They talked longer than she meant to. About timing. About responsibility. About how proud he was of the woman she had become. When she hung up, her hands were trembling—not with fear, but with something close to awe. She didn’t tell Daniel right away. Not because she didn’t want to share it, but because she wanted to do it properly.
Clare decided she would wait. Tell them properly. Not in passing, not between errands or half-finished conversations. Her wedding anniversary was approaching. It felt like the right moment. Daniel suggested dinner before she did. A quiet place. Somewhere with a view. “You’ve had a rough year,” he said. “Let’s do something just for us.”