“I know,” Amy said. “I’m pretty speechless about the whole thing. I knew they were seeing each other, but I didn’t see this coming. I thought we would have a great time here and go back to our lives. Now it seems I’m the only one leaving the guy behind.”
For the first time that morning, Claire smiled. “Maybe you should invite Mario along. At this rate, why leave here without a man?”
“Hold on, let me get my cell,” she said and attempted to move.
“Get back here, silly,” Claire laughed.
“So, what are you going to do about Chance? You can’t see him anymore.”
“I don’t know,” Claire said. She couldn’t mention she was still involved with Chance; it would make it a lot easier and less uncomfortable for everyone.
“So,” Amy began. “Will you have to move again?”
“I have been thinking of getting my own place. I was really supposed to leave home after the wedding that never happened,” she told her. “Mom asked me to go with her. I guess she needs my company to settle down.”
“Maybe Chance won’t be there at all,” Amy suggested.
“Perhaps he won’t,” Claire repeated and sighed. “He probably has his own island, too.”
Amy laughed at her words. “That’s a genuine possibility. Don’t worry about it, Claire,” she said. “In time, this will all seem more and more like a dream.”
“I hope so.”
“I can’t say I’m happy about any of this; it doesn’t seem right that you have been shafted twice in two weeks,” Amy pouted. “What about you and Chance and you know…sleeping together and stuff?”
Claire blushed at Amy’s words. She hadn’t mentioned they had slept together, but anyone who had hung around them would see that they had. Plus, Amy knew he slept over in her room that first night.
Claire placed her tablet on the bed and got up then. “Okay, now I need a distraction; let’s go get some sun before we go back. Goodness knows when we will get to see a beach like this again. Chance is really in the past. Whatever we had between us was fleeting and is over. Tomorrow is our last day on the island, and I want to make the best of it.”
They spent the day swimming in the cove, after which they enjoyed the spa at the hotel. At the end of the day, they felt light and rejuvenated. But Claire had an uneasy feeling about Chance, and she wondered how he had spent his day. She didn’t disclose this to Amy; she had to keep up appearances to convince everyone nothing was going on anymore. Maybe it was good they found a different way to spend their day.
The following day, she didn’t get to say goodbye to Chance. Claire was distraught, but she also understood his position. Maybe it was best they didn’t see each other before she left. Less painful that way. Not that she could avoid him forever. He was a permanent part of her life, whether she liked it or not.
Bryan drove them to the airport after promising Willow a few days to tie up loose ends in Miami. The flight home was uneventful, and as soon as Claire stepped into her house, she received an unexpected call.
“Trent?” She recognized his voice instantly. “What the fuck?”
“Claire, can I see you? I’ve tried calling every day but couldn’t get through to you.”
“Trent,” she barked, “I have nothing to say to you. Go back to your lover.”
“It’s over, Claire. I was stupid,” he said. “I made a mistake.”
“That’s your prerogative. Please leave me alone and stay away from me. I want nothing more to do with you.”
“Claire,” he pleaded. “I love you.”
“There was a time when I actually believed that,” she yelled. “Until I saw you with someone else.”
“Claire, that was…Gosh! It’s not what you think,” he said, frustrated. “Just let me come over and I will explain.”
“You think I’m stupid? Don’t call me again,” she said and hung up before he could plead with her.
“Trent?” Willow asked from behind her.
“Unfortunately,” Claire said, her palm on her forehead. “Not quite the welcome I needed.”
“Just ignore him,” Willow said. “I know you have a lot to deal with, but just give it some time.”
“All I have is time,” she said sarcastically. “I’m not in a rush.”
“I know, Claire, and I feel terrible for the part I played in this.”
Claire didn’t respond; she simply sighed and wheeled her luggage upstairs and sat on her bed. She looked at the house that had been home to her for so many years. So much had changed for her in such a short time. She had lost her fiancé, had sex with her stepbrother, acquired a stepfather, and was preparing to leave the home she had grown up in. To be honest, she didn’t mind moving to Bryan’s because that meant Chance would be more accessible, but she had so much to do before she actually left town. She had to quit her job, change her address, cancel accounts, and say goodbye to her friends. Claire wasn’t sure she was ready for that, and she laid sprawled on the bed while her world spun out of control.