Chapter 6: Atrium

"Claire," Preston said, loud enough for the balcony.

"Nine times I let you down."

He held up the ring box, and the diamond caught the light from the glass roof.

"I'm done with that. Marry me today. Marry me right here, in front of everyone who knows how good you are."

The ring of phones rose a little higher.

Somebody in the back said, "Aw."

Claire stood at the edge of the ring in her coat, with her bag still on her shoulder.

Her face was hot, then cold.

He had done it in a room.

Of course he had.

She walked forward until she stood in front of him.

He smiled up at her, and his eyes were wet, and she saw how well he had practiced it.

"Get up, Preston."

"Not until you say yes."

"Then I'll say it from here."

She lifted her left hand, with the plain gold ring on it, and turned it so the light fell on the band.

"I'm married," she said.

A murmur ran around the ring.

"To Weston Crane. We registered yesterday at 4:51. You were at the hospital."

The silence that followed was very large.

Preston's smile stayed where it was, and the rest of his face came away from it.

"Claire," he said, low. "Don't do this to me here."

"You're the one who did it here."

"Oh, honey."

Delaney came across the marble on her crutch.

She was in soft pink, with her hair down, and her lashes wet.

She let the crutch slide, and she put both arms around Claire's neck.

For a moment she stood on both feet.

Claire noticed, and thought only that adrenaline did strange things.

"I'm so happy for you," Delaney whispered against her ear. "I mean it."

"You deserve someone who shows up. Mrs. Crane. It has a ring to it."

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