Chapter 102: Chapter 102

''The love between a father and daughter knows no distance.'' - www.machovibes.com

Claire's POV

The next morning, I was feeling much better. True, I was eagerly waiting to go back and tell Jason how I felt about him, but I also wanted to plan and be a part of gran's birthday celebrations and show her how much she means to us. So, with a positive attitude, I plunged into the planning scenario, preparing everything as mom told us to. After planning the menu for the party, we sat down to relax and gobble Martha's savory finger foods. Adrian rested his head on my shoulder.

"Claire I'm worried," he said while snacking on a mozzarella stick.

"Why Addy? What's wrong?" I asked my youngest brother. He is very close to me and always came to me with his problems. He always asked after me, ensured that I ate well, and made me smile when I was down. He cared a lot for me.

"You've changed. You're not smiling anymore Claire. You look very sad and I'm worried about you," he said.

"Don't worry Addy. I'm fine. Just missing a very good friend," I said but he smiled.

"I know you're missing Jason. You love him don't you?" he said knowingly.

I stared at him open-mouthed, thinking how exactly he knew. Did Stefan spill the beans? Stefan never told a soul about what I told him. "How did you know?" I asked.

"Dad was telling mom and I overheard," he said to my surprise. Dad? How did dad know? How much did dad know? Adrian went to get more food while I went in search of Stefan.

I found Stefan in his room, working on his latest research project. "Stef did you tell dad anything about me and Jason?" I asked confusedly.

"No Claire, but he knows everything. In fact, he's quite happy with Jason and your relationship," he said as I sat down, having difficulty digesting the information he gave me. Who told dad?

"How can you say that he's happy?" I asked in disbelief.

"I overheard mom and dad saying that he bought the house next door to aunt Emily just because of you," he said as my eyes widened in surprise at the news. "Mom and dad were grinning when they realized that you're in love with Jason."

"Oh?" I said thinking hard. So mom and dad want me to be with Jason. Why? Are they plotting something?

"Don't worry Claire. You'll figure everything out. Just have patience and give it time," he said. I was very confused by now and dying to know exactly what was going on. There was only one way to find out. I needed to ask mom but it was such an embarrassing topic. How could I ask her?

I went to gran's room where she was sitting with a fashion magazine. "What are you doing gran?" I asked, eyeing the magazine.

"What? I want to wear this dress on my birthday," she said pointing at a beautiful white sheath dress that reached the knee with an exquisitely crafted diamond studded peacock brooch attached to it.

"It's beautiful, gran. Give it to me, I'll tell dad and he will order it for you," I asked and she nodded, kissing my cheeks.

"So, how's Jason? Why didn't you bring him with you?" she asked, causing me to blush and look away.

"He had a business trip to go to," I told her truthfully while she chuckled as if we were discussing a secret.

"Don't let him go, he loves you too much. You don't see that type of true love nowadays," she said as I stared at her. How did she know what Jason felt for me?

"I don't know what he feels for me gran," I said and she smiled.

"Oh, he'll tell you when the time is right," she said knowingly.

"Do you really think so?" I asked and she smiled.

"I know so," she said, handing the magazine to me.

I left her room and went in search of dad. My mind stopped functioning altogether. It seemed my whole family knew about me and Jason and they were so smug and happy about it. What was going on? I stood outside dad's study and cautiously opened the door to peer inside. Dad was sitting at his desk with a legal-looking document in his hand which he placed down the moment I peeped inside.

"Yes my dear, come in," he said as I went in and sat down on a stool beside him. I handed him the magazine gran gave me. "What's this?" he asked, staring at the fashion magazine.

"Gran wants to wear this dress on her birthday, dad. Can we buy it for her?" I asked, opening the page, and showing him the picture of the dress.

"Alright, I'll buy it. Do you want anything from here?" he asked me but I shook my head.

"No not from here but I want to do a job after college hours as a trainee cosmetologist, if you don't have a problem with it," I said. I could say that he was stunned by my statement but he nodded appreciatively.

"Go ahead but you should take care of your health too, both mental and physical. As long as you don't fall sick juggling between the two, it's fine with me," he said. I smiled and gave him a brief hug.

"Thanks, dad," I said while he ordered gran's dress.

"There, that's taken care of," he said smiling. I smiled back and got up to leave.

"Jason is a very good guy. You two have my approval in anything you do," he said getting up too.

"Thanks, dad," I simply said, my cheeks coloring profusely.

"Since the day you were born, Kevin and Sarah have wanted you for Jason. Now that you both have grown up and matured, I want you and Jason to be together forever. Don't disappoint me, sweetie," he said as my eyes turned into saucers.

I had no idea that they had fixed the two of us together. Did Jason know? I had no idea.

"Yes dad," I said, turning to leave.

"Do you like Jason, dear?" he asked me.

"Yes dad," I said, feeling extremely embarrassed.

Dad smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners of his eyes. "God bless you, Claire. You have made me very happy indeed," he said, making my heart swell with happiness. I hugged him, feeling happy that I finally reconciled with him.