“The sooner, the better. We’re running out of days. She usually has Thursdays off at the hotel. Would this Thursday work for you, say around four? I’ll come over, and I’ll ask her to be there.”

“That’s fine.”

“Thanks. Hey, did I hear you’re driving again?”

“Just once so far. Dr. Langston cleared me on Friday, and my mother had me at the DMV yesterday before I could chicken out.”

“That’s wonderful. It’ll give you some freedom.”

“I suppose. Listen, Jack, there’s something else I need to talk to you about.”

“What’s that?”

She bit her lip and lost her nerve. “Actually, it’ll keep until Thursday. I’ll just talk to you then.”

“Is everything okay?”

Define okay. “Yes, nothing to worry about. I’ll see you soon.”

Clare told herself she would’ve spent an hour getting ready even if she wasn’t seeing him. She would’ve given her hair more than the usual five minutes, dusted on a light coat of makeup, and chosen her clothes with special care because she was feeling better, not because her ex-husband was coming over. Yeah sure, keep telling yourself that, she thought as she slid into form-fitting jeans and a jaunty yellow top with three-quarter sleeves.

Studying herself in the full-length mirror in the downstairs bathroom, she noticed how the top hugged her breasts and was hit by a reminder of how much Jack had loved her breasts. He had rarely missed an opportunity to touch them, brush against them, or sleep with a hand between them. The memory of that intimacy took her breath away. She backed away from the mirror and wrapped a protective arm around her middle in an effort to regain her equilibrium.

How long had it been since she’d thought about being in bed with Jack? Or sleeping close to him? Or making love with him? Her face heated as a wave of longing cut through her. She yearned for him and the closeness they had always shared.

“Oh, Jack, I miss you so much,” she whispered. Tears flooded her eyes as she wondered if he now slept with a hand between Andi’s breasts. She shuddered at the thought, wiped her eyes, and opened the bathroom door.

“Clare?” Anna called from the kitchen.

“Coming.” Clare leaned against the wall and willed the color in her cheeks to return to normal. With a deep breath, she walked into the kitchen. “Here I am.”

“Don’t you look nice,” Anna said.

“Thanks.” Clare picked up an apple from the bowl on the counter and rolled it between her hands.

“What’s the occasion?”