“You are about to perhaps give up the chance to have your own children for a woman you think you need to fix. Those boys will never be yours, Tristan. They are hers and his.”
I begin to hear my heartbeat in my ears. “I love Claire, Mom.”
“I know you do, darling. There’s a lot to love.” She smiles softly and cups my face in her hand. “But before you go any further with her and her children, I need you to do something.”
“What?”
“You do this for me, and I will never ever bring this up again, and I’ll embrace Claire and her boys as if they are my own.”
“What do you want?”
“I want you to go and see Mary.”
I clench my jaw. I don’t think I can. It hurts me just to think of her.
“After seeing her, if you can honestly tell me that you don’t have any feelings for Mary and what I am saying isn’t right, you have my blessing with Claire.”
“Mary’s probably married by now, Mom.” I sigh.
“She’s still in love with you, Tristan. She never got over you.”
My chest tightens, and I frown in pain.
“I speak to her often.” She hands me a card with her name and address. “She’s expecting your call today.”
Claire
I read the text and frown. That’s weird.
Hi babe,
Something has come up tonight.
I’ll see you tomorrow.
Love you
xoxox
He’s never texted me before about not seeing me. In fact, he’s never not seen me. From the day that Patrick asked him not to leave, he never has.
Uneasiness fills me. I spoke to him this morning in his limo, and he was going postal about Muff—no mention of anything going on tonight, though. I frown and text back.
Okay, have a good night.
Love you,
xoxox
It’s late, ten o’clock, and I stare at my phone as I sit at the kitchen counter.
Tristan hasn’t called me to say good night. Something feels off, but I can’t put my finger on it.
Fletcher has been hovering around me all night, and I wonder what went on at the office today. He’s now pretending to make a drink and not wanting to go to bed.
“How was Tristan at work today?” I ask.
His haunted eyes meet mine.