22. Creative Completion
As the maid was arriving the following day, Claire set out her clothes the night before. She’d head out for breakfast and see if she could get her hair done. And maybe new polish too.
Arriving at the library, she saw Alice back behind the desk. “Oh, hello, Claire.”
“Alice, how are you feeling?”
“Much better, thanks.” Alice set another book on top of a stack of others. “I may owe you an apology. I heard you got sick, too.”
“Nothing to apologize for. Otherwise, we’ll all have to be doing it. Just glad that we’re both on the mend.”
“Yes. That was no fun. Plus, I missed being here and chatting with everyone. And of course, the book club meeting had to be put off until everyone was well again.”
A couple came in and the group exchanged greetings. Claire moved away so Alice could speak with them.
She decided not to check out any more books but headed outside where she strolled around the garden, waving at familiar faces. After leaving the Society, she walked over to Café Grano, where she ordered a coffee and a muffin. Claire sat at a table close to the entry and watched people come and go along the sidewalks. A text came in on her phone, letting her know that the appointment for her hair would work.
Great. She’d have plenty of time to get her nails done before the hair appointment.
Over the rest of the morning, she chatted with acquaintances and gave directions to tourists with recommendations for lunch places. Then she made her way back to the casita. The housekeeper was gone, and Claire used the time to do some reading.
Every time that thoughts of Pat came to her mind, she’d shake them free. She didn’t want to spend more time thinking about everything. Tonight she and Pat would come together and she wanted to have an open mind.
Claire had finished dressing when she heard a knock on the door. She opened it to find Pat standing with a bouquet in his hand.
“I’m here to pick you up for our date.” He smiled.
“Um, okay. Thanks.” As she opened the door to let him enter, soft strains of music floated in the air. “Let me put these flowers in water. Thank you for them. They’re lovely.”
“You’re welcome. Lovely flowers for a lovely woman.”
Claire’s heart jumped. She maneuvered the stems into a vase and set them on the table. “I just need to get my shoes on. Then I’ll get my wrap and my purse.”
“The shoes and wrap, yes. The purse you won’t need. We’re dining in.”
“Oh, okay.” Claire stuffed her feet into her flats before draping a shawl over her shoulders. “Oh, I just realized you’re not wearing your sling.”
“The doc says it’s pretty much healed. But to be careful another week or two. So we’ll see. The arm has to stay in the cast for a bit longer.” He held it up.
“Well, that’s good news.”
“Shall we?” He crooked his arm, and she followed him across the courtyard. The space was lit with twinkling lights, casting a beautiful glow as they walked. Once up at his house, he took her hand and led her toward the stairs to the Mirador.
They climbed the stairs and Claire’s breath caught as the view opened before her. Luminaries set along the edges, with star cut-outs reflecting against the night sky. A table and two chairs had been set up with a white tablecloth. Candles were also lit on the table, and as Claire’s eyes adjusted, she noticed a man standing in the corner.
It was Steve. He was dressed in a white shirt, black pants, and a bow tie. He held a cloth over his arm.
Ah, so that explains how Pat could get all this up here. From the beautiful lighting and flowers floating in the water, she most likely owed Gwen a thank you as well.
“Ma’am.” Steve pulled out her chair. She sat, trying not to laugh at his formality.
Steve spoke to Pat. “Sir. Should I pour the wine?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Steve poured a white wine into Claire’s glass, winking at her in the process. She stifled her chuckle by biting her lower lip.
After Steve had poured the wine, he set a chilled plate of salad in front of each of them. The lemon dressing was tart and a perfect complement to the walnuts and parmesan on top of the baby bibb leaves. A round of goat cheese with a smear of strawberry jalapeno jelly added to the flavor palate.
They chatted about their day. Claire shared about seeing Alice, who was looking well. When they’d finished, Steve came over and took the dishes. He then refilled their wine glasses and their glasses with water and a slice of lemon and cucumber on the edge.
More plates were set in front of them, with coverings on top. The lids were lifted to reveal salmon in a lemon caper sauce next to a taurine of rice and a medley of vegetables.
Claire said, “This looks wonderful. My compliments to the chef.”
Steve smiled. “I’ll tell her.”
So Gwen had made the meal as well. A warmth flowed into Claire. What great friends they’d become in such a short time.
As Steve left to take the salad plates downstairs, Claire sighed with contentment. “Thank you for this. It’s magical. I wondered at first how you would have achieved this without outside help.”
“You’re welcome. I wanted to do something different. I talked to Steve about it and he said not to worry that Gwen would be all over it. I think she’s a bit of a romantic, to be honest. I never would have thought of the luminaries.”
“You probably would have come up with something as good.”
“Maybe. I just didn’t want to go to a restaurant. I wanted time alone with you.”
Claire beamed. “Well, this is perfect.”
“I don’t want to spoil our evening, but I know we’ve both been thinking about what’s next for us.”
She nodded, wiping her mouth with her napkin before setting it back in her lap.
“Yes. That’s true. I have that job offer, and I need to give them an answer soon.”
Pat cleared his throat. “Remember the other day when I had to go away for a few days?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Well, it was to meet my agent and to finalize a contract.”
“Oh, yes? For another book?” She moved her fork around her plate.
“No. They’re going to make a movie of the first book in the series.”
Claire’s fork clattered on her plate as she clapped her hands together. “Pat, that’s wonderful!”
“I’m excited about it. I’m also one of the producers working with the script and writing.”
“I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks.”
Steve returned with a container of coffee and two desserts. Claire accepted the offer of coffee and Steve sat the dessert beside their plates for later.
“Will that be all, sir?”
“Yes, thank you,” Pat replied.
Steve turned to Claire, who mouthed ‘Thank you’ to him. He winked at her again and then took the stairs down the Mirador.
“That dessert looks to die for, but I want to finish this sumptuous meal first.”
Pat nodded. “There’s certainly no hurry. As I was saying, I’ll be producing, so that means I’ll be spending some time working with the writers.”
A chill hit Claire. She set her fork down. “You’re leaving?”
“Not yet. In a few months. Claire, I want you to come with me.”
“Come with you?”
“Yes. To Los Angeles.”
“I—”
“Please let me finish. I have a house there. In Santa Barbara. We can stay there.”
Claire sat back in her chair. “But what about here? This place?”
“It would only be temporary.”
Claire’s hands flew to her mouth. This wasn’t what she’d expected. Pat stood and reached for a large manila envelope from a nearby table.
“I wanted to show you this. It’s the cover for the upcoming book.”
Claire didn’t care about the cover. What did that matter? She’d been in turmoil over moving to Mexico and now Pat was leaving. Even if it was only temporary, where did that leave her?
She bent the clasp and opened the package, sliding the picture out. At a glance, the cover was similar to many of his other works.
Claire’s breath caught as she spied the author’s name. Next to Rick Benor sat another name.
Claire Benor.
What in the…? Claire glanced over to Pat, who’d risen from his seat. “Of course, it’s only a pseudonym. And since it’s my pen name, I’d want to make sure that you’re okay with a name change. Or not.”
He bent down on one knee next to her chair. “Claire, please marry me. I’ve loved you my entire life. A miracle has brought us together. Will you be my co-author forever?”
She could have said she’d think about it, or that it made little sense at their age, or to consider the pros and cons.
Instead, she answered, “Yes.”
The sky was overcast as Claire and Pat made their way down the rows of names. The cool black granite was etched with names for eternity, commemorating thousands of lives. They stopped in front of a name. Claire placed her left hand now sporting an oval cut emerald and diamond band against the name. Pat’s warm hand covered hers.
“Thank you, Charlie.” She whispered.
Pat nodded. “For everything.”
Thank you for reading Surprising Chapter. If you enjoyed this book, I appreciate your leaving a review. It helps others to know if this is the right book for them.
While you can read any book in the series, if you are going in order, check out the next book in the Boomer Book Club Babes series featuring the sassy Betsy. Check it out here.
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