“I can, and I do,” he said.“But her apology is nothing compared to the one I owe you.”
Claire locked on his eyes, soft and sincere.“Calvin, I don’t even know if strong enough words exist for the apology I owe you.”
Again he squeezed her hand.“No.I’m going to stop you right there.I didn’t call you for an apology.You did nothing wrong.You have to know that.You have to know it andbelieveit.”
“I want to… I do… but…” Her eyes grew glassy with tears.
"I’ve prayed for you to come back, Claire.And now, you’re here with me.”He paused and looked down at their fingers laced together.“I wish it could be under different circumstances."
"What do you mean?"she asked.
"There's an aura around you, Claire.One I've never seen before."He released her hand and touched the pendant around her neck."Someone's found the key.The key that unlocks all the joy that Claire Margaret Jordan deserves.I've never seen you look so good."
She tried to pull his hand away."Calvin, there's something I need to tell you."
He placed his finger on her lips, silencing her words."I don't need to know his name or where he lives or what he does for a living.I just need to know one thing.Are you deliriously happy when you're with him and insanely lost when you're not?"
In his eyes, she saw a mixture of longing and sadness.The image of them on the beach in Negril came sharply into her mind.It held focus for a moment, then slipped away like sand through her fingers, leaving only Jay.
"He means everything to me," she whispered, a tear sliding down her cheek.
"Then there's only one thing you can do, love."He gently wiped it away."Don't let one more moment slip away."
CHAPTERFORTY-TWO
JAY
Aweather notification sounded on Jay’s phone, pulling him out of a bizarre dream.Beads of sweat dotted his chest and neck, and he struggled to catch his breath.It took a moment to recognize his surroundings in the dark, quiet condo.He had barely spent any time there since the accident—and even less since reconnecting with Claire.Though most reminders of his life with Hope had been removed, the space still seemed haunted by her memory.
He sat up and ran his hands through his hair.His gaze zeroed in on his cell phone.He’d made a solemn vow not to call her, but the lateness of the hour tested his resolve.She hadn’t given him a timeframe, only a promise to call later.Hours had passed since they parted at the airport, though it felt like days.Jet lag and lack of sleep fed dozens of irrational thoughts.After several minutes of quiet contemplation, he reached for his phone.
"Yeah?"Rob answered with a whisper.
"Did I wake you?"Jay asked.
"No, we're still up.Watching an old movie.Is everything okay?"
Jay walked to the window and stared out at the city lights."She's still not back."
"It's only midnight,” Rob said.“They haven't seen each other in a long time."
Jay pushed out a tense breath.“It's just that she's been gone for hours."
"And she'll come back when she's ready.”Rob reassured him.“Listen, I'm glad you called because I have a message for you.I thought about calling you earlier, but I didn't want to interrupt you in case you two were together."
"A message from who?"Jay questioned.
"Hope's mom."
Jay’s chest tightened."Nang called you?"
"I didn't talk to her.She left a voicemail.Said to tell you she got your message about the delivery.She’s been trying to call you back, but the call won’t go through.She just kept getting some service recording.She wants you to call her back, but it didn't sound like an emergency or anything."
"You don't think Claire's been trying to call me and got the same message, do you?"
"I doubt it."
"Maybe I should call her… or I could just drive over there?"
