Years later, she returned as something more complicated and, in some ways, more durable.
Her online food business merged with Sunward's retail arm. She rented a cottage in Willowbrook for part of the year so Leo could move easily between parents while finishing school.
People gossiped about whether Martin and Claire would remarry.
They did not.
One evening they sat outside The Willow Table, which had reopened as a training restaurant run by young hospitality apprentices.
"We did all right with the second half," Claire said.
"Of the marriage?"
"Of the family."
Martin considered that.
"I used to think a happy ending meant getting back what I lost."