Handcuffed

Chapter 33

Chapter 33

"Clare... are you serious?" He asked, as if he didn't believe it.  Watching with amusement from the couch, my eyes moved between the two disagreeing spouses.  I wasn't shocked a bit that this was happening when we got back from camping.  Being exposed and out in public again, you can bet people want me back on my medication.  Otherwise, sooner or later, I just might become a serial killer and slaughter every person in this town. 

Clare stepped closer to him, trying to receive his understanding.  He wasn't ready to offer it yet, which just kept my smile up.  It was perfect too.  A few days after I tell him about my mothers issues with possibly covering up shit, this happens.  I knew it just made him more reluctant to easily agree for me to go back to the doctors. 

"Well... yes," she said, innocently, resting her hand on top of his.  "I want Albany to be stable.  So she can maybe find the truth and see me again."

"Ha!" I cracked up loudly, slapping my hands together for emphasis on just how great that was.  Both pairs of eyes seemed to recall I was still sitting there, watching them as they talked.  "That's a good card you just played, Clare.  Though you're as stupid as you look, I give you props for coming up with that one."

Sensing Luke's eyes turned back to Clare, she continued to look at me, sympathy forming over her face.  Just a show, a mask.  An ugly one at that too.  She continued to look at me with those sad eyes and hurting face.  Awe.  Poor Clare. 

He stared at her, hard.  He had no sympathy over her.  Just as mad as I knew he had a right to be, I also liked that he was trying to keep me away from there.  "Clare, she's been off the medicine for over a year."  Clare looked back up at him and I saw his hand hesitantly grasp hers, in hope that she wouldn't make me go.  "She is a better person and it's because I'm here to help her.  No doctors, just me.  And I think it's working."

"Then why can't she see reality yet?" she asked, her voice low and quiet.

Luke, in that moment, glanced my way and meet my eyes.  I think he understood as much as I did that that wouldn't happen.  Ever.  For me, it wouldn't because it already was reality.  For him, I think he knew that I could never be convinced that she is an angel.  Honestly, looking into his deep eyes, I was starting to question where his thoughts stood on whether I should hate or love Clare. 

Looking back to Clare, he sighed, his face slightly softening.  No matter where he stood though, that love for her still was there.  How?  Good fucking question.  Only thing I can come up with is she is just an incredible actor. 

"Because she isn't ready to yet," he lied, forcing himself to speak more softly.

I saw that despite her need to please Luke, she was getting impatient.  That's one thing she couldn't hide from him of her real self.

"Luke honey," she said, biting her lip to keep her temper from showing.  She took a deep breath I noticed and got comfortable again.  The show wasn't over yet.  I had a good guess that Clare would win though.  She smiled up at him.  "No offense sweetie but... I'm her mother.  I've known her her whole life.  I know what's best for her."

Ooh.  I think it was time to get the popcorn folks.  She crossed a line; not exactly the words but of our history together.  I first didn't think Luke would get as mad as he did; after all, she was right and I was wrong about the kind of childhood I had, growing up with her. Yet Luke's eyes narrowed on her and he moved his hand out of hers, clear anger on his face.  He looked kind of hot when he was mad.  Especially when at Clare.

"You know what's best for her...." His lips were tight, hands at his sides in frustrated fists.  "So not teaching your daughter the essentials of life was best for her?  How to count, tie her fucking shoes, take care of herself!  Because that was obviously what was best for her. Teaching her, that's one thing.  But to think you took care of her..." he shook his head.  "I might not buy that you tortured and beat her, did those things to her because I know you wouldn't."  He looked to me, power and truth on his face.  Quickly looking back down into Clare's wide eyes as they faced each other a few feet away from where I was silently watching, he pointed to me as he spoke to her. "But how do you explain the obvious damage, of being known as insane?  Whether she's making it up or not," he said softer, looking at me, his expression growing with an offer of connection, understanding, and... a longing for something I couldn't identify.  "That girl right there, your daughter, has grown and changed immensely in the past month or more that I've spent time with her.  She is learning, changing, growing from our time together.  There is more life in that girl's eyes.  And you know what that tells me, Clare?" He said, looking back to her and growled his next words to her, making my body tense.  "I'm more of a parent than you are!  And that's saying something because I'm not her father; I'm her friend.  And that's all it took. Now, I don't know the details.  I don't think you did those terrible things to her.  But you know what?  You screwed up at something along the way and it impacted her greatly.  If she actually needs to take medication, it's to help her get out of this 'state' you put her in as a child."