Pausing, Claire then added, "There are two flights, and we could head over at the end of the month, and then fly back after New Year's."

Charlie chuckled. "Is your mom asking, or did she tell you to persuade me?"

"The latter," Claire laughed too. "Guess you know her best. She really wanted us to all go together."

Considering his plans, Charlie decided that he had no special reason to stay in the country anyway.

Since Claire put it that way, she must be interested—she would have refused Elain