Claire remembered Thanksgiving.
Ryan carving turkey.
Vanessa sending him messages he claimed were about investor relations.
Their anniversary dinner interrupted by a “board emergency.”
Eighteen months.
“Did she know?”
Ryan hesitated.
“That you were married?”
“Yes.”
Claire’s expression changed.
“She knew we were separated emotionally.”
“That isn’t a legal status.”
“No.”
His voice sharpened.
“But it was real.”
Claire looked away.
The doors opened to the lobby.
Neither moved for a second.
Then Claire stepped out.
Ryan followed.
“Vanessa isn’t the villain.”
Claire turned.
“I didn’t say she was.”
“She believed me.”
“That’s between you and her.”
“And us?”
Claire looked at him.
“I don’t know what ‘us’ means anymore.”
He flinched.
Good.
Not because she wanted pain.
Because reality needed to reach him too.
They walked toward the garage.
Ryan noticed the flowers were no longer in her hands.
“Where are they?”
“Upstairs.”
“Why did you bring them?”
Claire laughed.
Then reached into her handbag.
She removed the envelope.
Handed it to him.
Ryan opened it.
Two first-class tickets.
Philadelphia to Lisbon.
Tomorrow evening.
His face changed.
“What is this?”
“Our anniversary.”
He looked at the departure date.
“You planned this?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Three weeks ago.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
She stared.
“That is how surprises work.”
Ryan looked down.
For the first time that evening, he looked ashamed rather than cornered.
Claire continued:
“Sophie was going to stay with Emily.”
“You arranged everything.”
“Yes.”
“Claire…”
“No.”
She took the envelope back.
“Don’t make this romantic.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You were about to tell me how sorry you are because the tickets prove I still loved you.”
Ryan said nothing.
Claire slipped them into her bag.
“I did.”
The past tense made him close his eyes.
She walked to her car.
Ryan remained three steps behind.
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“I’ll come.”
“No.”
“Claire.”
“No.”
He stared.
She opened the driver’s door.
“I need to talk to Sophie before she sees anything online.”
Ryan’s face drained.
The event had been photographed.
Employees had phones.
The engagement announcement was probably already on social media.
“Oh God.”
“Yes.”
“Let me come.”
Claire shook her head.
“You need to deal with the board.”
“I need to talk to my daughter.”
“You needed to think about her before proposing publicly while still married to her mother.”
He winced.
Claire almost apologized.
She stopped herself.
It was true.
Ryan whispered:
“I love Sophie.”