Chapter 10 - Bringing Grace HomeGrace came home sixty-one days after Claire almost died.
Three days after surgery, she was extubated.
Six days later, Claire held both twins together for the first time.
Oliver on one arm.
Grace on the other.
Adrian sat beside her.
A nurse took their photograph.
Claire looked exhausted.
Adrian needed a haircut.
Oliver was yawning.
Grace wore a ridiculous pink cap Maggie had purchased.
It was the most beautiful photograph Claire had ever seen.
No magazine would get it.
No newspaper.
No Vale public relations department.
It belonged only to them.
A week later, investigators uncovered the rest of the story from five years earlier.
It began with Eleanor.
But it did not end with her.
Adrian called Claire into the library at the lake house.
Maggie was there.
So was Samuel.
And, unexpectedly, Eleanor.
Claire stopped.
“What happened?”
Adrian held several documents.
“My father.”
Claire’s chest tightened.
Adrian’s father, Robert Vale, had died three years earlier.
He had always been colder than Eleanor.
More strategic.
More openly contemptuous of Claire.
Adrian continued.
“The forged London contract came from his office.”
Claire looked at Eleanor.
“You said you did it.”
“I knew about the false offer,” Eleanor admitted. “I did not know Robert created the messages.”
Adrian placed copies on the table.
“Forensic analysis recovered archived server data.”
Claire read.
Messages supposedly written by her.
Private remarks.
Complaints about Adrian’s family.
Statements about wanting his money but not his obligations.
She felt sick.
“I never wrote these.”
“I know.”
“There’s more,” Maggie said.
A bank document appeared.
A transfer.
Five hundred thousand dollars.
Into an account opened under Claire’s name.
Claire stared.
“What is that?”
“Evidence my father planned to use if I refused to end the engagement,” Adrian said.
Claire looked at him.
“He was going to make it look like I accepted a payoff?”
“Yes.”
Her stomach turned.
“Why?”
“Because I had told him I was leaving Vale Holdings entirely after our wedding.”
Claire stared.
“You never told me that.”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“What?”
“I planned to practice medicine full-time.”
Claire sat down.
Adrian continued.
“My father believed marrying you would permanently remove me from the family business.”
“So he destroyed us.”
“Yes.”
Eleanor looked down.
“And I helped.”
Claire’s eyes filled.
Five years of pain suddenly had authors.
But knowing who caused the wound did not erase it.
Adrian sat opposite her.
“I should have trusted you.”
“Yes.”
“I should have shown you everything.”
“Yes.”
“I should have fought.”
“Yes.”
Each answer hurt him.
Claire did not soften them.
He deserved the truth.
Then Adrian said, “But I was twenty-three years into being conditioned to believe my father always knew things I didn’t.”
Claire’s anger shifted.
Not vanished.
Shifted.
Adrian had been manipulated too.
That did not make him innocent.
It made him human.
Eleanor spoke.
“I owe both of you something I cannot repay.”
Claire looked at her.
“You owe your grandchildren better.”
Eleanor nodded immediately.
“Yes.”
“Not money.”
“Yes.”
“Not a trust.”
“Yes.”
“Not a building named after them.”
Eleanor almost smiled.
“Yes.”
Claire leaned back.
“They need a grandmother who respects their mother.”
Eleanor’s eyes filled.
“I would like to become that.”
“Then prove it.”
Adrian looked at Claire.
Something like pride appeared in his eyes.
She gave him a warning look.
Do not get sentimental.
He wisely looked away.
That evening Claire and Adrian walked to the dock.
Winter had begun loosening its grip.
Thin ice covered the lake.
Claire tucked her hands into her coat.
“What happens to Charles?”
“Trial.”
“And Vale Holdings?”
“Stabilizing.”
“Your board still hates me?”
“Only three members.”
She laughed.
“Progress.”
Adrian leaned against the railing.
“I’m considering selling a large portion of my controlling interest.”
Claire turned.
“Why?”
“I don’t want Oliver and Grace growing up believing the company is their destiny.”
“They might want it.”
“Then they can choose it.”
“What if Oliver wants to teach third grade?”
“Then I’ll fund the most unnecessarily luxurious classroom in Illinois.”
“Grace might become a tattoo artist.”
“I’ll ask for a family discount.”
Claire laughed.
Adrian smiled.
Then his expression changed.
“I meant what I said.”
“About?”
“Not asking you for anything.”
Claire looked out at the lake.
“I know.”
“I have something for you anyway.”
She stiffened.
“If that is the engagement ring, I’m pushing you into the water.”
“It isn’t.”
“Good.”
He handed her a small envelope.
Inside was a key.
Claire stared.
“What does this open?”
“The lake house.”
“I already have a key.”
“This one comes with half ownership.”
Her head snapped up.
“No.”
“It’s not a gift.”
“You just said—”
“It’s already yours.”
“What?”
“I transferred fifty percent to you.”
“Adrian!”
“You agreed to live here with our children. I refuse to have you feel like a guest.”
“You cannot give me half a multimillion-dollar house without asking!”
“Apparently I can. Samuel confirmed.”
She stared at him.
He looked almost nervous.
“I’ll transfer it back if you hate it.”
Claire looked at the key.
Then at the house.
Once it had represented the future they lost.
Now it represented something else.
Choice.
“You’re impossible.”
“So I’ve been told.”
She closed her fingers around the key.
“I’m keeping it.”
His eyes brightened.
“Really?”
“Half.”
“Half.”
“And I pay half the household expenses.”
“No.”
“Adrian.”
“Fine.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“You agreed too fast.”
“I’m learning.”
They stood quietly.
Then Claire said, “I want to try.”
Adrian stopped breathing.
“With us.”
He did not speak.
“Say something.”
“I’m afraid if I move, this becomes a hallucination.”
Claire smiled.
“It isn’t.”
“What does trying mean?”
“Dating.”
“We have two children.”
“Parents can date.”
“We live together.”
“Then your commute is convenient.”
He laughed.
Claire turned serious.
“Slowly.”
“As slowly as you want.”
“Therapy.”
He blinked.
“Together?”
“Yes.”
“And separately?”
“Yes.”
“Done.”
“No major decisions for six months.”
“Done.”
“No proposing.”
He looked mildly offended.
“For six months?”
“Adrian.”
“Fine.”
“And your mother does not get a key.”
“Absolutely done.”
Claire smiled.
Adrian held out his hand.
“A contractual handshake?”
She looked at it.
Then stepped closer.
“No.”
She kissed him instead.
May you like
Behind them, the lake stretched quiet beneath the evening sky.
For the first time, it no longer felt haunted.
