Lingering Warmth

Chapter 3 — First Setback

Ethan started "running into" Clara.

The first time was at a coffee shop downstairs from her office. He'd "happened" to be meeting a client nearby, "happened" to walk into this particular shop, and "happened" to encounter Clara just as she was leaving.

When Clara saw him, she paused for a beat, a flicker of surprise in her eyes — then she was calm again.

"Funny running into you," she said.

Ethan's heart skipped. Her tone was too even, like greeting an ordinary acquaintance.

"Yeah, funny." He held his coffee, trying to sound casual. "Here to see a client."

"Oh." Clara nodded and stepped aside to let him pass. "Then I won't keep you."

"Wait." Ethan called after her.

Clara stopped and turned back. "Something else?"

"You…" He hesitated. "You work here?"

"Yeah. Started last month."

"Why didn't you tell me?" The moment the words were out, Ethan knew they were wrong. He sounded like he was accusing her.

Clara smiled, and there was no warmth in it. "Mr. Stone is a very busy man. My trivial little matters aren't worth troubling you with."

She called him "Mr. Stone."

Ethan's face darkened.

"Clara, do you have to talk like that?"

"Like what?" Clara looked at him, her gaze steady. "Am I wrong?"

He was too choked up to reply.

Clara checked her watch. "I have to go. See you."

"Clara." He said her name again, his voice lower. "Do you… really want a divorce?"

Clara turned back and looked at him seriously. After a few seconds, she nodded gently. "Yes."

Just one word.

Ethan's chest felt as if something had clenched around his heart, tight and painful. He opened his mouth to say "I don't agree," but what came out instead was: "You're sure about this?"

"I'm sure." Clara spoke evenly. "Take your time with the agreement. If there's anything you disagree with, have your lawyer contact me."

With that, she turned and walked away.

Ethan stood there, watching her back disappear around the corner. His coffee had gone cold, bitter and undrinkable.

The first "chance meeting" ended in failure.

But Ethan wasn't someone who gave up easily. In his whole life, there was nothing he'd wanted that he hadn't gotten.

The second time, he changed his strategy.

Mrs. Hayes — his mother-in-law — had called him the week before, asking how they were doing and why Clara hadn't been home in so long.

Ethan had mumbled his way through that call. Now he thought, maybe he could approach things from her mother's side.

On the weekend, he bought a mountain of supplements and fruit and drove to the Hayes family home.

Mrs. Hayes was delighted when she saw him. "Oh, Ethan! Come in, come in! Why did you buy so many things? What a waste of money."

"It's the least I can do, Mom." Ethan smiled and set the bags down. "Where's Dad?"

"Your father's out playing chess." Mrs. Hayes poured him a cup of tea and sat across from him, looking him up and down. "Why did you come alone? Where's Clara?"

"She…" Ethan paused. "She's been really busy with work lately. Can't get away."

"Work?" Mrs. Hayes blinked in surprise. "What work? I thought she was staying home."

Ethan silently cursed his own loose tongue. But the words were out, so he had to make it work. "She couldn't stand being idle. Found a job at a design firm. Says she wants to do something of her own."

"That child — doesn't even tell her own mother about something this big." Mrs. Hayes clucked her tongue, then sighed. "Ethan, don't take this the wrong way. Clara has always been stubborn, carrying everything by herself. If you two are fighting, you go easy on her, okay?"

Something tightened in Ethan's chest.

He nodded. "I know, Mom."

After sitting for a while, Mrs. Hayes invited him to stay for dinner. Ethan agreed, then said, as if casually, "Why don't I call Clara? Tell her to come home too?"

"Yes, yes!" Mrs. Hayes said happily.

Ethan took out his phone and dialed Clara's number. This time, it went through.

"Hello?" Clara's voice came through the receiver, cool and clear.

"Clara." Ethan tried to keep his tone natural. "I'm at Mom's. She's made a big spread. Why don't you come home for dinner?"

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end.

"You went to my mom's?" Clara's voice gave nothing away.

"Yeah, was passing by, thought I'd stop in for a bit."

Another silence.

"I'm not coming," Clara said. "I have work. Tell Mom I said hello."

"Clara —"

"Bye."

The line went dead.

Ethan held the phone, his face burning. Mrs. Hayes watched from the side and asked carefully, "What's wrong? She's not coming?"

"Yeah, says she's busy." Ethan's expression was blank.

Mrs. Hayes sighed. "That child. Too busy to even come home."

The dinner was a quiet affair. Ethan's chest felt tight, and after a few bites he couldn't eat any more. As he was leaving, Mrs. Hayes took his hand, looking as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.

"Ethan," she finally said, "tell me the truth. Did something happen between you and Clara?"

Ethan's heart jumped.

"Nothing like that, Mom." He forced a smile. "We've both just been busy. Things will settle down soon."

"That's good, that's good." Mrs. Hayes nodded, then added, "If you see Clara, tell her to call home when she has a minute."

"Okay."

After leaving the Hayes residence, Ethan leaned against his car and lit a cigarette. He didn't used to smoke much, but these days he'd been smoking a lot.

Through the smoke, he thought about the tone in Clara's voice when she'd hung up — no anger, no complaint, not even impatience.

Just calm.

That calmness hurt more than any accusation could.

Because when you don't care anymore, you're calm.

When this thought crossed his mind, Ethan's fingers trembled violently. Ash fell on his pants, and he didn't even notice.

Impossible.

He didn't believe Clara could stop caring. Five years together, three years of marriage — how could you just stop caring like that?

She was still angry, that's all. Angry that he'd forgotten their anniversary, angry about the things he'd said that night. Once she cooled down, it would be fine.

Ethan stubbed out the cigarette and started the car.

He had other ways.