Chapter 12 - Claire Refuses To Become Emily’s Replacement
As Claire recovered, reporters began calling.
They wanted the two wives.
Emily and Claire.
The vanished first wife and the surviving second wife.
Claire hated the framing.
She and Emily were not interchangeable victims in Ethan Morgan’s story.
Emily had made different choices.
Claire had made different choices.
They had separate lives.
Emily visited once after Claire left the hospital.
Claire was using a wheelchair and beginning intensive rehabilitation.
Emily brought no flowers.
“Hospital flowers ruined flowers for me,” she said.
Claire laughed.
They spoke for two hours.
Emily admitted she once loved Ethan deeply.
Claire did too.
Neither woman needed to deny that love to condemn what he later did.
Emily asked whether Claire planned to divorce him.
“Yes.”
No hesitation.
Emily nodded.
“That took me longer.”
Claire did not compare courage.
Emily had lived under different circumstances with different
information.
Before leaving, Emily handed Claire a copy of her journal.
“The original stays with investigators.”
“Good.”
“I thought you might want to understand why I chose your name.”
Claire looked at the old note identifying her as a possible safe
contact.
“You trusted me before you knew me.”
“I trusted your résumé.”
Claire laughed again.
It was strangely comforting.
Emily had not selected Claire as a savior.
She had selected an accountant.
May you like
A person trained to follow records.
That was exactly what Claire intended to do now.
