As Claire left Alex's house later that evening, her mind was filled with questions she didn't dare voice. The way Alex looked at Emma when she wasn't paying attention—the care in his eyes—was something she hadn't seen in him for years.
"Am I imagining things?" she murmured to herself as she got into her car. "Does he… care for her more than he's letting on?"
Shaking her head, she started the engine. "If he does," she thought aloud, "I'll find out. And if it's real, I'll do everything I can to make sure they stay together."
Her resolve hardened as she drove away, the flicker of hope in her chest growing stronger.
The sound of Claire's car fading into the distance left an unusual stillness in the house.
Emma stood where Claire had left her, arms crossed, and her face a blend of confusion and relief. She hadn't expected Claire's apology—or her warmth.
