It’s the first time she’s called since she had me do the handover.
“Simone,” I say, surprised. “How are you? Is everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine,” she says.
“Oh, good,” I tell her. “I’ve been wondering how you’re doing.”
“I feel like a whale,” she says. “I’ve got four weeks left, and this baby just keeps growing.”
I open my mouth and then close it. I don’t actually know enough about pregnancy to know if that’s reassuring or alarming. “Is that . . . okay?”
She laughs. “Yes, Claire. Babies are supposed to grow.”
“Right,” I say, feeling silly for saying that. “I don’t know if I said this before, Simone, but I’m . . . I’m really happy for you.”
“Thank you. I’m really happy too. My ankles are the size of tree trunks, though. I’m not all that happy about that.”
“So how long will you be taking for maternity leave? When are you coming back?” I ask.
“That’s why I’m calling.”
This is what I need to hear right now. Knowing when Simone will be back will get me through this next part, whatever that is. And then I can return to my D-list clients. Go back to my easier life. Back to a life without Luke Wilder in it. Or at least one where I can avoid him more easily.
“I don’t think I am,” she says.
Wait. What? She doesn’t think she’s coming back? But that makes zero sense. This is a woman who once attended a black-tie charity gala with a broken wrist, managed her client during the entire event one handed, and went to urgent care after it was over.
Surely she could manage clients with a baby strapped to her back. Or however you carry a baby.
“I don’t understand,” I reply.
“Let’s just say my priorities have changed,” she says. “I’ve let the partners know and recommended you to take my place.”
“You . . . what?” I’m so confused. Simone isn’t coming back.
Has she lost her mind? It must be pregnancy brain. It’s a thing. I saw it on an episode ofHow I Met Your Mother. That must be what’s happening.
“Simone, are you serious?”
“I’ve been watching how you’ve handled the Bailey Lockhart situation,” she says. “And you’ve done a great job, Claire.”
I actually meant about her not coming back. My brain hadn’t even gotten to the part where she thinks I could do her job.
“You’ve been watching?” I ask, even more confused. “But weren’t you supposed to be on a media blackout?”
She chuckles. “You didn’t really think I was doing that, did you?”
“It felt out of character, to be honest. But Marcus—”
“Marcus sleeps like the dead. Nights are long when you’re uncomfortable and can’t sleep. He had no idea. But I’ve seen everything that was thrown your way, and that leak last night to combat the staged-breakup narrative? I would have done the same thing.”
I might cry for an entirely different reason now. One that has nothing to do with Luke. Coming from Simone, that’s the closest thing to a standing ovation I’ll ever get.
“Thank you, but I don’t know if I’m prepared to take over for you, Simone. Your shoes might be too big to fill,” I say, being honest.
I’m all over the place with my emotions right now. Grateful but overwhelmed. Happy, but also slightly terrified. And also, half convinced I’m still asleep and this is just a dream.
“You can do this, Claire,” she says. “I wouldn’t have recommended you if I thought otherwise.”
