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Claudia needed and why. Her whole life had turned on its head
overnight. It didn t matter how long it took for her to be certain
of what she wanted, as long as they stayed close. What scared her,
though, was the uncertainty of Claudia s resolve should her family
not approve, which seemed likely. Then there was the matter of
Mike. What if he had a change of heart and decided to give her
the support she needed? What do you need from me?
Just some patience and time. I need you to keep doing what
you re doing. Chase your own dreams, but help me with mine.
I m definitely going to apply for one of the jobs at Melrose next
year. Until that happens, though, I might have to stay in Cambria
with my folks.
You can stay here.
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Claudia shook her head. No, I can t. That s the other part of
my dream. All my life, I ve wanted to show that I could make it
by myself. I can t reject that kind of life with Mike and then turn
around and accept it with you.
But what s the difference between staying with your family
and staying with me? You d have a lot more independence
here.
Maybe, but if I moved in here while I waited to get a job,
how could I ever justify moving back out? You d feel like I didn t
love you.
Claudia was right that she would move heaven and earth to
persuade her to stay if she ever came to live here. And that was
the second time Claudia had mentioned love, though neither
reference had been direct or unequivocal. Still, Leo took comfort
in the roundabout insinuation. So you d move to Monterey if
you got a job?
In a heartbeat.
But what if you didn t?
If I didn t Claudia spun so that she could wrap her arms
around Leo s neck I d wear out the road between here and
there and keep trying until I did.
With tears streaming down her face, Claudia stepped around
Leo in the kitchen to drop the onion peels into the trash. Okay,
what else can I do?
Leo tossed the chopped onions into the bowl of ground beef,
eggs, tomatoes and bread crumbs, and mixed it with her hands.
Everything else is ready. I just have to bake this for about an
hour.
I ve never made meat loaf in my life. If it weren t for the
school cafeteria, I m not sure I ever would have eaten it either.
Did you have Cornish hen every night at your house?
That was actually my father s favorite and one of the few
things my mother made really well. She didn t like to cook but she
was always trying these recipes her friends gave her. Except she d
skip the tedious parts, like taking the seeds out of the tomatoes or
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flipping something in the marinade every half hour.
That s funny. The way you describe her, I thought she would
be a meticulous cook.
No, she just wants to look that way. When she has dinner
parties she buys most of it already prepared, puts it in her chafing
dishes and takes credit for it. My dad says people figured that out
years ago.
Leo chuckled and patted the mixture into a loaf. She checked
her watch as she closed the oven, then washed her hands. We
have time for a walk if you want to get out of the house for a
while.
They had been holed up for two straight days, either making
love or lounging lazily on the couch to give their bodies a rest.
Claudia had talked exhaustively about how she expected to handle
the uproar once she returned home. While her parents digested
the news she would proceed with getting her application on file
in all of the school districts around Monterey. In the meantime,
she would go back to her high school and summer job, which was
typing up medical records from her father s handwritten patient
notes. At least she would be free on the weekends to visit Leo,
which she planned to do every two weeks.
On their familiar route down to the wharf, Claudia wore
Leo s smallest jacket, a flannel-lined barn coat that swallowed
her. I can t believe you re going to make me wait two more
weeks to see the pictures.
I still haven t done the application. I couldn t concentrate
because you were gone, and now I can t concentrate because
you re here.
Are they good?
They re fantastic.
Even the nude?
Leo sighed dreamily. Especially the nude.
You said shooting nudes wasn t sexual.
I said it wasn t sexual when I didn t have a relationship with
the subject. It so happens I have a relationship with you.
She squinted and feigned her best accusatory glare. Maria
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was right.
It was your idea!
You tricked me, though. You got me all hot and bothered
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