Clawen • What comes next

|| CHAPTER 31 ||

           

"Your brother" Claire said surprised. Derek reached a hand out for Claire to shake which she did. "Rick this is Claire Dearing" Owen said, using Derek's nickname Claire assumed. "The Claire Dearing?" He asked and Owen nodded proudly. Claire looked up at Owen amused, just now realizing that he talked about her to his family. "Claire honey, you are one badass woman, I got to give you that" Derek said with a smile. Claire lifted her eyebrows at him, amused yet again and tried hard to hold back a laugh or a cough or whatever was tickling her throat. Owen saw Claire's reaction and found it extremely funny but got a bit nervous at the same time. People often had that exact reaction when they met his brother, not knowing what was going on, most of the time. They would get there though.

"Rick just moved here, what six months ago?" Owen said and looked at his brother for confirmation which he got in the form of a proud nod. "I wanted to get out of that small, sexist and homophobic town. It just drives you crazy" Derek said and Claire couldn't help but tilt her head a little at him, in an understanding manner, with a few nods. Derek nodded back before he noticed Maisie, half hiding behind Claire. "Who's this little sweetheart? She yours, Claire?" Derek asked her as he bent down to get closer to Maisie's height. Claire stumbled for words before settling with a simple yes. "This is Maisie" Claire said and carefully pushed Maisie a bit forward to greet Derek. He reached out a hand and Maisie slowly reached out to shake it.

"Well it was very nice to meet you guys and I hope to see much more of you, but unfortunately I have a job to get back to" Derek said and gently padded Owen's shoulder a couple times before saying goodbye and heading back through the door he came from. Claire turned to Owen with lifted eyebrows and crossed her arms. He pursed his lips and looked around the ally, trying to avoid her gaze. He failed. His eyes landed right back at her green beauties and he let out a sigh. "What?" He asked. "That was your brother huh?" Was all Claire said. Maisie was looking between them, waiting for one of them to get it over with or at least say something that made just a little sense. "That was my brother, yes" Owen said challenging. "Why didn't you tell us, you coward?" Claire said with the slight hint of a joke and Maisie couldn't help but giggle at the last part. Owen just shrugged and started making his way out of the ally and back to the sidewalk. Claire grabbed Maisie's hand and followed him with quick steps. "Owen" She warned him and he turned around. "Why in the world, didn't you tell us?" She asked again, calmer and more pulled together than before which was what made the difference and got Owen to open up.

"Because where we're from, people aren't very welcoming of him, and I wanted to see your reaction before telling you that I was related to that little well-dressed boy" Claire couldn't help but laugh a little at the last part but quickly pulled it together to ask further into what Owen was on about. "Why aren't people welcoming, he seems like a genuinely nice guy" Claire said confused. Owen let out a sigh and said. "Can we get to the car, it's getting late. I'll tell you on the way" To which Claire agreed and reached out for his hand. Leaning up to give him a kiss, she said in a low voice. "alright"

On their way home, Claire was waiting for Owen to start their previous conversation but he never did. Maybe he had forgotten or hoped that Claire had. What could possibly be wrong with his brother for people not to like him? Claire wondered for half the ride before she finally spoke up. "So, what about your brother. What's wrong with him?" Claire asked and Owen was quick to snap back with. "Nothing's wrong with him okay!" Which got Maisie in the back to slightly jump in her seat out of shock and Claire put her arms up in surrender. "Sorry honey, sorry Maisie, I just...it's...I guess...a reflex" He said followed by a sigh. Claire reached out to gently rub his shoulder, reminding him that he was in a safe space and could tell them whatever he had on his mind. Another sigh escaped his mouth and Claire spoke up. "Baby was it is about your brother that people don't like? You can tell us" She said as calmly as possible for Owen's sake. He sighed yet again and simply said the two words that almost always brought trouble.