Claire left the house soon after breakfast, and after doing the dishes even though Gabriel scolded her for it, reminding her that it wasn't her job.
She drove up to Gina's apartment, excited to see her friends outside of work. Zoe joined not much later, looking quite hangover.
"Who did you meet last night?" Claire asked Zoe, always trying her hardest to show interest in her life, however different it was from Claire's.
"I went on a date with this guy from a dating app. It was a bit of a last-minute decision. He was in the city and dropped me a message."
"How was he?"
"Good sh*g but it ain't going to be anything serious," Zoe said bluntly. "He's boring as heck." She grunted. "He reminded me of the Jones Junior. So self-absorbed that I've struggled to stay awake."
"Sorry to hear that." Gina chipped in. Her boyfriend, Joe, nodded as a way of joining the conversation but trying to not interfere too much. Zoe's adventurous 'love-life' was as far out of his comfort zone as it gets.
"I'd say that however wild my night was, it couldn't match up to Claire's." Zoe smiled at Claire mischievously.
"You don't have to poke fun at my boring life."
"No, Claire. I am not. I was wondering how much time you spent with Mr Moore last night."
"Too much." Claire groaned. "I didn't leave work until almost midnight last night."
"What is exactly happening between you two?"
"I'm not sure. As he said, he enjoys my misery so…"
"Claire…" Zoe moved closer to Claire and placed her head on Claire's shoulder. "Tell me… Do you like him?"
"Of course not!" Claire gasped at it. "He is abusive and horrid in every way. For most of the time, I fear for my life when I'm near him."
"But, he is so handsome."
"He is quite good-looking on the outside but…" Claire sighed. "I have been getting death threats and I think it's him."
"Death threats?" Zoe sat up straight to look at Claire's face.
"Letters and text messages from an unknown sender. I get one at least every couple of days." Claire took her phone out and showed it to Zoe and Gina, with Joe having a nosey look too.
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"I didn't want to worry you."
"Did you report it to the police?"
"No. I don't think there's anything they could do. Besides Mr Moore surely can influence them enough to be left unharmed."
"You shouldn't be near him if he's threatening you."
"I don't think anything will happen at the company. I'm pretty sure it would be more of a clean job and a ditch out in the countryside."
"Maybe." Zoe wasn't convinced. "I hope that you're keeping safe."
"Yes, I am." Claire lied. She wasn't going to admit that she lives under the same roof as a person that wishes her dead.
"Shall we get going?" Gina asked them realising the time. They left Joe behind, as he never met Claire's parents and they went off to St Anne's hospital
Claire was the one driving, scolding Zoe for the mess she left in her car a day earlier. Zoe was just grumbling, still too hangover to care, laying across the back seat. Gina apologised for the mess though.
Claire's dad was in the hospital, waiting for them.
Gina and Zoe disappeared to get coffee and give Claire some time alone with her parents.
"Dad!" Claire ran up, giving him a big hug.
"Claire! Gosh, you look so tired and worn out. Have you been eating well?"
"Yes. I've just been working a lot recently."
"How did you manage to transfer your mum so quickly?"
"I've received a bonus at work for all the contracts I'm managing." Claire lied, or at least stretched the truth.
"You're doing so well. I'm so proud of you."
"How are things in here?"
"Well, your mum's condition was stabilised today. Doctors here really know what they're doing. They didn't have much space in normal rooms so they moved your mum to the VIP room without any extra charge."
"That's so good." Claire felt emotional.
"They think that if they keep up, your mum might regain her consciousness in a couple of days. And then, we just have to wait."
"That's fantastic news, dad."
"I don't think I was this hopeful in months." Claire's dad admitted. "And we owe it all to you."
"You don't owe me anything. If anything, I owe you everything."
"Would you like to see her?" Her dad decided to change the topic. "They allow visitors in here."
"Of course."
Claire walked into the room feeling nervous. Her mum was attached to so many wires, and she was so small and frail. Claire sat next to her, alone, and started stroking her hand. Her dad decided to stay behind as he was too emotional himself. He found himself some excuse to go outside.
"Mum, you must get better. So much has happened since. I need to tell you about so much." Claire started sobbing. "I've done so many stupid things. I think you're going to kill me when I tell you. But… I can do so much more for you now. I did it for you. And once you get better, I'll make sure that you get to live comfortably. I'll make sure that you never lack anything again. I love you so much. You must stay strong for me." Claire kissed her mum's pale forehead. She left the room to find her dad coming back, and they walked together to the cafeteria where Zoe and Gina sat together.
Both, Zoe and Gina, knew Claire's parents quite well. Years earlier, while just starting university, they would often stop by her parents' restaurant to get some food, and her parents were keen to feed them for free as they treated them as if they were also their children. Obviously, since Claire's mum fell ill they didn't come around as much but both girls still brought gifts and flowers during holidays, which Mr and Mrs Thompson always appreciated, and Mr Thompson always made them stay for dinner.
Mr Thompson sold the restaurant to pay for chemotherapy and radiation and then dialysis. He lost everything to give his wife the best chance to live for at least a few more years, but recently every extra month felt like a gift.
As they sat over coffee, Mr Thompson quizzed girls, or rather women, about their lives. He asked Gina about Joe and Zoe about her latest date which she described in a much more respectful way than earlier.
"What about you, Claire?" her dad turned towards her. "Are you seeing anyone?"
"Claire is working all the time. She barely has time to keep herself alive, never mind to be seeing someone." Zoe said grumpily, throwing her friend under the bus. "Actually, our boss seems to be pestering her recently. Claire insists it is to make her miserable but I have an inkling that it's more than that."
"Is your boss a good man?"
"No." All three replied at once.
"Don't worry, dad. I am not going to do anything stupid." Claire lied. "Besides, I really do not like him."
"I trust you, Claire. But please be careful." Her dad held her hand across the table.
"I am." Claire smiled. Her dad had a gut feeling that something was off about her but he didn't push it anymore.
They left the hospital after a while, making their way to Holly's Kitchen.
"Why are we doing this again?" Zoe moaned. "We have been coming here since university every holiday. I'm running low on altruism now."
"Because we can." Gina pushed Zoe in. Even though Zoe complained all the way in, as soon as they were in the kitchen, they put the aprons on and started helping out.
Claire didn't realise that Gabriel was outside in the parked car. He could see Claire helping out behind the counter and loading the plates up for the queue of people. She welcomed everyone with a smile, chatting with them with so much excitement that they all seem to sit down to their meals with a gleaming smile.
Gabriel was concerned about Claire's safety after learning of the letters that she was receiving, hence he decided to find out what she was doing today. Earlier, when he learnt of Claire visiting St Anne's he learnt that her family member was there. He ensured that they were moved to the VIP room without Claire's knowledge. He was confused to hear that Claire was going to the soup kitchen, but now he was even more surprised with how happy she was when she was helping out by volunteering.
After everyone was served, Claire started collecting the empty dishes and chatting with every single person she could. She sat down briefly with a group of older men, laughing about something.
Gabriel wasn't best impressed that Claire worked this hard to help others, so often omitting herself in the process, but at this very moment, as he watched her kindness pour everyone around her, he knew that he loved Claire. It wasn't just a passing attraction. He knew that since the beginning, really, but he was trying to refute it. The warmth in his chest right now was unmistakable. He couldn't deny it any longer. She was his weakness and distraction, and he didn't mind it anymore. Not since she was his.
He drove off before Claire left the kitchen, ensuring that Pattison prepares a large donation for this place.