The Appointment Claire Missed
Chapter 05 - The Appointment Claire Missed
That evening Luke drove Claire to the motel near Fort Campbell.
He did not ask his mother to leave the cabin. He simply decided Claire would not spend another night there until they understood how far the deception had gone.
In the truck, Claire rested both hands on her belly.
The baby shifted beneath her sweater.
Luke watched the movement at a red light and felt joy and guilt collide inside him.
“Can I?”
Claire nodded.
He placed his palm against the side of her belly.
A small kick answered him.
Luke laughed softly.
Then Claire began to cry again.
“What?”
“I had an appointment last month,” she said.
His smile disappeared.
“What kind of appointment?”
“The specialist in Nashville.”
Luke knew about it. An ultrasound had shown the baby was smaller than expected. The doctor wanted additional monitoring.
“You told me it went fine.”
“I didn’t go.”
“Why?”
“Your mom canceled it.”
Luke gripped the steering wheel.
“She said the insurance had changed and we couldn’t afford the specialist. She said you told her we needed to stop spending money until you got home.”
Luke pulled into an empty parking lot.
“I would never say that.”
“I know.”
“Did you reschedule?”
“Tomorrow morning. I called today after I found your letters.”
Luke breathed slowly.
The anger was becoming too large to hold, but Claire needed calm, not another person exploding around her.
“We’re going,” he said. “And after that, we’re talking to an attorney.”
Claire looked out the window.
“I don’t want your mother to go to prison because of me.”
“This is not because of you.”
“I know. I just don’t want our daughter’s first story to be about a family destroying itself.”
Luke reached across the console and took her hand.
“Then we won’t destroy it.”
Claire looked at him.
“We’ll tell the truth about it.”
For the first time since he stepped through the cabin door, Luke knew what he had to do.
May you like
Not choose between his mother and his wife.
Choose between secrecy and truth.
