I knock on the bathroom door, hoping to make sure Claire is okay.
“I just need a minute.” Her voice sounds sure and calm. It’s how she was when she was Nova, and I’m instantly pissed I scared her.
I grab a pair of sweats and head to the kitchen in hopes there’s something to cook for breakfast.
When I open the refrigerator, it’s my lucky day. Claire has kept things well stocked, and I appreciate it. Maybe some breakfast will help us communicate because I’m not doing such a hot job of it right now.
The bedroom door creaks open, and I spin to find Claire in yoga pants and tank top showcasing our baby. It reminds me of when I was at her apartment and makes me realize that maybe she did let me see some of the real her.
“Breakfast?” I ask.
“Sure.” Her arms wrap around her middle as she walks to the coffee maker. She adds a touch of milk and a couple of teaspoons of sugar, which I file away for later.
After flipping the pancakes and bacon, I face her. “I’m sorry if I scared you.”
“You didn’t. I just … don’t really know what’s real and not. It’s this weird sort of limbo, and I can’t tell if you’re real or just playing a part.”
Sighing, I put the spatula onto the counter and bend down so we’re at eye level. “I promise honesty. From the moment I walked into this house, I promised myself I would be one-hundred-percent honest with you. The only exception to that are things I can’t tell you about the case. I intend to stick by that. We’ve had enough confusion and lies.”
“And what, you’re just staying here? You have a job. Bad guys to catch. I’m nobody.” She huffs.
“First, you are absolutely someone. I’d say you’re very special to me, but I don’t think you’re really ready to hear any of that. Second, I would like to stay here until I’m forced not to, but that’s also entirely up to you. I won’t pressure you, but I do need you to know that I intend to be in this baby’s life even while you’re still pregnant.”
She stares at me for an extended moment. “So much happened all at once that it’s been … extremely isolating. I would really like some company if you can swing it with your job.”
“Done. I’m at your service for anything you need.” I turn back to the food.
“Anything, huh?”
Spinning around, I see the smirk on her face, making me think we’ll be okay.
“Absolutely anything, Claire baby.”
We hold eye contact for a few seconds before her smile grows. “I like when you call me that,” she whispers.
“Then I will keep calling you that. How are you feeling?” I ask.
She sighs. “Mostly good. The first trimester was … really shitty. I was sick all the time and couldn’t eat much.”
My heart sinks. “What did the doctor say?”
“That it’s normal and it would be better once I hit twelve weeks. It did, thank God. I’m still a little gun shy with food, though.” She smiles.
“Okay. Just tell me what you’re craving, and I’ll make it happen. That’s a thing, right? Cravings?” God, I need to do some research. I wasn’t around when my sister was pregnant, so I have zero clue how to handle this.
“Hasn’t been yet for me, but I’ll be sure to keep you updated.”
I plate up our food and sit next to her.
“How long is this whole thing going to be? The case with Cano?” she asks.
“I don’t have a firm answer, but I promise to do everything I can to wrap things up quickly.”
“But you have no real control over things. You’re seeing how deep things go, right? That could take years to uncover.” She sighs, pushing her pancake around on her plate.
“I won’t let it take that long. If all else fails, I’ll figure out a way to bring you back with me and have some semblance of normalcy.”
Her laughter is almost frightening. Nothing about this scenario is funny. “Sure, you’ll just find all the artifacts and high-profile clients and call it a day. Hell, I don’t even know what normalcy is anymore. I haven’t seen normal since Charlie died. And add to it that I’m about to have a baby in four months … Yeah, normal isn’t in my future.” She shoves her plate away and teeters off the barstool before heading back to the bedroom.
