Claire Voyant Read Online Free PDF Page B

can’t believe Aunt Charlotte invited him to the party.” Drew looked upward, as if he might catch a glimpse of the gate for departing souls.
    â€œShe’s unbelievable.” Ben shook his head. “We begged her not to, didn’t we? We said please don’t send Pops the invitation because you know him. He’ll come.”
    â€œHe never missed an occasion,” Drew sniffed. “Did he tell you why he was in New York?”
    Shouldn’t that be something I knew? If only I’d asked, “So what brings you to New York?”
    â€œHis great-granddaughter’s first birthday,” Drew continued. “We said, Pops, it’s not necessary. It’s just a little party in Aunt Charlotte’s backyard. If only it had been any other weekend, I could have gone with him.”
    â€œDrew’s fiancée had her bridal shower yesterday,” Ben explained.
    Damn! He was engaged. Was my timing in life always going to be this bad?
    â€œDid he…happen to say anything about our family?” Drew hesitated.
    â€œYes. He seemed so proud of all of you.” What was a little white lie if it eased their pain?
    Ben closed his eyes. “He did love all of us, especially this guy.” He punched Drew’s arm. “Mr. Lacrosse Star. Mr. First in His Class at Podiatry School.”
    Bummer. Not a real doctor. But who was I to be a snob? I didn’t even have a job, let alone one that people viewed as second-rate. Even my brother, Adam, was more gainfully employed than me. Then, as if on cue, my cell phone rang, and it was the prodigal brother himself.
    â€œThanks for blocking me in with your car, moron. Where the hell are your keys?”
    â€œExcuse me.” I signaled to Ben and Drew that it was an important call. Ha! “Check the rack by the TV in the kitchen,” I whispered. “That’s where I always hang them.”
    â€œWell, guess again, genius! They’re not there, and I gotta be at work in twenty minutes. Where else should I look?”
    â€œI have no idea. Maybe Lindsey or Mommy took them, but they’re not on me.” I hope . Oh no. What if they were still in my pocketbook? I’d been so busy running around packing last night, and the cab came so early this morning, maybe I’d had a brain freeze and forgotten to leave them.
    â€œI already asked, and they haven’t seen them. Just tell me where the spare is.”
    â€œThe spare?” I gulped. You mean the key I lost ages ago, and never got around to copying?
    â€œYou freakin’ idiot. You don’t have another key?”
    â€œIt was on my to-do list.”
    â€œYeah, well, add hiring a bodyguard to that list. How the hell am I supposed to get around?”
    â€œI don’t know. Call AAA. Don’t they open cars all the time?”
    â€œGee. Why didn’t I think of that? I’ll get in your car and be able to drive NOWHERE!”
    â€œI’m really sorry, Adam. Maybe call Honda….”
    Then it was like, boom, another vision. I was picturing the wind-breaker I’d worn yesterday, and if there was a God, maybe I’d left the keys in a pocket. I wasn’t sure what made me think of it, but Adam checked, and amazingly, there they were.
    â€œThanks for the heart attack,” he grumbled.
    â€œFunny you should mention that,” I sighed. “Believe it or not, the man next to me on my flight just dropped dead from one, and I got off in Jacksonville to be with the family.”
    â€œGross! You had to sit next to a dead guy? I woulda made them stick him in an overhead bin or something.”
    â€œWhich is why it’s looking doubtful kids will ever get a day off of school in your honor. Anyway, sorry about the scare.”
    â€œWhatever.”
    â€œMy kid brother.” I pointed to the phone when I returned. “He called to express his condolences.”
    â€œWe’ve been rude, Claire,” Ben sighed. “We