11. Claudia
“Hello Blessings Motors, Claudia speaking”
“Don’t you have to sell cars to call your business Blessings Motors?” My elder sister replied into my earpiece.
“We sell petrol and work on motors, smarty pants,” I rebuffed, “What do you want Elle Naomi, I’m busy.” I wasn’t but Elle didn’t know that. My nails looked bloody good though from the manicure I had given myself for the last half hour.
“Did Gisele tell you that she and Jamison have the hots for each other?” My sister asked, taking my attention away from the French tips.
“Nooooo, she did not,” I squealed, “tell me everything.”
“Well, he came for dinner as you know, brought daddy a bottle of Dimples by the way, huge brownie points.”
“Massive,” I agreed impressed. “Did dad give him a hard time for arresting him?”
“Surprisingly no, I think dad likes him,” Elle hummed like she couldn’t believe what she was saying. I know I was having trouble.
“Jock? Jock Blessing liking a copper? Say it isn’t so,” I joked but not joking.
“I know right,” Elle agreed, “he even offered Jamison help with the layout of Blessings if needed. Which didn’t impress mum, or me and Gisele.”
“I understand that, only dad knows how many shafts are out there. Not all of them on the maps.”
“Exactly. Then the HC, as Gisele calls him, they made goo-goo eyes at each other, it was precious to see.”
“Did Gisele make a fool of herself? And what is HC?
“Hot Cop and yes a few times,” Elle snickered, “went red as a beetroot when mum told Jamison she was available.”
“Damn, wish I had been there to see that.”
“Don’t panic chickee, I’m sure there will be plenty more opportunities. HC stayed at Crawley’s B and B last night, he has a room booked at the pub once the pipe issues are fixed.”
Even though Elle couldn’t see me, I nodded anyway. “Yeah, that’s where Josh and his dad are at now.”
“Okay chickee, I must get going. I’ve got Miracle after school to dinner time.”
“Righto chickee, big kisses for Miracle,” I said before hanging up. Elle knew what I meant by saying that. Checking the case load for the day and deciding the mechanic on staff could deal with the work himself, I quickly transferred the work phone to my mobile, then got up from my desk, and stretched out my sore muscles.
Josh had not been kidding about starting to try for a baby. We had to get creative with Miracle is the next room, but we made it happen without feeling too weird with our niece in the same house. I talked Gisele into letting Mircle stay the whole night. Despite wanting her daughter close after the day’s excitement with the arrival of Detective HC and Liam’s bullshit, she knew if Liam knew Miracle was with Josh and I, he wouldn’t bother annoying Gisele. Liam liked to torment Gisele, but he needed an audience to make it worth his while. He got his kicks out of fighting with Gisele in front of their daughter. The more upset Gisele became, the more he felt like a big man.
Arsehole.
“Troy, I’m going across the road for a while,” I yelled out into the garage part of the building. Hearing a grunt from under a car, I took off to find my little sister to get the gossip on her hot cop.
“So, he’s hot and a nice person?” I guessed smiling at the way Gisele was ducking her head and my questions. “Come on chickee, give me something here will ya. I only go to see him from a distance yesterday and you sat next to him at dinner last night. Spill or I go to Georgina.” Threats weren’t beneath me; in fact, they were my go-to when dealing with my shy and very private sister. Gisele didn’t like talking about her personal feelings when it came to men. She wasn’t as — open as Elle and me. It always amused us when the topic turned to orgasms and sex, Gisele would go bright red and take off for the nearest exist. How she wasn’t used to the female craziness in our family by now was a mystery.
At the mention of our mother, Gisele gasped like she wasn’t expecting me to pull out the mum card.
“You are diabolical Claudia Chanel.”
“And you are stalling Gisele Heidi,” I counted knowing I had victory in my sights.
Dropping her forehead on the ancient wood counter, Gisele sighed in defeat.
“Yes, he is nice as he is hot,” she admitted, her voice muffled by the counter. “He is so nice and didn’t run the minute Georgina started babbling about being banned from Mass.” God that bloody story, one of many Georgina wouldn’t let go. Lifting a hand, I gently pulled on her ponytail lifting her face.
“And?”
A blush stains her cheeks and I smiled.
“I like him,” Gisele whispered, “as in like him, like him.”
“As in your heart got all fluttery and girlie parts tingled like?”
“Yeah,” Gisele admitted on a groan. “What am I going to do Claude? My track record with the male species is horrible.”
“What track record are you talking about exactly?” I laughed, “You’ve had one guy in your twenty-four years. Count them one. I don’t think your high school baby daddy qualifies.”
Where Elle and I were the smart mouths and tormenters, Gisele was the drama queen. She blamed it on the family curse. I blamed Georgina.
“You know what I mean,” Gisele whined. Yes whined.
“No, I don’t Gissy, but I know you. And Chickee you are one hell of a woman. You have the perfect Blessing women looks, you are the most perfect mumma to a beautiful angel, and you have a heart of gold. That doesn’t sound like a bad track record to me.”
Gisele allowed herself to smile but her eyes remained sad.
“Liam broke both his legs when I told him I was pregnant. Every boy in town refused to look my way after that. Miracle was born so early they didn’t expect her to live. She hasn’t uttered a single word or sound in her eight years. Imagine what could happen to Jamison?” Gisele sounded so serious about what she was spewing out, I didn’t have the heart to laugh in her face, so I did internally instead. It was true about Liam, and the boys from school. Gisele had not had one date since Miracle was born and I had to admit that must be a hard pill for her to swallow. For such a beautiful woman, Gisele deserved to have a man cherish her.
The right man.
An idea started to form in my head, an idea that required help from Elle and our mother. Spying a small credit card size piece of paper on the counter, I made out the words Detective and Missing Persons Unit.
Exactly what I needed, and Gisele would never have to know.
“How about we go to Elle’s and pick up Miss Miracle together? I’m sure the town won’t fall to pieces if you close twenty minutes early.”
Getting a proper smile in response, I gave myself a pat on the back. Sliding my hand over the card, I palmed the business card without Gisele noticing. Time for getting Gisele laid was about to be put into action.