Her Principles Saved Everyone But Me

I liked the remarriage video.

Less than thirty seconds later, Claire Bennett called.

"Evan, don't get the wrong idea. That was just one item on Julian's wish list. We're not actually getting remarried.

"He and I never had a wedding when we got married. I owed him a ceremony, and today I was just making up for it."

I stared at the huge diamond ring in the video and asked quietly, "Weren't you supposed to be out of state?"

There were two seconds of silence on the other end.

"I didn't want you to overthink it, so I didn't tell you the truth.

"Your medicine is on the nightstand. Remember to take it on time. I'll come home and stay with you as soon as I'm done here."

I picked up the pill box on the nightstand.

It was medication for stomach pain.

I had sudden sensorineural hearing loss, and the doctor had said the best window for treatment was only fourteen days.

Today was day ten, and the hearing in my right ear was still getting worse.

Claire couldn't even remember what I was sick with.

"Okay. Go do what you need to do."

She seemed not to have expected me to be so calm, and her voice turned heavier instead.

"Evan, don't take that tone with me. You know I hate being pushed to go back on my principles.

"This is the only thing Julian has left to ask for. Once the wish list is done, I'll cut ties with him and focus on getting you through your treatment."

Someone called out nearby.

Julian Shaw took the phone and said with a laugh, "Relax, Evan. I'm only borrowing Claire for one day. It's not like I'm going to steal her.

"If I really wanted to remarry her, I'd have done it three years ago. You never would've gotten a shot."

He hung up before I could answer.

The lock clicked at one in the morning.

Claire came in with the night's chill still clinging to her. There was glitter on the shoulders of her long trench coat.

She frowned, walked to the bed, and reached for my forehead.

I turned my head away.

Her hand stopped in midair, then she drew it back as if nothing had happened.

"Still mad?"

"No."

"Good. Julian's been emotionally fragile. He never got over it after I lost the baby back when we were married, and I don't want to set him off again."

She took out a jewelry box and set it in front of me.

Inside was a diamond watch.

It was the same one Julian had been wearing with his tux in the video.

"I let him borrow it for the ceremony. Now it's yours. Happy third anniversary."

A short strand of hair was still caught on the inside of the band.

I closed the box and pushed it back.

"He wore it. I don't want it."

Claire's face darkened.

"Evan, it's just a watch, and Julian isn't some stranger. You never used to be this petty."

She was right. I used to be very understanding.

When Julian wanted her to go to Scandinavia with him, I canceled our anniversary dinner.

When Julian said he was scared at night, I was the one who told her to go keep him company.

Every time it hurt, I told myself she was only keeping old promises.

But there were so many old promises.

Enough to use up the rest of our lives.

I took out the surgery notice from the hospital and handed it to her.

"My surgery is the day after tomorrow. The doctor said they might need a family member to sign."

Claire glanced at it, and her voice finally softened.

"I'll be there."

"Really?"

"When have I ever not kept a promise to you?"

I looked at her and didn't remind her.

Tomorrow was a date on Julian's wish list: his mother's birthday.

Sure enough, at six the next morning, I was woken by noises from the walk-in closet.

Claire was standing in front of the mirror, choosing earrings.

She avoided my eyes and explained flatly, "Julian's mom isn't feeling well. He wants me to go back to his hometown with him.

"I'll be back tonight. It won't affect your surgery."

I braced myself on the edge of the bed and sat up. There was nothing in my right ear but a muffled hum.

"Claire, I have a wish too."

Her hands paused.

"What is it?"

"Let me see Julian's wish list."

Claire fastened her earring and didn't answer.

Only when she was on her way out did she say, with her back to me, "Julian's privacy is none of your business."

The door closed.

A notification from the hospital came through right after.

On the form for my surgery, Claire's name had been crossed off the line for the person accompanying me.

Julian's name had been written in its place.