Shattered Glass

4- Claire

Bree is sitting in front of her dressing table, carefully putting her rougue on. She has a single red rose on a vase in front of her, placed rather oddly in a glass vase that is too big for it.

"Mother, can I borrow your red necklace?" The 13 years old Claire walks into her room.

"Sure, here." She handed her the small ruby necklace. Claire had always liked that particular jewelry that was given to her from her husband when she was 15. Will had worked some manual jobs for a year to buy her the simple jewelry. Yes, he is the son of the duke at that time, but he wants to show his love by affording it by his own hands.

"Just make sure to give it back to me in the evening."

"Thanks mother." She received it happily.

Claire sees the odd vase on the table, rising her eyebrows. "I thought mother don't like red rose, why do you have it on your table?" The teenager knows that no way her father gives her mother red rose. He even specifically bought a lily farm for flower supply as it is her mother's favorite flower.

That is true, she doesn't like red rose, but it was from Christ.

"Douches, a letter." Her maid enters the room with another stem of red rose and a letter in hand.

"From who?" Claire asks, trying to peek on the mysterious letter. "C-h-r- mother, who is Christ?"

"Claire, leave, now." Bree snatches the letter from her daughter's hand, pointing out of her room.

"Huh? Why is mother acting so weird?" She shakes her head as she walks away.

The family is having a day out at one of their farm in highlands. They are coming in 4 different carts, along with several servants.

"I think it's too cold for a picnic." Jack hugs himself. The servants are just started to lay down the picnic stuff.

"Hm, right. Let's get inside." Will helps packing up their picnic mat and basket. He always like to do everything himself, instead of letting the maids to do it.

"We can have picnic inside!" Claire runs happily inside the wooden house.

The day before, Will and the kids are baking some desserts together for the picnic. It is some kind of family-time for them.

"Mom, try the chocolate are cake, me and Elliot made it!" Jack the youngest take a spoonful and feeds it to his mom.

"Mmmm.. it is so rich and fluffy, you did a great job honey." She pinches his cheek.

"How about these cookies? Who made it?"

"Me!"

"Me!" The two older kids made a raspberry filled cookies.

The kids are running around playing tag, except Claire as she is the only girl. The young girl really resembles her, with dark eyes and brunette hair.

Will is sitting next to her on the sofa, hugging her by the waist.

"Claire, come." He pats the sofa next to him.

"Father." Claire hugs him tight.

"What is it, Claire?" Will knows every time his child acting all sweet, they must want something.

"Um.. nothing." She let go of him, but still sitting close. "I am just wondering, will I ever find someone that can love me the way you love mother?" Her eyes sparkles just like every teenage girl that starts to learn about love.

"Of course you will, love." He kisses her forehead. "Every guy that sees you and get to know you will surely be interested. So everything is on your hand. You have to choose a guy that loves you, someone that will always treat you well." The father taps her head.

"Just like how mother is choosing you?"

"Yes."

"..."

Bree looks at Claire and Will with a disapproving look. Almost offended. Her chest feels so uncomfortable that she just want to leave. So much lie, it's suffocating.

"Anyone wants a cup of hot chocolate?" Bree stands, couldn't bear to hear another word as she walks away from the two to the kitchen.

The father and daughter are now laughing and joking around on the sofa, their relationship is very close and warm. Bree secretly look at their closeness, worried.

"What if..., no! I shouldn't think like that!" Bree shakes her head, but she needs to do something.

She is afraid, in fact so afraid that-

"Claire come here, help me." She calls from the kitchen.

Claire is coming, clearly unhappy.

"What are you talking about with your father? You look so happy." Bree is checking.

"Nothing mom, father just said that he will give me a ruby earrings for my birthday!"

"A ruby earrings? Why?" Bree sounds unhappy unlike the teenager who is smiling from ear to ear

"Because father loves me! And he loves me a lot!" Claire says proudly.

The expression on Bree's face is muddled, unclear with what is in her mind.

"Here, your hot chocolate." She hands her husband the hot cup.

"Thank you love." He pecks a kiss on her cheek.

"Are you giving Claire a ruby earrings for her birthday?"

"Yes, she seems to really like ruby jewelries. And now she has grown to be a young lady, I think good to get her something meaningful."

Bree frowns. Her brain is thinking hard.

"Now that you mention it, Claire will soon be a young lady. We need to send her to the boarding soon abroad. She will be able to learn mannerism and all that stuff."

"Hm? Bree, don't you think it's too extreme? She must not want to study abroad." Will is unsure, he knows that Claire loves to be around family all the time.

"Well yes, but she will soon be an adult, she needs to act properly to get married." Bree is firm.

"I don't want to!" Claire that is eavesdropping can't stay still, it's outrageous! Even his older brother is still at home, why does she need to go? So unfair!

"I want to stay here." She says, acting pitiful in front of her father.

"It's final, you don't have any option." Bree says, leaving.

"Fatheeeer??"

Will is sitting there confused, he does think that Bree is a little extreme to Claire. Bree always nags about her choice of clothes, about the way she acts, how to talk, etc. She is just a 15 years old. But maybe it really is in her best interest. He is man anyway, he doesn't know about woman mannerism and expectancy. And Bree must want the best for her, right?

Hey everyone, it's author here. Thank you for reading my story! Please vote if you'd like ;) Also if you got any comments make sure to post them so I know what you think 😜 See you in a few days !