Claire gave me a soft smile and patted my hand. “I’m just guessing with a few psychology classes under my belt.”
“God, how could I not have seen that?”
All the times she put Jude first and dismissed me. Guilted me into doing everything for her, twisting the truth to suit her purposes—now being Jude out of her control. All of it made so much more sense.
Yes, some of it was because of the merger, but Jude could easily come home to make things look good during the pomp and circumstance that came with sealing the deal.
“So Jude didn’t have a good relationship with your dad.”
“My father isn’t exactly demonstrative on a good day, knowing Jude wasn’t biologically his could explain a lot of things with how he treated Jude.” But my mother always treated him like the prince.
Always a little more important than any of us.
I just assumed it was because he was the first born son. Now it felt so much larger and overwhelming.
“But that doesn’t mean you can’t build a relationship with Oliver and Seth. They’re really good guys and their wives are so down to earth.”
My chest tightened. “I know. I just don’t feel like I belong.”
Anywhere.
“You could.” She patted my hand.
“Enough about my ridiculous family drama.”
Claire laughed. “Anyway, about the current state of angst between Xavier and my family. My grandfather built most of our current wealth thanks to real estate. However, the Hamiltons have outgrown what my father has built in Crescent Cove. They leaned into family homes and that has become a boom thanks to...”
“Babies.”
“You got it.” She got up and adjusted the boat’s heading in a way I didn’t understand, but felt the boat kick up in motion again. “Heath has tried to dissuade our father from this ostentatious and insanely expensive idea and to put more moneyback into businesses in the Cove, but he’s so fixated. Instead, he just wants to collect more land until it fits his vision.”
It was interesting to hear the other side of the feud between the families.
“As you can imagine, Xavier has his own ideas about that.”
“I don’t know much about their personal conflict. As I said, I end up getting trapped in the charity end of things and I was away for school for a big portion of it. I do know when Xavier and his friends bought that old strip mall a few years ago my father went apoplectic.”
That project was the key to killing Jude’s connection with the town.
And I was sitting in the boat of...well, the enemy to be honest.
Exactly who could help me get what I wanted.
Wanted was a strong word. It was what I needed.
We were quiet as we got closer to the boathouse. Claire had to concentrate to get her sails down to bring down the speed to dock her boat. Her brother was still tinkering with his car, sweat rings staining his shirt in a few places.
Heath met us as Claire was collapsing the sails. He jumped on board to help as if he’d done it a thousand times. “So, who’s you’re friend, Claire Bear?”
Claire wrinkled her nose. “Don’t call me that in front of strangers.”
He laughed and his eyes crinkled at the corners. He was tanned and looked like he’d lived his life on the water. His hair had a bit of a curl to it—not quite as much as Xavier, but definitely more of a windswept effortless vibe. He was easy to smile and was well aware of his attractiveness.
“I’m Sydney Keller.”
“Keller...Jude Keller?”
“My brother.”
