Chapter 1
Claire's POV:
I left the carrier store with nausea churning in my stomach.
Derek called almost immediately.
"Claire, pick up two packages of organic beef. Leo is allergic to shellfish, so he can't eat the other entree."
After a few seconds of silence, I said, "Fine."
"Did you wear your cashmere scarf? The temperature dropped. Don't get sick."
His voice was gentle and warm.
For the past 3 years, that might be the same voice he'd used at 11 p.m. every night to read bedtime stories to a child who wasn't ours.
I ended the call, bought a few groceries, and headed home.
The living room was full when I opened our apartment door. My soft house shoes had been kicked into a corner. A pair of tiny dinosaur sneakers and pink faux-fur slippers sat neatly on the entryway rack.
Tessa came to greet me wearing my apron.
"Claire's back! Derek, go help her. Those bags look heavy."
Derek strode over, took the bags, and tucked my cold hand into the warm pocket of his coat.
"Why are your hands freezing? Go sit down."
His childhood friend Ryan Hall lounged on the couch with a bowl of mixed nuts.
"Derek's the model husband. Tessa cooks, Claire shops, and everybody plays happy family."
Tessa blushed as she carried out a plate of sliced cantaloupe.
"Quit teasing me, Ryan. I'm only helping Derek and Claire."
Derek smiled and pulled a navy velvet box from his coat. Inside was an antique rose-quartz guardian angel pendant he'd bought at auction.
Years ago, I'd taken three tutoring jobs to help him launch his business. I'd worked so much that I barely slept. Derek had promised the pendant would be mine on our 7th anniversary.
"Tessa, take it. It can prevent Leo from bad luck."
In front of everyone, Derek pressed the box into her hands.
She recoiled. "No, I can't. This is far too expensive. Claire will be upset."
Derek looked at me. "Claire isn't petty. Leo calls us his godparents, and he's always getting sick. The angel is supposed to protect children. Right, Claire?"
Every face in the room turned toward me.
"If it's for Leo, keep it."
Tessa beamed. "Thank you, Claire! Leo, come give your godmother a hug."
While everyone fussed over the boy, Derek brought me a mug of warm honey tea and slipped it into my hands.
"Your voice was hoarse after class, so I made this for you. Don't be upset, sweetheart. You'll always come first with me."
The tea was cloyingly sweet, with a bitter finish.
At dinner, Leo knocked over his orange juice and began to shriek. Derek dropped his fork, hurried over, and gathered the boy into his arms. He patted Leo's back and hummed a lullaby, then smoothly pulled a child-size rescue inhaler from the inside pocket of his suit.
Several of the men laughed.
"You're better at this than his own dad."
I put down my spoon and began clearing the dishes.
Derek reached for the dishcloth, then produced a tube of imported hand cream and tried to rub it into my skin. I pulled away.
"No. I'll wash them myself."
He paused, then tapped the tip of my nose. "I'll take you to Crown Mall tomorrow and buy you a new necklace. Stop sulking."
I lowered my head and scrubbed the greasy plates.
The new phone line in my bag was already active. A draft of my application for an out-of-state teaching fellowship and permanent transfer to Bayhaven Academy waited quietly in my email.
