Page 85 of The Version You Hide

“What?” Claire blurts, her eyes wide with excitement. Clearly, Dad hadn’t briefed her about his plan prior, though this is unsurprising.

“That’s great!” I exclaim, knowing that this is everything Claire has ever wanted.

Some little girls want to grow up and become princesses or ballerinas or nurses. Not Claire. When the question had been asked by her kindergarten teacher, a petite five-year-old Claire had responded with three letters: CEO.

“But,” my father says, holding up a hand. I should have known there’d be conditions. “I want you to come to the city for a few days over the next couple of weeks to get her up to speed.”

Claire lets out a sigh of disappointment. Just when we both thought he’d come around, our father once again shows his misogynistic colours. What’s even more frustrating is the fact that everyone sitting at this table right now is aware of her extraordinary capabilities when it comes to business management.

“Up to speed? Dad, that’s ridiculous. Claire could do that job with her eyes closed.”

“That’s the condition of my offer.” He stands, letting me know that for him, this conversation is done.

“I have a job to do here, Dad,” I argue, knowing my efforts will be futile. I rub my hand over the back of my neck, thinking hard about how I could make this work. If not for me, for Claire. “I can probably take a couple of days off next week.”

“Okay. Next week it is.” Dad claps his hands together in finality.

“Thanks, Dylan,” Claire steps forward, arms outstretched as she wraps them around my shoulders. “I’m sorry you have to do this. But thank you.”

“Anything for you, Claire Bear,” I whisper.

She releases me, taking a step backward. “Where’s Mackenzie? Is she working today? I was hoping to see her.”

“She isn’t here,” I explain. “She’s gone to visit her grandmother in Seabright Cove.”

As soon as the words leave my mouth, I know I shouldn’t have said them. This thing with her grandmother is new. I don’t know what I was thinking.

“Seabright Cove?” my father asks, a curious look passing over his face.

“Uh, yeah,” I say. “Anyway, I need to be getting back to the bar now.”

“I’ll see you next week then,” Dad says, holding his hand out for me to shake. I take it and he squeezes it firmly.

“You will,” I say. “Congratulations, Claire Bear.” The informality of the situation feels odd. Claire has just landed the job of her dreams, but the conditions attached to it and my father’s lack of faith in her to do the job simply because she is a woman have put a dampener on it. “We’ll celebrate properly next week, okay? We can do drinks in the city. My shout.”

“I’d like that.” She smiles.

I watch my father and my sister climb into the gunmetal Porshe across the street at roughly the same time Mackenzie pulls up in my beat-up RAV4. I take large strides to reach her as she steps out, a forlorn look upon her face.

“Hey,” I say. “How did it go?”

She looks down at the ground. “Okay, I guess. We talked.”

“That’s good, right?” I ask, but her hunched shoulders tell me otherwise. “Are you okay?”

She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a folded piece of notepad paper, turning it over in her palms. She looks up at me, opening her mouth as though she wants to say something, but then pure exhaustion falls over her features and she closes up, turning to the beach.

“Yeah,” she answers.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I already know the answer I’m going to get.

“Not really,” she replies, shoving the paper back into her pocket. “I think I’m just gonna go.”

“Okay. I’ll go tell Corey I’m driving you home.” I swivel around but she catches my elbow.

“No, it’s okay,” she says. “I feel like walking.”

“Are you sure?”

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