As they hugged, Claire felt a sense of safety and warmth wash over her. All the day's stress and rage seemed to melt away. Ethan held her at arm's length, his eyes sparkling with kindness, and said, "I've heard so much about you, Claire. You're even more lovely than I imagined."
Claire blushed at the compliment, feeling a little shy but pleased to finally meet the guy who had been a topic of conversation in the Thornton home for so long. They talked for a while, swapping stories and laughter, as the party continued to buzz around them.
Just as they were getting into a lively chat, Ethan's phone rang. He apologized and walked away to respond, leaving Claire to mix with the other guests.
As she made her way through the crowd, Claire couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and connection among the Thorntons. She had never felt so accepted and loved by a family before.
