Clara Spencer

Chapter 16

2014

"Sorry, about all the mess. I didn't realize we received so many flowers," Clara apologized looking around at the variety of lilies, roses, and daisies scattered throughout her living room. She even had to move some of the sofas so they could sit down comfortably.

Her parent's friend, Jordan, whose name she learned back at the cemetery, was sitting across from her. June had gone to put on some tea, while the two of them talked.

Leaving her parent's grave had made her uneasy, but her curiosity at what information this man had, trumped it. Especially if the information had something to do with her parents in the first place.

"It's alright," Jordan said. "Hopefully you can take some of their trimmings and regrow them in your garden. I know Alice favored roses."

Clara gave a small nod, not having the heart to tell him she could barely look at the garden let alone tend to it. It was an activity she and her mother would do together, and though she didn't want it to fall into disrepair, she could not bear to do it alone.

Clara cleared her throat, "So, um... how did you come to know my parents?"

Jordan smiled. "We used to work together when they were with the Red Cross. I was the Operations Specialist in charge of the Colombia branch."

Recognition sparked in Clara's blue eyes. "Oh yes, I remember. They worked there until I was 10, before we left for Cameroon."

"I was incredibly sad to see them leave the Red Cross," he sighed. "But I did understand their motivations. We remained close friends though and constantly kept in touch. In fact, you were a subject of much discussion. Your parents couldn't contain their pride. I wouldn't either if my daughter was a linguistic prodigy!" He enthusiastically praised.

Clara tucked a blonde lock behind her ear. "They really said that? That they were... proud of me?"

"Why of course! You were their darling jewel," he chuckled. "A lot of us from the team, used to joke that it's probably why they kept you so set apart from the group. It was something I always tried to persuade your parents on. To let you go out on more excursions." Jordan's brows furrowed, "It was like they were afraid of something."

The moment was interrupted, however, when June entered the living room with the simmering teapot and teacups. Clara took the tray from her, set it on the table, and focused on serving their tea.

She was briefly aware of Jordan prattling on, but Clara was no longer listening. Her eyes glossed over as she contemplated what he had previously said. Her parents had been proud of her. She was their darling jewel.

A cold rush washed over her when she realized that was before their big fight. Before she had yelled at them and been such an ungrateful daughter. It had already been hard to deal with her parent's death, but the fact that they must have died feeling nothing but disappointment for her only served to increase her despair. The knife just kept getting twisted and twisted further into her heart.

A blazing hot pain enveloped her hand, bringing Clara back into reality. She hissed as she looked down at it and noticed how strikingly red it was compared to her paler forearm. The other hand held the teapot that hovered over her red hand. Clara's eyes widened as the pain continued to throb, confirming that she had burned herself.

"Oh my god, Clara!" June exclaimed. "I told you it was hot, why didn't you wait?" She glanced incredulously at her, carefully reaching and cradling Clara's burned hand.

Clara stared back dumbfounded and still in shock from the pain. "I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention. I sort of zoned out." Both June and Jordan gave her concerned looks, but June was more distressed by this.