He lowered his head and kissed her. “Wait here. I have something for you.”
In the bedroom, he pulled a small box from his suitcase.
When he returned to her, Clara frowned. “What is it?”
“Your present.”
She grinned. “You got me something?”
“It’s yourbirthday, Clara.”
“It is, isn’t it?” She looked down at the box and opened it. Then she gasped. “An amethyst gem…”
The gem sat on a gold chain and was identical to the one she’d lost.
Tears shone in her eyes when she looked up. “You remembered.”
“You never replaced it.”
“I’m not sure why. I guess it just never felt like the right time to replace it.”
It was a gift she’d bought herself after chemo because it signified growth and transformation. “It was important to you.”
She smiled as a tear ran down her cheek. “It was. Thank you.”
He took the necklace out of the box and slipped it around her neck.
She touched it before giving him a teary smile. “I think you’re the most thoughtful man I’ve ever met, Holden Forbes.”
“And the best-looking?”
She laughed as she leaned into him. “Definitely the best-looking.” Then she lifted to her toes and kissed him.
Clara walkedbeside Indie as they strode down the street, Holden and her mother trailing a bit behind. It was almost evening, and she’d spent her day eating croissants, laughing with her favorite people, and being a couch potato.
Last year, she’d gone bungee jumping, and the year before, she’d flown to Australia to see Uluru. But this year, with everything going on, a quiet birthday was exactly what she needed.
She had no idea where they were headed, just that Holden, Indie, and her mom had organized a dinner somewhere. All she knew was that it wasn’t a fancy restaurant, because that was something she’d firmly vetoed.
Today, she just wanted to spend relaxing time with the people she loved most.
“So…” Indie started slowly. “I’ve been holding this question in all day, but now that we’re finally semi-alone, I need an answer.”
Oh God, why did Clara’s belly flutter at that? “Okay.”
“I know that Holden’s been sleeping over to watch out for you. I also know from my early visit this morning that he’s sharing your bedroom. I know you’ve kissed, but—”
“Holden and I had sex.”
Indie’s eyes widened, and Clara squeezed her arm before she could scream.
“Shh! Mom and Holden are behind us.”
“You tell me that you finally lost your V-card, then ask me not to scream?” Indie shout-whispered. “Are you crazy? When?”
“The night Scarlett died…and every night since.”
“That was like five nights ago!”
