Chapter 5 - THE BRACELET THAT WASN'T A BIRTHDAY GIFT
Claire agreed to meet Daniel on Thursday.
Not at their house.
Not at a restaurant.
At a quiet café near Green Lake.
She arrived first.
Daniel entered five minutes later.
He looked nervous.
That surprised her.
He'd always been comfortable with conflict when he believed he was right.
Now he looked like a man who had discovered there were questions he couldn't answer.
“Hi,” he said.
“Hi.”
He sat.
Neither reached for the other.
Finally, Daniel spoke.
“I talked to Mike.”
Claire nodded.
“He told me.”
“He said some things.”
“Were they true?”
Daniel looked down.
“Some.”
Claire waited.
Daniel continued.
“I didn't realize how it looked.”
She took a breath.
“Daniel, I need you to stop saying that.”
He looked up.
“What?”
“How it looked. How it seemed. How people interpreted it.”
Her voice remained calm.
“The problem isn't the audience. The problem is what you did.”
Daniel swallowed.
“I know.”
“Do you?”
He nodded slowly.
“I think I'm starting to.”
Claire looked at him.
“Then let's talk about the bracelet.”
His face tightened.
She continued.
“You said you bought it because Vanessa was considering moving.”
“Yes.”
“And you wanted her to stay.”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell her you needed her?”
Daniel hesitated.
Claire felt her stomach tighten.
“Daniel.”
He looked down.
“Yes.”
She stared.
“What exactly did you say?”
He rubbed his hands together.
“I told her Seattle wouldn't feel the same without her.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“And?”
“I said I didn't know what I'd do if she left.”
The words landed heavily.
Claire remembered turning down San Francisco.
Remembered Daniel saying they couldn't move.
Remembered being told their marriage had to remain in Seattle.
But Vanessa had been free to leave.
And Daniel had begged her not to.
Claire opened her eyes.
“Did you ever tell me that?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew it would sound bad.”
Claire laughed softly.
There it was again.
He understood enough to hide it.
Not enough to stop.
Daniel reached into his coat.
Removed a small envelope.
“I brought something.”
Claire looked at it.
“What?”
“Receipts.”
She frowned.
“For what?”
“The bracelet. I wanted you to see exactly what happened.”
Claire stared.
“Why?”
“Because I don't want you thinking I had an affair.”
She looked at him.
“Daniel, you keep defending yourself against an accusation I haven't made.”
He stopped.
Claire continued.
“I don't know whether you slept with Vanessa.”
His face went pale.
“But I do know you created a relationship where she could claim emotional territory that should have belonged to our marriage.”
Daniel stared.
She looked at the envelope.
“Did you ever buy me something because you were afraid I'd leave?”
He swallowed.
“Claire—”
“Did you?”
He looked down.
“No.”
Claire nodded.
“That's what I thought.”
After the meeting, Claire walked around Green Lake for nearly an hour.
The air was cool.
The path was crowded with joggers and parents pushing strollers.
She watched a couple walking together.
The man carried a toddler on his shoulders.
The woman laughed at something he said.
Claire felt a sharp ache.
She and Daniel had talked about children.
They'd planned to start trying the previous year.
Then Vanessa had a difficult breakup.
Daniel said the timing wasn't right.
He was too stressed.
Too busy.
Too distracted.
Claire had agreed to wait.
She wondered how many decisions in her marriage had been postponed because Vanessa needed something.
That evening, Emily called.
“Claire, can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Did Vanessa ever tell you she was considering moving to Chicago?”
Claire stopped walking.
“No.”
Emily was silent.
Then said:
“That's strange.”
“Why?”
“Because she told me she turned the job down before Daniel bought the bracelet.”
Claire froze.
“What?”
Emily continued.
“She said she never seriously considered leaving Seattle.”
Claire stared at the lake.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“When did she tell you?”
“Last March.”
Claire's heart began pounding.
Daniel had bought the bracelet in April.
Vanessa had already decided to stay.
Claire looked down at her bare hand.
“Emily,” she whispered, “I think Vanessa lied to him.”
Emily was silent.
Then said:
“I think she wanted to see how much he'd do to keep her.”
That night, Claire sent Daniel one message.
Ask Vanessa when she actually declined the Chicago job.
He called immediately.
She didn't answer.
Then he texted:
Why?
May you like
Claire replied:
Because I think you need to learn something about your best friend.
