One evening, Claire found herself face to face with him again — but this time, not on a sidewalk.
It was his idea. « Dinner. A real dinner. On my dime. No crying babies, unless it’s me opening a bottle of wine. »
Claire laughed and agreed.
The bistro where they had met welcomed them into the intimacy of a table inside. Lily stayed with Nadia for the evening, and Claire wore a pale blue dress that echoed the color of her eyes — found in a thrift store and altered by her.
« You look happy, » said David during the meal.
« I am, » Claire replied softly. « And I’m scared. But a good kind of scared. »
« I know that feeling. »
They shared a silence, not an awkward silence, but one where two people simply feel good being close to each other.
« I owe you so much, » she said.
David shook his head. « You don’t owe me anything, Claire. You gave me something I didn’t know I could miss. »
She raised an eyebrow. « Something? »
He leaned forward. « One reason. »
The following weeks strengthened their bond. They didn’t name it; it wasn’t necessary.
David began picking Lily up from daycare some days just to see her excitement when he arrived. He stopped scheduling his Friday night dinners—those evenings were now reserved for Claire and Lily. His apartment gained a small crib in the guest room, although Claire never stayed overnight.
And little by little, David’s once barren life filled with color.
He started coming to work in jeans. He donated half of his wine cellar. And he smiled more than anyone in the office had ever seen him smile.
One rainy afternoon, as thunder rumbled in the distance, Claire stood on the rooftop garden terrace of the foundation, Lily bundled up in her arms.
David joined her under a small awning.
« Is everything alright? » he asked.
Claire hesitated. « I’m thinking… »
« Dangerous, » he joked.
She smiled, then became serious. « I want to stop just surviving and start living. I want to go back to school. Learn something. Build a future for Lily. For me. »
David’s eyes softened. « What do you want to study? »
« Social work, » she replied. « Because someone saw me when no one else did. I would like to do the same for someone else. »
He took her hand.
See more on the next page
Advertisement
