The Little House on Maple Street
Chapter 14 - The Little House on Maple Street
The house was nothing like the penthouse.
It had three bedrooms.
A crooked front porch.
An old maple tree.
And a kitchen desperately in need of renovation.
Claire loved it immediately.
Ethan had used money from selling his personal sports car.
"No family trust?"
"No."
"No company account?"
"No."
"No secret loan from your mother?"
Ethan laughed.
"Definitely no."
They moved in during January.
Vivian visited once.
She stood inside the small kitchen as though she had entered another country.
"The countertops are laminate."
Claire smiled.
"Very observant."
"The bathroom upstairs is extremely small."
"Also true."
Vivian looked at Ethan.
"And you're happy here?"
He wrapped an arm around Claire.
"Very."
Vivian nodded.
She was learning.
Slowly.
Three months passed.
Cross Development survived.
The company emerged smaller but stable.
Claire refused the position of CEO.
Instead, she created an independent board.
Employees received representation for the first time in the company's history.
Vivian attended meetings as an advisor.
Nothing more.
The Cross Building remained standing.
So did the bakery.
The clinic.
The daycare.
One afternoon, Claire returned home and found Ethan painting the future nursery.
She stopped in the doorway.
They hadn't spoken about children since the miscarriage.
Ethan immediately put down the roller.
"I'm sorry."
Claire looked at the soft walls.
"Why?"
"I shouldn't have assumed."
She entered the room.
He looked nervous.
"I wasn't assuming we'd have a baby."
He pointed toward several boxes.
"I thought maybe it could be your studio."
Claire smiled.
Then cried.
Ethan held her.
For months, both of them had avoided the grief.
Now they finally spoke about it.
About the baby they lost.
About the guilt Claire carried.
About Ethan's fear of trying again.
Nothing was fixed that evening.
But something healed.
Two weeks later, Claire received a phone call.
From Vivian.
Her voice sounded strange.
"Claire..."
"What happened?"
"I need your help."
Claire immediately feared another financial crisis.
Instead Vivian said:
"I think I've ruined Thanksgiving."
It was March.
May you like
Claire started laughing.
For the first time, Vivian laughed too.
