Chapter 13
Claire agreed to one private conversation with Daniel six months after the incident.
Rebecca’s office.
Neutral ground.
No children.
Daniel looked older.
Claire felt older.
“You could’ve told me on our second date,” she said.
“I know.”
“Third?”
“Yes.”
“Before the wedding?”
“Yes.”
“Before Ryan?”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
“There were hundreds of doors.”
“I know.”
“You chose none of them.”
“Yes.”
Claire looked at him.
“Why?”
The simplest answer was finally the correct one.
“I was afraid.”
“Of me?”
“Of losing the life I had with you.”
“So you built another one in secret.”
Daniel nodded.
“I told myself I was protecting Lily from instability.”
“You were protecting yourself from consequences.”
“Yes.”
“I told myself Megan preferred privacy.”
“She didn’t.”
“No.”
Claire looked toward the window.
“And when Megan died?”
Daniel swallowed.
“I panicked.”
“You had spent years preparing for exactly that moment.”
“I know.”
“You prepared everything except telling me.”
“Yes.”
Claire’s eyes filled.
Daniel did not reach across the table.
He had finally learned that comfort was not his right simply because he felt remorse.
“I loved you,” Claire said.
“I love you.”
“Don’t.”
He stopped.
She continued.
“I need one thing from you.”
“Anything.”
“Never use Lily to get me back.”
Daniel went still.
“Never tell her I’m the reason this family isn’t together.”
“I won’t.”
“Never tell Ryan I left because of Lily.”
“I won’t.”
“This is between you and me.”
“Yes.”
Claire stood.
At the door she looked back.
“Megan tried to give me a choice.”
Daniel lowered his eyes.
“I know.”
“You didn’t.”
Then she left.
Daniel remained alone with the only explanation that had ever been true.
May you like
He had been afraid of losing Claire.
His fear had almost cost both of his children far more.
