"Surprise!"Claire stood up quickly, swallowing back tears.
“Claire Margaret Jordan…” He rolled up next to her, taking her hand and depositing a light kiss upon it."What an honor."
She threw her arms around his neck and held him tightly.They stayed in each other’s embrace for a long time, and Claire worked to rein in the emotions building inside her.She pulled back and gave him a warm smile.
"You look fantastic," she said.
"Not nearly as fantastic as you.I can't believe you're here, but I knew you'd come back.Didn't I tell you, Liz?They always come back.It's the accent, you know.They can't resist the accent."
"You’ve always said that,” Claire agreed.
"Well, make yourself useful and bring us some drinks."He snapped and winked at his assistant.
"Gin and tonic?"she asked Claire.
"Actually, some water would be great."
"Just the usual for me,” Calvin said.
"Coming right up."Liz gave a salute.
Liz slipped away, leaving Calvin and Claire alone together.Sitting in his wheelchair, he looked much like she had imagined—only thinner and more lean.The days in a hospital bed had stripped at least twenty pounds from his frame.Still, his arms remained tan and toned, just as she had pictured, and she couldn’t help but smile at the sparkle in his eye.
"My God, Claire.You look absolutely fabulous.Radiant.Really, darling, you're a vision."
"Well, thank you."She cocked her head to one side, eyeing him from head to toe."To be perfectly honest, I wasn't sure what you'd look like."
He raised both arms and flexed his muscles."Do I pass inspection?"
She laughed."Definitely."
Liz returned minutes later, bringing trays of beverages and assorted cheeses.The three of them sat talking and laughing as though not a day had passed between them.The minutes melted away without a hint of discomfort.Calvin hadn’t lost his knack for storytelling.He had them howling with a string of old stories and the latest celebrity gossip.Her own contributions felt modest by comparison, but Claire shared updates on her father and the not-so-shocking news of Hamish and Molly.
"Well, everyone knows Molly's a tramp.It was just a matter of time," Calvin said, grinning.
"Now, now… she told you herself she prefers the termhussy," Claire gently corrected him.
"Yes, of course.And speaking of bitches, there's someone I'd like you to meet," Calvin teased, turning his chair toward the garage.
Claire followed as he led the way to the space that once housed his performance automobiles.Inside, she found Liz’s description of his workout facility lacking.The room looked beyond sleek—like something out of a magazine.Floor-to-ceiling mirrors lined an entire wall.The latest shiny, high-tech equipment filled one end of the space, while a sauna and steam room occupied the other.In true Calvin Butterworth fashion, he'd spared no expense.One item in particular caught her eye, and a piece of her heart fell away.
"Did you do this?"she asked, studying the large canvas on the wall.
He rolled up beside her."I finished it a few days ago.Do you like it?"
"I don't know exactly," she said, her voice tight.
"Women,” Calvin huffed.“You never like pictures of yourselves."
Claire stood in front of the large portrait, taking in every detail of her own face.She recognized it immediately—from the photograph taken in Negril.The same image that had greeted her for months each time she opened her laptop.Now it had been replaced with one of Jay on horseback at Hamish’s estate.
"It's beautiful, Calvin.”She rested a hand on his shoulder.“Absolutely beautiful."
A loud bark cut through the tender moment, announcing the new lady in Calvin’s life.Claire turned just as a beautiful German Shepherd jumped up on Calvin, licking his face happily.
"They all react this way."He gave the dog a playful pat.“It’s a curse.”
"She's gorgeous."Claire bent down beside the dog and stroked her back."What's her name?"
