Chapter 13 - The Woman From RochesterTwo months later, Clare saw Nathaniel again.
Unfortunately, he wasn't alone.
Margaret had invited Clare to a Christmas charity luncheon in Manhattan.
Clare almost refused.
Then Margaret reminded her that the event was raising money for transplant patients who could not afford post-operative housing.
That was unfair.
Clare attended.
The Plaza ballroom glittered beneath chandeliers.
For the first thirty minutes, everything was pleasant.
Then Clare saw Nathaniel.
He stood near the windows.
Beside him was a beautiful brunette.
Thirty-five, perhaps.
Tall.
Confident.
Laughing.
Her hand rested briefly on Nathaniel’s forearm.
Something hot and completely unreasonable moved through Clare’s chest.
She looked away.
“Interesting.”
Margaret had appeared beside her.
“Don't.”
“I said nothing.”
“Your face did.”
“My face is perfectly normal.”
“Your face looks like you're considering using a dessert fork as a weapon.”
Clare picked up champagne.
“I don't care who Nathaniel dates.”
“Excellent.”
“I don't.”
“Wonderful.”
“Margaret.”
The older woman smiled innocently.
Across the room, Nathaniel finally noticed Clare.
His expression changed instantly.
The brunette followed his gaze.
Then, to Clare’s horror, they began walking toward her.
Nathaniel stopped several feet away.
“Clare.”
“Nathaniel.”
“This is Dr. Elena Ruiz.”
The brunette smiled warmly.
“I've wanted to meet you.”
Of course she had.
Clare produced her best professional smile.
“Really?”
“You designed the post-op monitoring protocols for the Newport clinic.”
Clare blinked.
“Yes.”
“They're excellent.”
Elena continued enthusiastically.
“We adapted part of the system for Nathaniel’s Rochester centers. I’m the medical director.”
Medical director.
Not girlfriend.
Clare felt absurd relief.
Then Elena smiled mischievously.
“And apparently you're the only person on Earth who can convince him to eat vegetables.”
Nathaniel closed his eyes.
“Elena.”
“What?”
Clare stared at him.
“You still hate vegetables?”
Nathaniel sighed.
“This conversation has become hostile.”
For the first time in years, the three of them laughed.
Later, Elena found Clare alone near the balcony.
“You thought we were dating.”
Clare nearly inhaled her champagne.
“I absolutely did not.”
Elena smiled.
“For what it's worth, Nathaniel hasn't dated anyone.”
Clare stiffened.
“That isn't my business.”
“I know.”
“Then why tell me?”
Elena looked toward Nathaniel across the ballroom.
“Because I work with him every day. He doesn't talk about you much. But everything he built started because of something you told him.”
Clare looked at her.
“What?”
“Build something that doesn't need applause.”
Clare’s breath caught.
Elena smiled gently.
“He actually listened.”
Across the ballroom, Nathaniel was helping an elderly donor locate her misplaced cane.
He wasn't looking at Clare.
That somehow made it worse.
May you like
Because Clare realized she had spent two years learning how to live without Nathaniel.
She had never prepared herself for the possibility that she might someday want to know him again.
Related Stories
