Chapter 37 Claire
Beth was not looking well.
Claire made her eat a sandwich and drink water, like Bridget had ordered. What she needed now was sleep. Unfortunately, it looked like Frannie and her friends were going to be staying up late.
Paul had taken forever to set up the tent, then the two girls—Vicky and Jerrylynn—hauled a downed tree trunk to the campfire to sit on.
Now, they were burning hot dogs black and drinking beer, singing goofy campfire songs Claire recognized from her days as a savage.
Claire couldn’t blame them for enjoying the beautiful night.
The full moon shone on the river, and a light breeze was keeping the mosquitoes at bay.
If it wasn’t for Beth’s situation and her troubling thoughts about Red, Claire would be enjoying herself, too.
Jenny started to wiggle and fuss in Dottie’s lap. “She wants her bottle,” Claire told the young woman. When Claire came back from Paul’s car with the bottle of formula, Dottie took it from her hands. “I’ve got a hot plate in the trailer to warm it. Be back in a jiffy.”
Jeffrey watched his wife walk away. “She’s from a big family and can’t wait for us to have kids.”
Claire missed Red even more, looking at this couple. By the time Claire had Jenny’s diaper changed and put her into her pajamas, Dottie was back with the warmed bottle.
She gave Beth a concerned look. “Are you feeling okay?”
Beth attempted a smile. “Just tired.”
“Let’s get to bed as soon as Jenny is asleep.” Claire looked at the tent, then at the four teenagers making a ruckus at the fire. “I’ll ask them to quiet down.”
“Jeffrey,” Dottie said, reaching to take her husband’s hand and looking up at him with pleading eyes. “Let’s sleep in the car tonight.”
Jeffrey looked at her like she was crazy. “Why?”
Dottie gave him a meaningful look. “So we can see the moon. It’s so gorgeous and romantic.”
Jeffrey opened his mouth.
“And”—she stopped him from speaking—“we could let Claire and the baby and Beth sleep in the trailer.”
“Oh, no,” Claire objected. That was too much. She couldn’t put them out of their beds.
“We couldn’t possibly,” Beth said firmly.
“We insist,” Dottie said, although Jeffrey didn’t look like he agreed. “We’ll be up for ages yet, and babies need their bedtime.” She gave Beth a kind smile. “And you look tuckered out.”
As much as Claire hated to impose, it was what Beth needed. “You’re so kind,” Claire said, relief in her voice. “That would be wonderful.”
After Jenny had her bottle and was back asleep, Dottie led them to the trailer. It was a kidney-shaped four-wheeler, the kind Claire saw every day going in and out of the park. Dottie pulled open the aluminum door. “It’s nothing fancy,” she said.
Claire went up the two steps. Inside was a tiny kitchenette with a table attached to the wall and two upholstered benches in sunshine yellow.
A small countertop with a sink and a one-burner stovetop was in the center, and the rear was a double bed made up with a quilt and pillows.
Outside the small back window, the river sparkled in the moonlight.
“Are you sure, Dottie?” Claire asked a last time, hoping she wouldn’t change her mind.
“Absolutely.” Dottie gathered a few blankets and an extra pillow from a storage cupboard. “Sleep tight.”
Claire settled Jenny in the middle of the double bed while Beth sat down at the dinette.
When Claire came back, Beth was dabbing at her tears with a kitchen towel.
“It’s been so horrible since Dell. With Pete and Iris.
But you and your sister, and now this—” She nodded to the snug little trailer.
“I can’t help it, but I’m still afraid something terrible will happen. ”
Claire reached out and took Beth’s hand.
It was ice cold. With everything that had happened to her, of course she was fearful.
“We’re safe,” Claire said. The Henshaws would never find Beth here, and in the morning Claire would get her home to her parents.
“Let’s get some sleep.” Claire squeezed her hand.
“I promise you, things always look brighter in the morning.”