The Cole Adventures [DISCONTINUED]

13.

Clara:

Today I was visiting the Hansens,
As I had an event nearby. I pull up at their house and honk loudly my classic double smal honks followed by a loud one.
It's what the kids call "Claire Clank". It's just something I do whenever I visit them.

As soon as I do the Claire Clank the door opens and there stands my beloved Sophie beaming that beautiful smile.

I hug her and she smiles.

"Finally you visit us, it's been so long." she says ushering me in as I remove my scarf.

"Aww. You missed me. The famous Sophie misses someone, now that's a new. Where are the rest?"

"Tobias is at art class, dad is at work and mum is..." she trails of as we see Anna come downstairs in a loose t shirt which probably belongs to Adam and leggings. She has her glasses on and her hair is in a bun with a few strands framing her face. Glasses mean she was working as always.

I don't know how even after all these years she looks just like herself all those years back. Not beauty wise, obviously not, she has eye bags and creases on her forehead from all the thinking and a few wrinkles but she is somehow even more beautiful. Adam got lucky.

She rushes down the steps smiling as she sees me and nearly trips on the rug and my heart leaps but Sophie catches her.

God! Brains but still no brains!

"Please be careful mum" Sophie  says as Anna steadies herself.

"Sorry" she says as she comes and hugs me.

Still the same warmth after all those years. Still the odd but old sense of comfort. I hold her against me and take in the smell of her.

I pull away and smile at her.

"How are you? Did u get hurt?" I ask.

"No, just a little on the toe but it's  fine."

We sit down and persephone gets a call as she goes to her room chatting vigorously.

"How was the event?" Anna says pouring me some water.

"It was good. Although this time the lighting was an ass. He brought blue and white lights even though I clearly told white and yellow lights. We had to arrange and run at the last minute."

"Poor you. At least it went well."

"How's Emmet and Aiden?"

"Doing fine. Emmet is Emmet. Business is... I don't know. You know I don't get business stuff. Aiden is a fine. He's got into an obsession of playing Mario Cart which I don't know is good or bad."

"Till the time he is doing well in school and not just doing gaming. It's fine." she says laughing.

"Enough about me. Where's Mr Hansen?"I say and immediately the laugh disappears as I take Adam's name which rarely happens. She can talk about Adam 24/7.She knows I noticed and starts wiping her face as if she has something on it.

When will she understand, I can see right through those fake smiles, just like all the years back.

"Work" she says finally." did you know Toby made this painting with some girl from our neighbourhood. She is in Aiden's grade. I didn't knew he was working on it. The girl admires me so she made me one." she said changing the topic and pointing at a pretty portrait of hers.

"Although that is a pretty picture and i love it. I want to talk about Adam."

"Well that's a new." she says nervously drinking the water she brought for me.

"Tell me. What happened does he need a hearing from me?" I say.

"No, God no. He is fine." she says.

"I am asking if you are fine."

"Well I am too. Now days he is working hard with this new project with Mikalya. Mikalya doesn't bother me. It's just that I don't see him anymore. He rarely eats and sleeps. I am worried."she says finally confessing and fumbling her wedding ring moving it round and round on her finger.

God even her hands are gorgeous! She could do hand modelling. Wait is that even a thing. God! Focus Clara...

I laugh. She looks at me like she is done with that deathly glare and i stop.

"You know you just described yourself. You always overwork, eat less, sleep less and you are fine. He will be too. Don't worry."

"I am me. He is Adam." she says.

"Great argument, Mrs Hansen." I said teasing her.

"Alright maybe you are right. I just need to see him more. As if the project finishes on this Sunday. So that's it. There is going to be some event. He told me you guys will be invited as well."

"Oh, I didn't knew it. God one more event. That's cool atleast I won't be organising this one. Just attending and we all know how much i love a margarita." I say wrapping my arms around her."Good then at least it's all getting over. And we all know he can't keep his hands off you."

"Why does everyone keep saying that. I would appreciate if we don't talk about him and his hands." she says smiling.

"Could you do me a favour? Could you talk with Sophie about what she wants to do. I mean its their last year. Toby is applying for art colleges but I don't even know about her. Everytime I talk she in her classic Sophie fashion ignores me. She is so stubborn like her father" she says looking in the direction where Sophie went chatting.

"Yeah sure. It's my speciality. Although you do know I couldn't even help myself. You helped me." I say.

"That's because you let me help you. She won't just understand or talk" she says.

"OK. Claire to the rescue." I say reffering to our childhood when I thought I was a superhero because I once did a sum noone in my second grade could.

I am not even ashamed. I was proud of me. I still am for doing that sum.

"God please don't start singing the song again." she says sighing and that's my cue.

Will I ever stop getting a kick from annoying her. I don't think so...

I sing "claire to the rescue.
Stand in a queue,
Here comes Claire to the rescue" and I continue singing in a high pitch and she sighs again but i know she secretly loves it. She smiles finally. God what we all do to make her smile. Me and Adam. Just that smile.

She starts laughing as I continue.

Looks like Claire did come to the rescue. Misson completed!!