized Karl had been talking to

  her.“I said Eva’s Aunt Deborah looks like she gargles with quinine.

  I think I’d have more fun dancing with Big Jim.”

  Claudia had grown so accustomed to her sister-in-law’s sour

  disposition that she hardly noticed it anymore. At least she no

  longer had to put up with Hardin, her overbearing brother-in-

  law, who had been kicked to the curb five years ago after an affair

  with Marjorie’s housekeeper.

  The music stopped and she spun to snatch a flute of

  champagne from the tray of a passing waiter, hoping it would

  ward off the next invitation to dance. If she didn’t sit soon, she

  would fall flat on her face. As she raised the glass to her lips, her

  eyes landed on a familiar sight across the room—Leo zooming in

  on her from behind a tripod—and she felt a surge of warmth and

  longing. She tipped her drink in a silent toast and smiled directly

  into the camera.

  Leo followed through her lens as Claudia took a sip of

  champagne and discreetly ducked out of the ballroom. All night

  she had been at the center of the celebration, making introductions

  between the two families and dancing gamely with everyone who

  approached her. She was overdue a few moments of escape.

  There was no denying that all two hundred guests—with

  the possible exception of the dour, skeletal woman who turned

  out to be Claudia’s sister-in-law—were having the time of their

  lives. Two bands, a comedian and the most lavish buffet she had

  ever seen guaranteed it. The price tag for an event like this was

  well into the six figures, but that was mere pocket change to

  the Pettigrews. According to the newspaper, their development

  corporation had sold in 2001 for three hundred million dollars.

  It was gut-wrenching to be physically close to Claudia yet

  on the periphery, and it pierced her heart to realize that so