Chapter 1 - THE WOMAN AT THE DOOR
The woman Daniel Mercer almost died for was standing outside his hospital room.
And she was not his wife.
Claire knew that before the woman even spoke.
She was young, maybe thirty. Tall. Perfect hair. Camel-colored coat. She clutched a bouquet of white roses like she had every right in the world to be there.
“Is Daniel awake?” she asked.
Claire slowly stood from the plastic chair beside Daniel’s bed.
“Who are you?”
The woman froze.
From the bed, Daniel’s heart monitor began to beep faster.
“Claire,” he said weakly.
That one word changed everything.
Claire turned.
Daniel looked terrified.
Not confused.
Terrified.
The woman’s face lost its color.
“Oh my God,” she whispered. “You’re Claire.”
Claire felt the floor drop beneath her.
“You know my name?”
Daniel pushed himself up.
“Claire, please.”
She stared at him.
Three days ago, he had received a kidney transplant after nearly four years of dialysis.
Three days ago, Claire had slept on the hospital floor because there wasn’t another chair.
Three days ago, she had held his hand as they rolled him into surgery.
And now some woman she had never seen before was standing at his door with flowers.
Claire looked at the roses.
Then at Daniel.
“How does she know my name?”
Nobody answered.
The woman took a step backward.
“I shouldn’t have come.”
“No,” Claire said.
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
“You came all this way. Come in.”
“Claire—” Daniel tried again.
She didn’t even look at him.
“What’s your name?”
The woman swallowed.
“Vanessa.”
“And how do you know my husband?”
Vanessa’s eyes moved toward Daniel.
That was the answer.
Claire laughed once.
It sounded ugly in the quiet room.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
“Nothing happened,” Daniel said quickly.
Vanessa shut her eyes.
Claire turned toward him.
“Interesting choice of words.”
“Claire, I can explain.”
“Then explain.”
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
“Please go.”
Vanessa’s jaw tightened.
“You told me she knew.”
Claire’s entire body went cold.
Daniel’s face changed.
“Vanessa—”
“You told her WHAT?” Claire asked.
Vanessa stared at him.
“You said you were separated.”
“We were having problems.”
Claire almost smiled.
“Problems?”
She crossed the room.
“You were dying, Daniel.”
Her voice broke.
“I was taking you to dialysis four mornings a week. I was working overtime because you couldn’t work. I was cleaning blood off your clothes when your access site leaked. I was sleeping in emergency rooms with you.”
Daniel looked away.
“You were depressed,” Claire continued. “You told me you were scared. I thought those were our problems.”
Vanessa suddenly put the flowers on the windowsill.
“I’m leaving.”
Claire blocked the door.
“No. You wanted to see Daniel. See him.”
“Claire.”
“No.” She pointed at Daniel. “Look at him. New kidney. New life. Apparently new girlfriend.”
Vanessa’s eyes filled with tears.
“I didn’t know.”
Claire studied her face.
And realized she was telling the truth.
At least about that.
Vanessa left without another word.
The door clicked shut.
Daniel breathed heavily.
Claire stood with her back to him.
“Claire.”
She picked up her purse.
“Don’t.”
“I swear, it wasn’t serious.”
She turned so fast he flinched.
“You know what’s funny?”
“What?”
“You survived.”
He stared at her.
“For four years, I prayed for that.”
Her eyes burned.
“I prayed every night. I begged God, doctors, transplant coordinators, anyone who would listen.”
She walked to the door.
“And three days after you get your miracle, I find out you were planning a life without me.”
“Claire, wait.”
She stopped.
For one second, Daniel thought she might stay.
Then Dr. Marcus Harris appeared in the doorway.
He looked from Claire to Daniel.
“What happened?”
Claire wiped her face.
“Ask him.”
She walked away.
Dr. Harris entered slowly.
Daniel sank into his pillow.
“This is bad.”
The doctor stared at him for a long moment.
“You have no idea.”
Daniel frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Dr. Harris closed the door.
May you like
Then he said the words that would eventually destroy everything Daniel believed about his second chance.
“You should probably find Claire before she learns what I know.”
