Chapter 18 - Daniel’s Second Chance
Daniel did not remarry Olivia.
They never got back together.
Two years later, Emma told me he had started seeing someone.
Her name was Claire.
I laughed at the coincidence.
Emma looked alarmed.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Do you want to know about her?”
“No.”
That surprised both of us.
Months later, I met Claire at Noah’s birthday.
Daniel introduced us carefully.
“Rachel, this is Claire.”
She looked terrified.
I smiled.
“Nice to meet you.”
And meant it.
She was a pediatric nurse practitioner.
Warm.
Funny.
Nothing like Olivia.
Nothing like me.
Good.
Later, Daniel approached.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Being kind.”
“She didn’t do anything to me.”
He nodded.
Then said:
“I told her everything.”
“Everything?”
“The affair.”
“The airport.”
“The trust money.”
“The hospital review.”
“The divorce.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“She still stayed?”
“So far.”
“Then don’t reward honesty by becoming dishonest again.”
He smiled sadly.
“I won’t.”
Maybe he wouldn’t.
May you like
Maybe he would.
That was no longer my life to manage.
