Read Family Interrupted for Free Online Page A

resisted for a moment and then sagged against me. We held each other, a quiet time for catching our breaths, collecting our thoughts. I sincerely hoped this intermission wasn’t a prelude to another round of arguments.
    #
    CLAIRE
     
    I sent for the posse, and at nine o’clock the next morning, Judy and my mom rapped at the door. My sister is a petite brunette, just a bit over five feet, but somehow she always seems a lot taller. Jack said it was all about attitude, about being fearless. I said she had a Napoleon complex. We’d laugh and agree it was the same thing.
    “Good girl. I smell the coffee,” Judy said after kissing me on the cheek. “It’s the least you can do after I rearranged my morning for you.”
    Judy managed the Human Resources Department at the local Macy’s department store, no small task. The company had a myriad of full-time and part-time employees. Judy supervised everything staff related—the hiring, firing, training, benefits, scheduling, and a host of incidentals.
    “How can we help you, Claire?” asked Mom, giving me a mama-bear hug.
    I filled our three cups, took out the milk and sugar substitute, and sat down with them. “Don’t you love a kitchen table?” I asked. “It’s the best place to talk.”
    Mom’s eyebrow arched so high I thought it would hit the ceiling. “What are we discussing, Claire? Is it about Kayla?”
    “Not exactly,” I replied slowly. “It’s just that last night, Jack and I were talking a-and I just want a second opinion. So, here’s the question: do you think I need counseling?”
    The room became so quiet the proverbial pin could have dropped to the floor with a bang. I first sought my mother, but tears had already started to flow down her cheeks. God, I’m so selfish. Why hadn’t I thought she’d get upset?
    “Okay. Forget about this conversation. I’ll be fine,” I said. “Judy, go to the store. Mom, did you bring your crocheting? I’ll work on something with you.”
    “Oh, no,” said my feisty sister. “You asked a serious question. You deserve a serious answer.” She dug out a tissue from her purse and threw it at our mother. “Wipe up. Claire needs us.”
    She focused her dark eyes on me. “I’m certainly not a shrink. But it seems to me, because you’ve asked us to come here, that the topic is bothering you. What about counseling? Do you think you need it?”
    “I think you’re turning the question around.”
    “Then let’s back up,” Judy said, raising her forefinger. “I wasn’t trying to play a game, sweetie. I was trying to help. So, maybe we should start at the beginning. What brought this on?”
    I told them about Jack’s fears for the business. In our family, everyone knew everything, so I never considered I was telling tales. “And when I couldn’t commit to working with him, he said I should get counseling. As if he’s so perfect and has all the answers.”
    “Aw, Claire. He’s just being Jack,” said my sister. “Trying to fix things. He always does that.”
    While I break things. I killed Kayla. I destroyed this family because of dallying with Colombo. And we can never be fixed.
    “Claire! What’s wrong? You look like you’re going to faint.” Mom’s voice. “Maybe she needs a medical doctor, not a psychologist.”
    “Maybe she needs both.” Judy leaned over and stroked my hair. “Or maybe a visit to the hairdresser might help. You’re very gray, Claire. There’s no shine. You need to make an appointment. And look how thin you are. You definitely need to eat. Has Jack mentioned these things?”
    I shook my head. “I don’t think he’s noticed. Everything is secondary to Barnes Construction.”
    “Oh, come on. I know my brother-in-law. The man notices details. That’s why he’s got a stellar reputation in the home-building industry.”
    “And we’ve got to help him save the company and keep that reputation,” said Mom as she clasped my hands. “I have an idea, Claire, and I think it’s