Chapter 2

The day after our divorce was finalized, I went to my parents' house.

I meant to tell them it was over. Once I'd packed, I would be taking a job at a children's therapy center in Worcester.

Instead, I walked into a living room crowded with more than a dozen gift boxes.

My father, Richard Bennett, was discussing the guest list with my older brother, Daniel Bennett. My mother had laid a rose-colored dress across the couch. The moment she saw me, she asked me to try it on.

“Evan's mother sent it over. The families are meeting the day after tomorrow. You can't show up looking like you're going to a funeral.”

I didn't take it. “I'm not going to that dinner.”

My father's smile vanished. “What is it now?”

“I've already made it clear that I'm not interested in Evan.”

Daniel set his phone on the table. “His family doesn't care that you're divorced. He wants to get to know you. What more do you want?”

“What he wants is up to him. My answer is no.”

My sister-in-law, Rachel, tried to smooth things over. “It's dinner, Claire. No one's asking you to marry him that day.”

I looked at the event schedule on the table.

Welcome both families and their friends. Exchange keepsake gifts. Announce the couple's plans. Arrange for me to accompany Evan to Charlotte for work.

This wasn't just dinner. They meant to settle my future in front of dozens of people.

“Who wrote this?”

Daniel shifted uneasily. “Evan's on a tight schedule. He's going back to Charlotte after the dinner. You can go with him and get familiar with the job.”

“I already have a job.”

“What future do you have at that little place in Worcester?” he cut in impatiently. “Evan helps run a much bigger center. Nathan's willing to vouch for you, too. This isn't only about who you marry. If things go smoothly between the families, Nathan will put me in charge of his new store on the west side.”

Now I understood.

“So this dinner isn't for me. It's for your store.”

Daniel frowned. “What's wrong with family helping each other? It's not like marrying Evan would be a hardship.”

I turned to my father. “Is that how you see it, too?”

He picked up his coffee mug. His tone left no room for argument.

“Your mother's health has cost this family a lot over the years. Your brother's been carrying his share. We're asking you to meet a decent man. We're not trying to hurt you.”

My mother took my hand.

“Being on your own after a divorce isn't as easy as you think, Claire. You're still young. Don't throw away a chance with someone like Evan just to be stubborn.”

I pulled my hand away.

“I didn't get divorced so I could immediately find another husband.”

“Then what do you want?”

“A job. An apartment. A life of my own.”

My father laughed coldly. “You haven't held a regular job in seven years. How exactly do you expect to support yourself?”

“I worked in a rehab hospital before I got married. I've continued doing online assessments and volunteer speech sessions all these years. None of you ever asked.”

The room went quiet. My mother looked away.

She knew some of it. Every Wednesday afternoon, I left the house. I wasn't getting facials or having coffee with friends. I was providing free sessions at a community center for children with speech delays.

Eventually, the director of the Worcester clinic had approached me about joining the staff. I'd passed their assessment. I was supposed to start the following month.

Daniel wasn't interested.

“How much does it pay? Four thousand a month? Five? Evan has a house and a career in Charlotte. Why insist on making things hard for yourself?”

“Because it's my work. And a life I chose.”

He stood abruptly, raising his voice.

“Don't forget who came up with the forty-five thousand dollars for Mom's surgery seven years ago! The Hayeses helped us. Marrying Nathan was the least you could do. Now he's finding you another way forward. That's him taking responsibility.”

The least I could do. Again.

Seven years ago, I owed Nathan a marriage because his family had helped ours. Seven years later, I owed him a relationship with Evan because he was compensating me.

Apparently, accepting help meant giving up the right to say no for the rest of my life.

The doorbell rang.

Olivia came in carrying gifts. My parents had clearly been expecting her. She went straight to the couch and settled beside my mother as though she belonged there.

“Please don't be upset, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett. Claire's just been through a divorce. Of course she needs time.”

I looked at her. “Why are you here?”

“Nathan was worried you might argue with your family,” she said gently. “He asked me to check on you.”

“He sent you to talk me into dating another man?”

She looked briefly embarrassed. “He just wants someone to take care of you. If you stay in Boston, every time we run into each other will be awkward.”

There it was.

I gave a short laugh. “You want me gone.”

“That isn't what I meant.”

“Yes, it is.” I held her gaze. “As long as I'm here, and as long as I haven't fallen for someone else, you're afraid Nathan will feel guilty about me.”

Her expression changed. My mother caught my arm.

“Claire, there's no need to be cruel.”

Olivia's eyes reddened, but she didn't deny it.

“It does bother me. Nathan and I lost seven years. I don't want him spending our marriage managing his ex-wife's life. You've agreed to the divorce. I want all of us to move on completely.”

“So you can only move on after you've handed me over to another man.”

“There's nothing wrong with Evan.”

“Then why don't you date him?”

She had no answer.

My father slammed his hand on the table. “Enough. You are going to that dinner.”

“And if I don't?”

“Then you can stay here until you've calmed down.”

Daniel immediately picked up my car keys from the table. My father told the housekeeper to secure the front door.

I looked from one to the other. This wasn't a discussion. They were certain I would give in, because I always had before.

I turned toward the stairs.

“You're not going anywhere until that dinner is over,” my father warned behind me.

I didn't look back.

Olivia followed me to the bedroom doorway and lowered her voice.

“You've already agreed to the divorce, Claire. Why can't you take one more step?”

I stopped. “I've stepped out of your relationship. The rest of my life belongs to me. You don't get to decide where I go.”

I shut the door in her face.

I wasn't going to hand myself over again just so everyone else could feel better.