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As much as I wanted to remain in Africa and try to enjoy myself, Claire would always be this black mark on our time there.
When Drake arrived home that evening, just after eight and we sat down to eat our meal, I brought up what Sefton had said to me.
Drake frowned when I recounted what Claire had said to Sefton about our relationship being on the rocks.
"What?" Drake said and paused, his fork halfway to his mouth. He put his fork down and frowned, his eyes dark. "I can’t believe she'd do that."
"She did, or else Sefton is lying. But considering what you heard from the nurse at the hospital, I believe him. He's probably embellishing, but I think she hoped that Sefton would get in between you and me."
Drake took a long drink from his glass of wine. "I wonder if I shouldn’t have a little talk with her the next time I see her."
I reached out and touched his arm. "No, don't," I said, my voice soft. "I don't want any hard feelings between you and Michael. It's best you let this die a natural death. We still have to go on safari with them."
"How can we even socialize with Claire after this?"
I squeezed his hand. "We don't have to invite them over, and I'm sure Claire won't be inviting us over anytime soon. Let's just let this go."
Drake nodded, but I could see he still wanted to confront Claire.
So it happened that on the following Tuesday, when I was out shopping at the market near the compound, I saw Claire standing at a stall examining vegetables. Although my first instinct was to walk away, I knew I had to do something.
I took in a deep breath and walked over to where she stood, examining something green that I couldn't identify.
"Claire," I said and stood beside her.
She turned and saw me, her eyebrows rising. "Kate…"
We stood in an awkward silence for a moment, and I debated what to say next.
"I spoke with Sefton deVilliers last week," I said, soldiering on despite the tension in my gut. I hated confrontations, but I felt I had to say something. "He told me that you thought Drake and I would break up soon and that you practically encouraged him to pursue me."
Claire frowned and put the vegetable down. She set her mouth as if she were ready to fight.
"You broke Drake’s heart in Manhattan," she said and when I started to speak, she held her hand up as if to stop me. "He told Michael about you, and Michael was worried for him – so heartbroken about the end of your relationship. You seemed too young and fickle for someone like Drake, who's a rock. You can't understand what it's like to be in medicine. You have no idea of the demands. You have to understand, I had Drake's best interest in mind…"
"No," I said, angry. "You had your own idea of what was best for Drake in mind. Drake doesn't want someone like Sam. He told me the other night that he's glad I'm not in medicine. He likes to leave his job behind at the hospital, and come home to something completely different. That means me."
She said nothing, but her face was red.
"Anyway," I said, hoping to smooth things over a bit for Drake's sake. "Drake loves Michael as a friend and admires him as a colleague. I hope this doesn't come between them. They seem to work really well together, and I won't do anything to prevent that. I hope you won't as well."
Claire's mouth opened and she sputtered. "Of course, I would never… How could you think…"
Then I turned and walked away without looking back.
Later, when Drake and I were lying on the couch watching something on television, I brought up my run in with Claire. I recounted the conversation word for word so he knew what we'd said to each other.
"How did she seem?" he said, stroking my hair. "I wonder if she'll say anything to Michael."
"She seemed insulted that I would suggest she might get in between you and Michael. Let's hope that shuts her up."
He sighed and kissed my forehead. "I've had my fill of interfering friends. When we go back to Manhattan, I want us to marry right away so we can end any speculation about our relationship – with anyone."
" Should we invite Michael and Claire?"
"Of course. I want to invite Michael. Claire can come if she wants, but I have a feeling she'll be unable to."
"I'm sorry," I said, truly sad that all of it happened. "I wish things could have been different between the four of us."
