Read Chapter 14: — WHAT CLAIRE WANTED

Claire came to Willowbrook with Leo during half-term.

It was the first time the three of them had spent more than an hour together since the separation.

Leo ran through the workshop touching everything he had been told not to touch.

"This is Daddy's factory," he announced.

"It's Uncle Daniel's factory," Martin corrected.

Daniel, walking with two sticks now, shook his head. "Apparently it's everyone's factory except mine when paperwork needs doing."

Claire laughed.

Martin watched her talking to Rebecca, Edith and May. There was no awkwardness until Helen, Daniel's wife, appeared and began asking whether Claire planned to "come back properly."

Claire answered before Martin could intervene.

"No."

The single syllable hurt less than he expected.

Later they walked beside the drainage canal while Leo searched for frogs.

"I used to think you left because I failed," Martin said.

"You did fail. In several spectacular ways."

"Helpful."

"But I didn't leave only because of the money. I left because every room with you in it belonged to your next plan."

Martin looked across the flat wet fields.

"And now?"

"Now you notice where you are."

"Is that enough?"

"For us? No. For you? Maybe."

She told him she had no intention of remarrying soon. Rowan was a business partner and friend, nothing more.

Martin felt embarrassed by how much relief the information gave him.

Claire noticed.

"Don't build a fantasy out of that either."

"I wasn't."

"Your face was putting up scaffolding."

They both laughed.

Their marriage was over.

Their family, in a different shape, was not.

That distinction became easier to live with.