Mimi frowned. “Okay, you can tell me all about it when I get back. I’ll go grab my purse so I can drive Tom to his car.”
Allie took in the quiet house. “Where’s Zeke?”
“He went for a run on the beach.”
“At this time of night?”
“He says it helps him clear his head after a long day.”
Allie was dying to ask Mimi where the heck she and Zeke had been all night, but this wasn’t the right moment. She found Claire lying on top of her bed, her cheeks wet with tears. Crocodile tears or the real thing? Either way, Allie steeled herself. She wasn’t about to be sucked in by anymore teenage theatrics.
Claire sat up and swiped her cheeks clean. “I’m so sorry.”
“Do you have any idea how frantic I was? Not to mention the fact I could have been arrested for driving with a suspended license?” Allie tried to keep her voice calm. What would Mr. Rogers do? He’d probably strangle Claire with one of his argyle sweaters.
“You were driving? But I thought Mr. Donalan drove the van.”
“That was after one of your father’s deputies nearly handcuffed me with plans to drag me off to jail.”
“Oh God. Do you think Daddy will find out?”
“Of course he’s going to find out. But not from me.”
“Really? Oh, Aunt Allie, you’re the best!”
“I don’t think you understand, Claire. I don’t plan to tell him, because you’re going to tell him.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Do I look like I’m kidding?”
“But nothing happened! I didn’t even have any of that beer. I was just holding it and pretending to take sips.”
Allie sat down on the edge of the bed. “Why would you do that?”
Claire’s face scrunched up in adolescent embarrassment. “You know, so no one would think I was a prude. You don’t know what it’s like having your father be the chief-of-police. Everyone already thinks you’re some kind of goody-goody. And I really did plan on only being there an hour. I just lost track of time, is all.”
“Claire.” Allie shook her head. “Do you know how childish all that sounds?”
“Fine. I’ll go tell Daddy and then he and Mom can get in a big fight about it. They’re already in couples counseling. This will probably drive them over the edge.”
Allie stilled. “Couples counseling? How do you know that?”
“They think they’re fooling everyone with their big date night story, but I had to use Mom’s phone one day and I listened to a message from their counselor changing their appointment time. That’s where they were tonight, you know. Maybe I did lie about where I was going, but they lie all the time.”
Allie took a few seconds to absorb this. “I’m sure a lot of married couples probably go to counseling.”
“Yeah, and a lot of couples are on the brink of divorce, too.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Your parents are not on the brink of divorce. Are…they fighting a lot?”
“You have to talk to someone to fight with them. They’re probably the most polite parents on the planet.”
“Polite is good, isn’t it?”
“If you say so.” She put on her little girl face, the one Allie found so hard to resist. “I’ll tell Daddy, I swear I will. Just not tonight.”
“Claire—”