"Did she tell Calvin about the two of you?"Rob asked.
"No," Jay answered.
"And that's why you came back?So she could tell him in person?"Abby asked.
"I don't know if… well, I mean, she hasn't seen him in a long time and…” The far-off look returned to Jay’s eyes.
"You're afraid she might change her mind?About the two of you?”Rob asked.
"I'd be lying if I said otherwise."Jay closed his eyes for several moments, remembering the scene in their hotel suite."First thing this morning, she was dressed, packed, and on her way to the airport without me."
"What?Why?"Rob asked.
"Guilt.To try and right her wrong.Last night was awful.She broke down, blaming herself for Hope’s death.This morning she decided she had to go back to him.I convinced her to give me five minutes and we ended up talking for an hour."
"She’s okay now, right?"Rob asked.
"She was quiet on the plane.I didn’t press her.I’ve been right there and I know she has to find her way through this on her terms.”
"Areyouokay?"Abby asked.
Jay hesitated, his mind drifting back to the warm embrace he and Claire had shared just moments before he watched the airport taxi pull away from the curb.He could still feel her silky hair against his fingertips as he fought to hold on just one second longer, afraid fate might take her away for good.
"I guess we'll know if and when my phone rings," Jay replied softly.
"I'm really sorry, Jay,” Rob added after a quiet moment.“I know you didn’t plan on this."
Jay released a tense breath."That seems to be the running theme of my life."
CHAPTERFORTY-ONE
CLAIRE
Claire replayed her conversation with Calvin for the millionth time.As the cab turned onto his familiar tree-lined drive, her chest tightened with apprehension.Nothing seemed to have changed since she'd been there.All the pristine homes and manicured lawns greeted her as warmly as an old friend.Were they just a facade?Or did happy families actually exist behind a pretense of perfection?Would she have been happy living here?As Calvin’s wife?
"Would you mind if we stopped for a minute?"she asked the driver."I need to make a call.”
The car pulled to the side of the street and Claire quickly opened the door, in desperate need of two things: fresh air and a loving, compassionate voice.
"Hello, sweetheart," Harry answered.
"Hi, Dad," she whispered.
"Well, this is an unexpected surprise," he responded jovially."How are you?How's New York?"
"Uh, I'm not in New York at the moment.I'm in California."
"What?Don't tell me he's whisked you away for another romantic weekend on the opposite coast?"Harry said with a light laugh.
"It's nothing like that I'm afraid,” she said, sounding sad.
"Claire, honey, what’s wrong?"
"I don't know…” A large lump moved up into Claire’s throat, blocking her words.
"Darling, what’s happened?"he asked, his tone fearful.
Claire paused and collected her thoughts as best she could.She shared the bizarre twists of fate that contorted the last twenty-four hours of her life.She spoke softly and calmly while Harry listened.Though emotionally shaken on the inside, she remained composed long enough to fill in the missing pieces.
