“To Denver?”
“Not today.”
She studied me.
Then she stood on the couch and wrapped both arms around my neck.
It lasted maybe three seconds.
Then she let go and asked for cereal.
I sat there while she walked toward the kitchen.
My decision had happened without music.
No speech.
No certainty.
Just cereal.
Claire came downstairs twenty minutes later.
She took one look at me and knew.
“You told her.”
“I told her I’m not flying back today.”
She nodded.
I expected anger.
Instead, she poured coffee.
“What are you going to tell your office?”
“I don’t know.”
“That phrase is becoming your brand.”
I almost smiled.
Then I said, “I need to ask for leave.”
“For how long?”
“However long they’ll give me.”
“And after that?”
“I figure out whether I can transfer, work remotely, take a different role.”
Claire looked at me over the rim of her mug.
“You know partnership track won’t survive that.”
“Yes.”
It was the first yes I had said without hesitation all week.
Her eyes filled.
“So this is real.”
“Yes.”
She set the mug down.
I took my engagement ring? No. Men don’t. She wears ring. Need breakup later.
Claire looked at her left hand.
The diamond caught the kitchen light.
I didn’t say anything.
Neither did she.
Sophie came in carrying two cereal boxes.
“Uncle Daniel, which one?”
“The one you actually eat.”
“I eat both.”
“You told me yesterday the red one tastes like cardboard.”
“It does. But sometimes I like cardboard.”
Claire laughed despite herself.
Sophie poured cereal.
For ten minutes, the three of us sat at the table like something resembling a family.
It made what happened next more painful.
When Claire’s ride arrived, I carried her suitcase outside.
She stood beside the car.
I wanted to tell her not to go.
Not because I had changed my mind.
Because losing one person while trying to keep another felt unbearable.
Claire touched my arm.
“Don’t ask me to wait without knowing what you’re asking me to wait for.”
“I won’t.”
“And don’t make a permanent decision today just because you think grief requires sacrifice.”
“I’m not trying to be noble.”
“I know.”
“I’m terrified.”
“I know that too.”
She looked toward the house.
Sophie was watching us through the window.
Claire lowered her voice.
“Do the next right thing. Then do the one after that.”
I nodded.
She removed the engagement ring.
My stomach dropped.
“You don’t have to do that here.”
“I think I do.”