Life as a single mother was hard. Thankfully Claire had her mother.
As she prepared dinner and watched Toni play with her children, Claire thought about how much her life had changed.
She no longer worked at the club, instead she busted her hump for peanuts at the supermarket. Her mornings consisted of nappies, bottles and crying babies and her nights… Well they were the same.
Claire no longer had time to herself and on her weekends and days off she would take her children down to the place she scattered their father and teach them how to walk and talk. She hated the thought of Noah not witnessing these milestones but Claire was convinced Noah was watching over them.
She didn’t have much money and was adamant about not taking anything from Kyle and Angeletta. They did send her a monthly cheque which Claire saved as a college fund for the twins but apart from presents, Claire refused anything extra.
Toni was a big help not just as an extra set of hands but she was going to spend her life savings on a bigger house for them all.
Snapping back to reality, Claire noticed Toni walking towards her. Her body was frail now and her back ached everyday but she continued to work in the orchestra to help provide for Claire’s children.
“Thank you,” she smiled tiredly
Without having to say a word Toni knew what Claire was thanking her for and she kissed her on the cheek as she grabbed her plate.
“Have you given much thought on visiting Kyle and Angeletta for Christmas?” Toni asked as she washed the dishes.
“I don’t think it’s a good time, it’s too cold maybe when winters over,” Claire frowned as she played with Katie.
“Claire it’s been over a year since they last saw their grandchildren.”
“Yes but they’re probably too busy anyways, what with Candi’s first child due any day now they won’t have any time for us.”
“Of course they will, I will call Kyle to organise a spring holiday then. Honestly Claire the twins are their family and you need to stop with the childish attitude towards them. They are not ogres and you don’t want your children thinking that of them,” Toni lectured Claire.
Just like a sulking teenager, Claire turned away and ignored her mother.
“You don’t want to spend Christmas with Grandma Ang and Grandpa Kai, do you?”
Katie shook her head and Claire kissed her daughter goodnight. She knew she shouldn’t teach her kids to not like their grandparents. They will learn that on their own soon enough, she thought.
As if instinctively knowing that it was Christmas morning, Josh and Katie woke Claire up at 5 in the morning.
She got them bathed, dressed and fixed up their breakfast before jumping in the shower.
Thanks to a few double shifts at work, Claire was able to afford to fill the tree with gifts for the twins. She even bought Toni a new state of the art stereo. Katie and Josh had fun playing with all their toys especially the dolls that their grandparents sent down.
“Merry Christmas,” Toni said as she handed a gift box to Claire.
When Claire opened the box she saw a set of car keys.
“Mum you didn’t have to do this.”
“You couldn’t keep driving that jalopy you had, what with it breaking down almost every week.” Claire hugged her mother and thanked her before running outside to see her new car.
*******
When spring arrived, Claire, Toni and the twins travelled back to Appaloosa Plains to visit Kyle and Angeletta.
They decided to stay with Toni’s nephew and his family. His wife just so happened to be an Ashfield, Claire hated how small town this place was and knew that in her absence they would have all gossiped about the scandal surrounding the heirs to the famous Ashfield Legacy. She knew that everyone in the world knew but it was different when you come to a place like Appaloosa Plains.
The following morning, despite the butterflies in her stomach, Claire and Toni took the twins to visit their grandparents. Kyle and Angeletta were surprised at how big Josh and Katie had grown; they had missed their grandchildren so much.
Claire, Toni and Kyle lied by the pool and watched Angeletta play in the sand with the twins.
“I’m surprised she is sitting on the ground,” Claire stated
“Yes she has become a bit more playful since the arrival of Kylie. Speak of the devil,” Kyle exclaimed glancing at the back door.
As Claire looked over she noticed Candi and her daughter Kylie. She looked at Toni in shock as the mood became awkward.
“Hi Ang. Sorry for dropping by I know you have company but I am needed at the salon,” Candi said stealing a look at the twins.
Angeletta stood up and scooped Kylie from Candi’s arms, “That’s ok darling, I love spending time with this little munchkin.”
Claire watched on furiously as Angeletta walked away from her own grandchildren with Candi’s daughter in her arms.
The entire week they were in town it was mostly Kyle who spent time with Katie and Josh.
They loved every minute with their grandpa and even begun to cry for him when they were at the Riffin house.
The twins also got to spend a lot of time with Kylie she was younger than them and couldn’t talk yet but they still had fun playing with her.
Once the twins got used to their grandparents, Claire would just drop them off and leave to sight see. She felt uncomfortable especially when she ran into photos of Noah and Candi everywhere she turned.
Her time in Appaloosa Plains went by slowly and painfully. Claire couldn’t wait to get back to Starlight Shore but she was glad she came. Josh and Katie had fun and had really come to love their Grandfather. Kyle was a good person and Claire loved having him in her kids life.
“If there is anything you need, please don’t hesitate to ask,” Kyle said as he walked them out the door.
“Please Kyle you have done more than enough. Thank you.”
“I’ll call you as soon as we get home, tomorrow around four hopefully” Toni yelled out to Kyle.
That night as Claire laid her children down, she thought about how different Appaloosa Plains was from their home. She thought about the kind of upbringing her children would have in the Shore and if the city would have the same kind of effect it had on their father. She wondered what Noah would be like if he had grown up here instead.
As she pulled up the covers she thought about her children’s future and vowed to herself that she wouldn’t let them get lost in Starlight Shores, they wouldn’t be enticed by the bright lights, the rich and famous or the fancy night clubs.
The Ashfield Legacy 