Chapter 14 - The Last Choice Daniel Couldn’t Blame on Evelyn
Six months after Lily’s birthday, Daniel asked Claire to meet him at the park where they had taken their engagement photographs.
Claire almost refused.
Then she agreed.
Lily was spending the afternoon with Megan.
Daniel arrived in jeans and a gray sweater.
No blazer.
No Mercer office.
He looked younger.
Or maybe simply less rehearsed.
“I got an offer,” he said.
“Work?”
He nodded.
A regional construction consulting firm wanted him to oversee mixed-use projects.
The salary was lower than Mercer Holdings.
The job was his.
No family shares.
No mother on the board.
“That’s good,” Claire said.
“I think so.”
They walked beside the lake.
Daniel finally said, “I want to come home.”
Claire stopped.
He immediately added, “But I know wanting it doesn't mean I'm ready.”
She studied him.
Six months earlier, Daniel would have presented therapy sessions, job changes, and boundaries with Evelyn as evidence that Claire should reward him.
Now he simply waited.
“I still don't trust you,” Claire said.
“I know.”
“When someone you love is angry, your instinct is still to make the anger stop.”
“Yes.”
“You hide things to preserve peace.”
“I did.”
“And when your mother forced you to choose between embarrassment and defending Lily, you chose embarrassment avoidance.”
Daniel swallowed.
“Yes.”
Claire looked across the water.
“I can forgive you eventually and still not stay married to you.”
“I know.”
His answer hurt.
It also made her respect him.
Daniel reached into his jacket.
Not for papers.
For a small plastic bag.
Inside was Lily’s original DNA report.
Claire frowned.
“I don't want that.”
“Neither do I.”
He looked toward a public trash bin.
“I've kept it because I thought someday I might need to prove something.”
“To whom?”
Daniel gave a tired smile.
“Exactly.”
He tore the report in half.
Then stopped.
Claire raised an eyebrow.
“You can't throw medical records into a public trash can.”
Daniel laughed.
A real laugh.
“Right.”
He put it back into the bag.
“I’ll shred it at home.”
Claire smiled despite herself.
Then her expression became serious again.
“What about Evelyn?”
“She still asks to see Lily.”
“And?”
“I tell her the answer hasn't changed.”
“Does she blame me?”
“Yes.”
Claire looked at him.
Daniel added, “And I tell her the decision is mine too.”
That mattered.
Claire began walking again.
Daniel walked beside her.
Not touching.
Not asking.
At the parking lot, Claire finally said, “You can come to dinner Sunday.”
Daniel looked at her.
“With Lily?”
“Yes.”
His face changed.
Claire raised a hand.
“It is dinner, Daniel. Not moving home.”
“I understand.”
“If you make it bigger than what I offered, I’ll cancel.”
“I won't.”
Claire opened her car door.
May you like
For once, Daniel let a small opportunity remain small.
That might have been the hardest thing his mother had never taught him.
