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“You remembered what tea I like?” she asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.
“I did. Hard to forget a name like chai. I bought a box of it, you know, for when you come over.”
Clare looked at me with a surprised look on her face before she opened the box and inhaled. “I love that smell. Chai reminds me of this time of year.”
“Just fill that pot up with water right there and turn it on. It will boil the water in a minute.”
“Fancy!” Clare said with a wink.
I poured the eggs over the veggies and said, “I hope you’re in the mood for omelets.”
“Breakfast is my favorite meal, any kind of breakfast. I could eat it for lunch and dinner. I remember growing up when my mom would make French toast for supper. Tim and I would be in heaven! My mom makes the best French toast.”
“I haven’t had French toast in forever. You’ll have to make me some of your mom’s.”
Clare took the now-boiling water and poured it over the loose tea leaves in the contraption that came with the mug.
“It’s a deal.”
She picked up her phone and frowned. “I guess no news is good news, right?”
Nodding, I flipped the omelet. “Did you want me to take you back to the hospital?”
“Oh no, you’ve already done so much for me, Wes. I can’t ask you to give up your Sunday.”
“You’re not.”
She paused for a moment as she stared at a spot on the floor.
“What’s on your mind, Clare?”
When she looked up, she wore such a torn expression. “I thought I saw on the planner Mandy was supposed to be at that luncheon for Boston business owners. You got the invite too. I thought maybe you’d want to go.”
Picking up the pan, I tilted it and watched as the omelet slide out. “About that, Clare. I’ve been thinking about that whole thing, and I want to stop.”
Clare looked confused as she sat down on the stool at the island. “You want to stop what?”
Before I had a chance to answer her, there was a knock on my door.
“Who in the world is that?” I said as I quickly split the omelet among our plates.
Clare took her plate I handed her before I made my way to answer the door. Right before I went to open the door, something told me not to do it. A gut instinct to not open the door. I paused and was about to turn around when they knocked again.
“Wes? Are you going to answer the door?” Clare asked, confused.
Glancing at her over my shoulder, I forced a smile. “Yeah.”
I reached for the doorknob and opened it. It instantly felt like I swallowed a brick.
“Wes, I was hoping I’d catch you at home. Is now a good time to talk?” Mandy said as she brushed past me and into my place. She came to a stop when she saw Clare sitting there eating breakfast.
“Excuse me, Mandy, but Clare and I were about to eat breakfast and head back to the hospital. I didn’t invite you in.”
Mandy forced a smile as she looked at Clare, then back at me. “It’s important that I talk to you, Wes. Really important. I’m sure your friend wouldn’t mind giving us some privacy.”
Clare’s brows raised.
“Clare is more than a friend, Mandy.”
