Page 2 of Who's that Girl?
To our house.
At night.
And she was plastered.
She said it was nothing — a misunderstanding — but can that be true? And he wants her to do that show. Maybe she’s just done with me? Because I don’t want to do a stupid reality show? Is that possible?
Wow.
This is insane. I can’t lose her. I need to fix this.
In the cold light of day, after I’ve had some coffee and settled down a little bit, I realize something obvious — Claire’s gotta be with one of her siblings. Of course that’s where she’d go.
The Madisons — all seven of them, including Claire, who is the second eldest of the five Madison kids — are tight, even if they don’t always show it.
She’s probably with Diana (the eldest Madison, former high school classmate of mine, a lawyer, very serious, and despite Claire’s many critiques of her, probably my wife’s closest sibling and the sister she’d be likely to go to first).
That’s it. It has to be. She has to be with Diana. Her sister, Diana, not that kid Drew Fox. No way. Of course. It makes so much more sense.
But … can I text Di to confirm? The whole Madison clan is pissed off at me at the moment. And rightly so. I’ve been such a dick. So if I try Diana, and if Claire is there with her, would she even tell me?
I almost laugh as I picture Di looking at my text on her phone and Claire in the background, furiously instructing her not to reply.
Claire is guaranteed to say something like, ‘Is that Adam? Tell him … tell him I went to … Japan. Tell him I went to Tunisia! Tell him I’m dead!’
That’s Claire.
Di wouldn’t, though. She’d ignore my wife’s goofiness, even if they are sisters. For one thing, she isn’t given to lying. She’d reply something like, “she’s here and safe, but she’s not currently interested in speaking with you.”
Which would be fine. I deserve it.
I just need to confirm that Claire is okay. That’s what matters.
I decide to text Di as soon as possible.
I wait until after 9:00 am, because I know my sister-in-law will definitely be at work by then. Then I shoot off the text.
Adam: Sorry to bother you Di, but is Claire staying with you?
The reply is practically instantaneous.
Diana: No.
Diana: Why?
Shit.
Adam: No reason. It’s okay. Forget I asked.
Diana: I will not forget you asked, Adam. That would be impossible. Claire lives with you. Why would she be staying with me?
Adam: She took off. Angry. Didn’t come home last night.
Diana: After that bombshell about your brother, I can’t say I’m surprised.
Adam: I know, I know.
Diana: So where did she go?
