Tattooed Hearts by Mika Jolie Page A

eyes.
    Claire shook her head.
She never held Victoria’s words against Jason or Charles. Actually, with time
she even learned to forgive his mother. “Jason’s gone through enough dealing
with Victoria’s mental health and everyt hing.” The everything eventually led to self-destruction.
    Minka chewed her lower
lip in a way Claire knew to be an indication she was troubled by what she’d
learned.
    Claire shook her head
again, this time more vehemently. “No need to tell him.”
    Minka sighe d and looked down at her hands. “He still struggles with
her death.”
    “And I don’t want to
mar whatever good he has left of her,” Claire said gently. “He’s that big
brother I never had.”
    Minka nodded. “One
day, you should tell him. But I’ll leave it at that for now.”
    Maxie returned with
their soups on a large tray. She placed the bowls on the table along with their
drinks and disappeared.
    “But you still want
him. I saw that kiss the night of Minka’s wedding.” Lily studied her. “Is that
why you’re back?”
    They all knew she was supposed to be on a promotional tour. “I
don’t know why I came back. I guess to either say goodbye or figure out where
we go from here.” Not entirely true, her heart whispered. She took a break from
her career and headed straight to his h ouse. She had
some kind of expectations. Hopes.
    “Crappy timing
though,” Keely suggested. “I mean, his father passed away yesterday. He’s
vulnerable.”
    The words from her
friend almost sounded protective of Forrest, but Claire knew better. After
years of fr iendship she knew Keely well enough to
admit the woman had never been anything less than fair. She had a valid point,
the timing couldn’t be more inconvenient. “I didn’t know about Luc.”
    “Your heart knew,”
Lily the forever romantic, said gently. “You came back
because you felt he needed you. Emotions are diet of the heart.”
    Claire smiled. Lily and her grand idea of love. It might have worked for her and Adam,
but…Claire shook her head. “I came back for my own selfish reasons.” She
sighed. “Reasons that aren’t even clear to me anymore.”
    Minka squeezed her
hand. “You’ll figure it out.”
    “He kissed you,” Lily
pointed out. “He has to still feel something.”
    “A
momentary slip. Lust.”
    Lily nodded with a
knowing look. For a while her relationship with Adam had been purely physical.
“I’ve been there, but look at me and Adam now.”
    “You’ve never hurt
Adam. If anything you saved him.”
    “Are you still staying
at his place?” Keely asked after a short silence.
    “No, I’m going back to
Chappy today.” Claire picked up her spoon and gave the squash soup a stir.
“Last night wasn’t the most welcome reception, which is understandable now I
know wh at he was going through. I’ll stay for the
funeral.”
    “Well, we’re glad
you’re here,” Keely said warmly. “No matter for how long.”
    She shared a
connection with these women that transcended time and distance. Her career
brought many people into her life , som e genuine
and some out for their best interest. But her friendship with Lily, Minka, and
Keely kept her grounded. They understood she was a frayed knot. Jason, Blake
and Adam still resided in that place labeled for family in her life, but
lately, she found herself gravitating more toward the
women in their lives. “I’m glad to be back too.”
    No matter for how
long.

 
     
     
    Chapter Eight
     
    “Love-On c e
rooted in the heart, it never dies.”
    Marjorie Desvareaux
     
     
    To enter the cemetery
Claire had to skirt around a pile of brown, frosted leaves. Small white ice crystals covering the
ground crunched with every footstep, echoing every person’s pain. Today, the
island had come to a halt to mourn one of their own. Even t hose who escaped the grim winter had return to bid farewell
before being permanently separated with their friend by six feet of earth.
    Grief covered the entire