Undeserved Devotion

Chapter 2

Claire is completely frozen and not even able to breathe. Oh. My. God. This is NOT happening. Then it clicks why everything looks familiar, this is Chris’s family cabin and they use to come up here to visit or just have some along time. After a long pause, Chris reaches for her bags, “let me help you with those.” Not knowing what else to do, Claire silently follows Chris inside and up the stairs that are right by the entryway. Chris opens the door at the end of the hallway and places her bags next to the bed. “I hope you like the room, I remember it was always your favorite.” Claire still hasn’t said a word and doesn’t know what to do so she just looks at him with a blank face. “But if you don’t like it, I can get you another room.” Claire still doesn’t say anything.

“Well, the group is downstairs having happy hour when you’re settled and ready to join us.” Chris tells her as he turns to leave. When he gets to the door, Chris stops and turns back to look at Claire, who is still stunned and staring at him. Instead of continuing out the door, he closes it and comes back to where Claire is standing.

He runs his hand through his hair, “I know this is a big surprise, and I don’t want to make you uncomfortable by my being here. If you’re not OK with me leading the retreat, just tell me and I’ll have another instructor here in the morning.”

Claire finally finds her words, “You’re leading the retreat, as in the whole week.” Chris nods and grabs Claire’s hands. “Look, I know this retreat could be important for your career. These retreats are what I do, and I am the best at them. I know I can help you and your team. Other than that, I’d really like to put the negative things from our past behind us. But if you’re not ready for that, like I said, I’m gone. I don’t want to jeopardize this opportunity for you.”

Claire loses her words again, but this time it’s because she's lost in Chris’s hazel eyes. Claire finally snaps out of it and pulls her hands away from Chris, but still doesn’t know what to say. Chris’s shoulders sink a bit as he moves to the door, going through it this time. Once Chris is gone, Claire quickly closes the door and leans against the back of it. With a huff she slides down until she’s still on the floor with her back against the door thinking, what on earth am I going to do now?