“To Claire.”
Everyone raised theirs.
“To new beginnings,” Edward continued. “And to the strongest woman I know.”
Claire’s eyes filled.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For giving me a family.”
Edward’s smile was soft.
“You always had one, Claire. You just had to find it.”
Later, after everyone had gone home and Lily was asleep, Claire stood outside under the stars.
The air was warm.
The night was quiet.
She thought about the girl who walked through the snow with a newborn in her arms.
She thought about how close she’d come to lying down and giving up.
She thought about her mother’s letter, still unopened in the drawer.
And she realized something.
She didn’t need her mother’s apology.
She didn’t need her father’s regret.
She didn’t need Vanessa’s guilt.
She had already moved on.
The door opened behind her.
Edward stepped out, holding two mugs of tea.
He handed her one.
“Can’t sleep?”
“Just thinking.”
“About what?”
Claire looked up at the stars.
“About how far I’ve come.”
Edward nodded.
“You’ve come a long way.”
