Callow Rose Blog Novel part 10

When Emma tried to approach Natalia, she was a bit resistant still but soon gave in sitting down beside on the grass under the tree. "Natalia what's the matter?" Emma asked point blank.

At first she stayed quiet then finally spoke in a whisper " Can you keep a secret?" She asked.

Before Emma could even think to agreeing to her request there was a loud thunder clap above them with a vivid lightening flash. Then they both heard what sounded like a cracking sound. Without warning the big oak tree that they were sitting under began to lean backwards. Emma grabbed Natalia's arm throwing her past her as she bolted out of the way of the tree's fall. Which landed just 3 yards short of Claire’s back door.

By which time, everyone from inside came rushing out of the front door and around the house to see what had happened. As they got to them it started to pour Claire quickly scooped up Natalia without a thought and no resistance. The three of them ran into the back door and up the stairs as others got a hot meal started with hot drinks. As Claire came out of her bedroom she could hear muffled crying. She approached the bathroom door opening it carefully and quietly to find Natalia in tears. Opening it further she went up to her putting her arms around Natalia.

She couldn't talk at first through all her sobbing. But managed to regain her composure after ten minutes. " I'm sorry about my behavior Claire. You're not to blame for this at all, I just don't know what came over me as I read the letter. When did you find this?"

Claire took a gulp and a deep breath before answering her not even able to look at her at first.

"This was slipped into the front doors mail slot a few days ago. Along with something else, an address to Virginia. I'm still not sure what to make of all this, or even why me and why now. I do know it has to do with my Grandfather and his business. Natalia, why did you get so upset with my about these letters?"

Clearing her throat then answered.

" To tell you the truth, I received the same strange letter a few days ago. It was unmarked and had a address just like yours did to the same place. I found it ironic that I ran into about the same time. I did delibrately ignore you the first time I ran into you. I was just scared, we hadn't seen each other in years and I thought if I flat out told you about this, well you know. You'd think I'd lost it. So I decided until I worked up the courage to talk to you that I would just act dumb. As if I hadn't seen you. Claire I am so sorry. "

Callow Rose Blog Novel Part 9

Since she'd looked around the room before, she'd scrambled into the other parts of the house. Instead of kicking everyone out this time. She went to the desk and under taking the zipp locked bag she had filled with the letter but she held "back on showing the address. They all sat back down on the couch as Claire took out the letter. "The other day I recieved a rather disturbing stack of letter."

As she handed them to Deacon first. " No postal mark in the envelope nothing. Deacon this is why I was so upset the other day and why the living room was a mess with these. I don't know why or who sen this to me." He scanned through it not really looking then gave them to Natalia who was sitting next to him. She hesitatingly began to read them as she looked up at Claire as though she needed more approval. But then resumed reading it in silence mumbling the words to herself. There was complete quiet around the room as Natalia read through the contents of the letters. Then she decided to read it aloud all of a sudden. It seemed that something caught her eye as she read to herself.

"I don't know what my family will do now without me. I have done a terrible deed and betrayal not only to them but to the people whom entrusted me with their lives. Everything is now gone because of my misdeed and I can never forgive myself for what I have done. And I now must go away paying a price for this. I hope my family will survive through this and make a better life now that I will be gone. "

She resumed her silent reading after finishing reading the paragraph aloud. Until, Natalia got to the third page. When her eyes suddenly widened as if she were being frightened to death. She dropped the letters and ran out of the room into the kitchen. By which time everyone followed behind her seeing why she was upset and what it was that had. Cornering her near the sink Claire tried to put an arm around her to comfort her. Natalia lashed out at her as if she were some wild animal trying to attack her. And went around the counter trying to get away running into the dinning room as Emma calmly said. " Let me try! What ever is in this letter she's upset with you Claire. I'll see if I can't get her to talk to me about it. Stay here everyone!"

Callow Rose Blog novel Part 8

Suddenly their was a loud bang coming from near the kitchen. Which scared and made them both jump in fright. They slowly turned their heads toward each other, then turned running out the front door as if something kicked them. Not even thinking about it dashed into his car hiding in the back seat in fear of what ever it was in the manor. While he headed for the drivers seat quickly flooring the gas and pealed out of the driveway.

Once they began reaching the town square Deacon slowed down on the gas so they wouldn't have a wreck into the towns statue. By then Claire had managed through Deacon's dare devil driving to get into the front seat and get past her fright. Claire as he pulled into the driveway of her place asked if he wanted to come in. Since she felt too scared to be alone. He obliged and as they walked inside she offered a drink. As she did Claire kept wondering what or who was trying to scare her with the letters, the house, the what she thought was odd behavior by her friends Natalia and Deacon as well as the uninvited, unexpected guest of Natalia's.

Even though she still didn't have the proof she needed only the strange feeling she keeps getting. A knock on the door snapped her out of her daze of thought. She was suprised when she opened the door finding to her suprise an old high school friend one of whom she hadn't seen in over twenty years. An elegantly lanky woman of her mid to late thirties with eyes that looked like the color of saphires. Deacon came up to Claire by then, Claire introduced her. "Deacon this is an old highschool friend. Emma Robles, this is an old friend from a coffee shop addiction, Deacon Stiles.

Emma just laughed as did Deacon who doesn't usually laugh at her sarcasm considering he's never thought that her sarcastic side was very good. Claire excused herself before she totally entered the living-room and headed into the kitchen. As she stood there in the middle of the room she thought to herself,"Why are all these old friends suddenly popping up out of the blue?" She then wondered who would be the next person to suddenly pop up like old times. She decided to brush off the feeling for now as she made hot pot of coffee and placed some cookies and doughnuts on a platter. Putting on a smile as she carried a tray full Claire walked back into the living room to find neither one of them was there. She quickly put the tray on the coffee table and went to the door, the door was still locked.

So she went to the dinning room. No one was there either. Now feeling panicked she upstairs searching her bedroom first. No one was there, then the bathroom same as before and then the guest room. And to her dismay no one in there either. Claire wandered back down the stairs wondering if she had lost it. Did Claire's friends actually show up or was she hallucinating. When she walked back into the living room to retrive the tray she found them sitting there on the couch talking to her suprise. Claire then began to yell at them both as she slammed the tray back on the table.

"Claire take it easy we were here the whole time." Deacon insisted.

Claire however didn't believe him since she looked around the room before she scrambled into the other parts of the house.

Callow Rose Blog Novel Part 7

He didn’t say another word only turned around and slammed out of her house as she held her breath for a moment. Not sure of what he was going to do next. Making sure Deacon wasn’t nearby and spying on her Claire waited fifteen minutes, before going out. Claire decided that she needed to prove to Deacon wrong that she wasn’t a wuss as he put it. She packed a bag filled with cloths and some snacks . So as soon as she knew the coast was clear and it was dark she headed out. In the hopes that she could once and for all prove herself. Plus if he found out she was going into the old manor it would only make it harder on her.

Soon as she arrived she looked for the old key to open the front door. But, to her astonishment she found that the door was ajar. Could be that she had left it this way the last time she was in there. Brushing off the scared feelings she headed in side with flashlight in tow. All of a sudden there was a strange wailing sound that scared and stopped Claire in her tracks at the bottom of the stairs. She almost turned to go. But quickly managed to pull herself together, she did not want to prove herself to be a coward nor prove to him he was right. She turned back toward the stairs and headed up to one of the bedrooms.

She stubbed her toe on the bed post as she fumbled around in the darkness searching around the room. As she went toward the closet door an odd scent came rushing in at her. Engulfing Claire in the sickenly thick scent of perfume. Gasping for air she scrambled to the nearby window but was unable to open it. So she then shot out of the room and down the stairs. As she reached the last step Claire collapsed from not being able to breath from the heavy sent.

Several hours past as she finally regained conciousness where she found Deacon sitting beside her looking down worried.

“Are you okay Claire? What happened? Easy, easy don’t get up to quickly.”

Callow Rose Blog Novel Part 6

She walked around the town square for several hours even in the pouring rain trying to figure out things. Claire returned home four hours later, soaken wet from the rain. As she approached her porch she noticed someone sitting there on the steps. It turned out to be none other than Harry Ullrich, the friend who was the partier and a friend of Natalia's. She wondered what Harry could want since she didn't know him at all.

"Hello, Mr Ullrich, What can I do for you?"

And this turned out to be a loaded question after she said it. As she would recieve an unexpect answer. With a clue to why those letters had been sent to her.

He took a moment as if to catch his breath then said in a rather weary voice. " I know how sent those letters to you. And your not gonna like it, I was forced to shut up about it. And when we met I realized you were the one they were wanting to mess with. "

" Mess with? Who wants to mess with me Mr. Ullrich?"

Before he could answer her question Deacon came strolling up the sidewalk. Ullrich then proceed to leave rather quickly as if he wished to avoid him for some reason.

As he did She decided she didn't want to talk to Deacon after their last confrontation. So she headed in closing the door before he could block it. However, this didn't stop him as he just waltzed right in and blankly asked.

"Hey do you want to go to movie tonight? My treat, especially after the awful way I treated you earlier. I'm sorry Claire. "

Claire didn't hesitate in stating no to him. " No, not tonight I have something I have to do. Besides I'm still mad at you for doing that. What got into you? I know I was acting a bit strangly earlier but, what you did was no excuse. Now if you'll leave I'll be getting ready to go out. I will not leave you in my house alone."

Callow Rose Blog Novel Part 5

As soon as they all left Claire went to the drawer that she placed the letters in only to find to her disbelief they were not where she placed them. She started tearing through everything trying to find them even going back into the dining room to make sure she hadn’t gone nuts putting them back into the China cabinet drawer.

After two hours of tearing the entire downstairs apart Claire was disappointed and worried that she couldn’t find them. So out of frustration and sheer panic she called Deacon hopeful that maybe he had taken them.

“Deacon did you take off with those letters?”

“What letters? What on earth are you babbling about now?”

“You know ever well what letters! Don’t you remember when they were strung all over the floor the day before yesterday and how you just wouldn’t leave it be.”

“O those, I had actually forgotten about that. Nope I hadn’t seen them or took them. They gotta be around the house. You probably just misplaced them.”

Becoming more annoyed by the second Claire slammed the phone down on Deacon to his suprise. She then went back through the house one more time and this time she decided to start up stairs. Claire was not going to leave any stone unturned as she frantically searched for the letters. That is after she called Natalia as she was at her place last night as well.

“Natalia, This is Claire I don’t suppose that you have ran onto some letters last night while helping with dinner and such last night?”

“No, I’m afraid not. Why?”

“No bother, sorry about about that, I must have just misplaced them.”

“I hope you are able to find them. By the way, Hows——–”

Before Natalia could ask about Claire’s head. She had once again hung up abruptly without even saying good bye. Starting up stairs she torn apart each room frantically searching each nook and cranny of every room. After almost two hours, nothing turned up. As she headed back down stairs about mid way she noticed something laying on the living room table. To her astonishment it just happened to be the letters she had been trying to locate.

Standing there a minute, Claire felt as though she was losing it now. But finally thought they had been there the whole time and she had just missed it. However, there was a clue there that she hadn’t lost her mind. A candy wrapper laid right beside the letters and this brand wasn’t one she’d eat either. It was a snickers bar. Claire wasn’t able to eat anything with nuts considering a very bad allergy to nuts. She avoided anything that contained nuts. Chocolate bars included.

She wasn’t positive who yet but Claire suspected it was Natalia who placed the letters in her house while she was upstairs. Though Claire knew she’d need more than a candy wrapper as proof of this. Thing was how would she get this proof let alone get Natalia to slip up.

Claire this time placed the letter and even the candy bar wrapper in a zip lock bag then tapped it on the inside of top of her middle desk drawer. She figured if it went missing again. She’ll be able to get finger prints for sure. By the time late afternoon came Claire had decided to pay the coffee house a visit. Soon as she walked into the coffee houses door Deacon was already heading in her direction. But his demenor wasn’t what she was expecting. It may have been because of the way she treated him over the phone earlier that afternoon.

“Claire what are you doing here?” as he grabbed her by her arm looking back at his customers then dragging her back outside. Claire stared a moment stunned by how he’d just treated her.

“Deacon why are you acting like this?” He didn’t respond to her only turned around and walked back into the coffeehouse leaving her standing there wondering what had just happened.  

Callow Rose Manor Novel Part 4

Soon as everything had finished cooking and they sat down in the dinngroom and Claire managed to work out in her mind how she'd get them to slip up and findout what they were up to. Natalia's cellphone began to ring before she could say. Which made both Deacon and Claire break out into laughter since the ring tone was of La Cucaracha. Which seemed to be a ring signal of one of her more partying type friends. Now embarrased Natalia quickly excused herself from the table to answer the call in the kitchen. As they continued to giggle over the ringtone.

After five minutes, she came back into the room and they had finally stopped laughing. " My friend is close by and I said she could join us for dinner. I hope this is okay with you?"

Claire on the inside was less than amused at this but visably didn't show this as she agreed to allow the friend to come and stay for dinner. Another 4 and half minutes later Natalia's friend arrived. And she excused herself to go and let him in. He a rather tall gentleman with hazel eyes and reddish hair.

As he walked into the dinningroom Natalia introduced him as Harry Ullrich. She asked him what he did for living as he sat down at the table.

He didn't answer her but he did start conversastion with Natalia. " Hey are you coming to tiki night at the bar?"

It all went into a blur at that moment with Claire she just sat there the entire dinner zoned out eating as they laughed and carried on talking. Until, she finally had it when dessert was about to be served. Instead of heading toward the kitchen to get the dessert she turned around and said. "I'm sorry, but I think you all should go I'm not feeling well suddenly." She then strolled out of the room into the living room putting her hands on her face as she sat down in the nearest chair.

The three of them just sat there a moment in silence stunned by what had just happened. Deacon tried going into the livingroom to talk to Claire but she made it clear she didn't want to and demanded now that everyone leave. They all wondered at that point as they walked out the door, what they could have done to upset Claire so much to be asked to leave.

Callow Rose Manor Part 3

Once again brushing it off she went toward the kitch to start her lasgna. Claire got up casually tagging along behind her. As Natalia did her thing, Claire started a salad and began to set the table. At first they were both quiet as they made dinner. Until, Natatlia said or rather asked something that Claire hadn’t expected. “Why were those papers strung across the living room floor? Now don’t act like I didn’t notice as you rushed me past there at warp speed. I know you’re hiding something. It’s okay to talk about it if you need to. I won’t tell anyone.

As Claire continued to chop carrots she waited thinking a moment before answering Natalia’s question hopeful to maybe buy her time to a point where she would maybe decide she had went to fare asking such a question. But to her surprise that wouldn’t happen as she kept persistence in asking Claire what was in those letters. Before Claire could finally answer her there was a knock on the front door. Which turned out to be Deacon of all the people to show up at dinnertime. It seems that he had a sixth when it came to food and almost nightly would show up at dinnertime. This would annoy Claire every time and tonight was no exception to that rule.

There was an odd feeling as Deacon let him self in past her and headed toward the dinningroom. She wasn’t sure what it was, but she knew something fishy was up with him. She went back into the kitchen leaving him alone in the dinningroom until he waltzed in right behind her. To Claire’s surprise both Deacon and Natalia seemed to act as thought they knew each other. And when she confronted them about it. Deacon quickly stated, ” Relax Claire, sheesh. Why do you think I know this chick. I’ve never seen or met her until tonight. You seriously need a vaction or meds, something. Cus, you’ve lost it.”

Claire couldn’t put her finger on it but she was now sure that her old friends knew each other. But how could she prove that and if they were up to something.

Deciding to let him stay and not say another word Claire kept thinking as she finished making the salad of how she could get either one of them to trip up. She knew it would be tricky so she had to be careful of what she said and how she said it. So they wouldn’t grow suspicious of her questions.

She looked up from chopping the rest of the carrots looking at Deacon.

” You know while you’re here you can help make dinner. I hear from the grapvine you make a mean homemade peach cobler.” Suddenly the oven clock beeped.”Oh your lasagna is already done Natalia?

Anyways there’s a basket full of ripe peaches and I got canned ones too. So you can pick either one you want to use Deacon.”

Haunting of Callow Rose Part 3 1/2

As soon as Natalia went to the kitchen, Claire rapidly dashed into the dinning room to hide the letters in the nearest drawer. Then casually strolled in to find Natalia had made herself at home rummaging through all the cupboards and fridge for ingredients to make lasagna.

“It looks like I’ll need to go to the market to get the things to make her lasagna. Do you need anything else while I’m there?”

Claire only gestured no to answer her. Just stood there as though she either had to pee or run around like a child zooming down the stairs on Christmas morning. (Which coincedently was her favorite holiday. )

Natalia just ignored her odd behavior heading out the door. Giving Claire time to quickly shoot out of the kitchen into the dinning-room to retrieve and find somewhere else safe to put the letters until she could figure it all out.

An hour or so later, Natalia returned with an arm load of groceries walking into the house she found Claire just sitting there on the couch like nothing weird happend before she’d went to the market.

Callow Rose Manor part two

Deacon just sat a moment stunned by her reaction. " I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry, I won't read it." He then resumed eating quietly trying to avoid another conflict with her. Claire remained silent the entire breakfast with her arms crossed each other, looking angrier than before they sat down. After Deacon finished he took his plate into the kitchen and then left with out saying a word to Claire. This only angered her more for what seemed like no reason.

And on this windy,but pretty, morning she didn't bother with going to the coffee shop for her ritualed cup of coffee. No, Instead she decided to go for a walk around the town's square for awhile, window shopping without actually buying anything. Hopeful that she could avoid another tense episode like this mornings.

By noon time she was begining turn back to head home when she ran into once again her old college friend Natalia but this time was different. She stopped to chat a while even offering to take her to lunch to catch up on old times. Which Claire graciously accepted though felt uneasy since their last encounter.

After walking toward the old square again they found an old bistro and sat at one of the outside tables. Claire and Natalia talked for hours even after their lunch was finished and Claire even invited her to dinner at her home taking Natalia with her as she headed back.

As Claire unlocked the door and opened it. Natalia went immediatly looked around scoping the place as if she was an appraiser. As she went toward the dinningroom Claire cut her off aiming her in the direction of the kitchen hopeful that she wouldn't see the letters that were still on the dinningroom table.

Haunting of Callow Rose Manor

Claire regretted saying yes and knew it wouldn't be polite to back out of it now. Even though, she agreed to stay in the creepy old manor it still made her nervous. Deacon Stiles a self-employed coffee shop owner and proprietor. Late Friday evening, Deacon pulled up into the driveway to pick up Claire Chevalier, she was a dashing tall woman in her mid-thirties with long Burnett hair and brown eyes. As he got out and came around to the passenger side to open the car door he looked at her with a coy mischievous look, right then and there she knew he was up to something. After a half an hour drive they had pulled up to the old Callow Rose Manor, a little quaint turn of the century manor with a vast rose and vegetable garden in the backyard that's fit for a king or queen. Claire peered out the window in surprised and dismay. It had been sixteen years she thought to herself since she'd been at that fateful day at the manor, the incident that made her leave for what she thought would be forever. "Should I tell him, or should I bite my tongue and just leave it?" Claire decided to leave it...for now. 


She hoped that he would never learn of the secret. As they went inside she hesitated while approaching the door. He looked at her, "What's the matter? It's just an old house."She could only take a big gulp then started toward the door again. Carefully pushing it seeing if it was locked when suddenly he pushed past her grabbing the door knob from her opening it as he said, "You're a big fat chicken Claire Chevalier! There is nothing that will get you behind that door. I'm not going to let anything happen to you, come on!"She stood there in the foyer in disbelief not only of what Deacon had said but the fact that he brought her to this particular mansion. Turning to go toward the kitchen she heard a scream coming from one of the upstairs bedrooms.  


Claire yelled for Deacon as she quickly ran up the steps practically skipping every other step. And unlike before her adrenaline was rushing over her washing away her previous fears. Making her forget about her secret. Deacon shot up the stairs after Claire, standing at the top step he listened for her or the screams. He could hear nothing as carefully he approached the first bedroom door to his left. Putting his ear to the door listening for any signs of life on the other side of it. Then after several seconds, he went on to the next bedroom doing the same thing, there after the same to the next rooms. It suddenly happened again, this time it sounded as though it was coming from above him. At first he couldn't see of any way to get up there until he spotted from a hall closet a pull down stairway up to the attic. Deacon carefully started up the stairs as he peered around him as though could feel something watching.  


Once he reached the top step, he looked around the darkness trying to find a light switch before he entered the attic. Nothing could be seen as an obvious light source. Slowly rising from the last step trying not to knock himself over as he searched the dark room. Finally managing to find the light switch on the other side of the junk filled room he turned on the light and was surprised by what he was seeing. An old projector, old table that looked like a giant scrabble table and some old costumes. He wondered who would need all that as well as what they were doing with it exactly. Hearing something muffled behind him, Deacon turned toward it. Looking at what appeared to be a large old chest. The strange noises seemed to be coming from it. Cautiously, approaching it he leaned over to unlock the lock and when he did so Claire bolted out of it knocking him to the ground as she ran behind him.  
Then suddenly realized she had inadvertently knocked him over when she bolted out. Guilt-fully she assisted him to his feet as she apologized profusely for what happened. He just looked at her smiling as he grunted from the pain in his side. "You have a very hard feet and knees woman! I think you hit me in the side as you popped out of there." As Deacon groaned in agony she kissed him on the cheek as she helped him into a nearby seat, and checks to see if anything was bruised, then decided they should head back downstairs.  

As they headed back down the stairs a peculiar and scary sound abruptly stopped them in their tracks, mid flight of stairs making them both shudder. Claire said " Okay that's it I have had enough for the night. We are leaving!" as she drug him down the stairs quickly as he moaned in agony and pain. Deacon then laughed a little as they hit the bottom step " O Come on you chicken can't take a little spook. It's probably just the wind or something."

Claire just glanced at him a moment the let go of him making him hop around a moment to regain his balance as she said "Okay Deacon you can stay here all-all night! I'm getting the heck out of here." She had just made it to the end of the driveway. When Claire heard Deacon's car peal out heading right toward her yelling. "Hey now come on Claire it's too dark to hitch-hike, let me take you home."They said nothing for the rest of the drive or when they arrived at her place. She got out without a word and headed inside leaving him stumped by her reaction.  

Next morning, as she went to the coffee house for her usual caffeine fix, Claire said nothing about what had happened the day before, nor did Deacon. The only words that were spoken was just a simple hello as he handed her the coffee. After she left the coffee house Claire had not even gotten around the block when she almost ran physically into Natalia Baylor, an old friend from college who she hadn't seen since.  
Strangely to her surprise Natalia said nothing to her as she jumped back to avoid a collision, and walked right passed her as if she hadn't even seen her, even after she had yelled her name to grab her attention. Left her wondering what had just happened. As she continued on toward home she contemplated the incident from the night before, as well as her sudden run in with Natalia. She began to wonder at that moment, was it just an odd coincidence or was it something else. Soon as she got in the doorway Claire noticed an envelope at her feet. Thinking that the mailman had thrown it into the doorway mail slot, she proceeded to open it unaware of what she was about to read. The letter appeared to be old browned and a bit tattered around the edges.  


Also in it, what appeared to be a piece of another note with an address on it. 4740 E. Hayfield St. Milton Virginia. Claire was quite puzzled by this note as well as the letter, not to mention everything else that just happened finding it coincidental all this happening at the very same time. Though feeling unsure of whether everything was connected this concerned her greatly. After she paused for a moment to think then resumed reading, as she flung the envelope with the torn note inside on the coffee table and sat down continuing to read. Claire couldn't believe as she continued to read when she suddenly tossed the letters across the room in disgust. Thinking it couldn't be, as she dropped to the floor remaining there almost the entire night; when Claire finally shook the eerie feelings after reading the letter an hour before dawn, managing to rest a little.  


As Claire reached the hallway to the kitchen there was a knock on the door. Deacon had decided to pay her a visit after the spooky evening the day before. As he went into the living room Deacon noticed the papers strung all over the floor. He began to lean over and pick one of the pieces of paper up when Claire quickly snatched it from his hand. And in a scolding tone, " It is none of your business!" Surprised by her reaction he just mumbled," FINE! What-ever Claire." Sitting down in the chair next to the fire place and the next ten minutes, filled with an uncomfortable silence. Until Claire offered, "Would you like some breakfast? Or a cup of coffee? Since you are already here. I was about to make my breakfast when you knocked."  


He smiled and nodded agreeably as he followed her into the kitchen where he helped with making breakfast. Soon as they sat down to eat. Deacon began once again with " Why did you get so mad when I picked up that piece of paper? Speaking of which why were they all strung out all over the floor for?" She didn't say anything for a few minutes acting as though Claire didn't even hear his questions. Just then, suddenly rose up from her seat and went back into the living room. when she returned she had the letters with her. Claire tossed them on the table in between them and said go ahead read it! Then went back to eating in silence angered by his snooping. 


Deacon hesitated at first glancing over at Claire. She glared at him with anger in her eyes," GO AHEAD! Read it! Maybe you can figure out that mess!"