Chapter 9 - The Night Nurse Became the Woman the Billionaire Couldn't Live WithoutA year later, Claire was no longer a night nurse.
She became director of pediatric patient advocacy at Sterling Children's Medical Center.
Grant funded the program.
Not for publicity.
For children who had once been ignored because their symptoms didn't fit neat diagnoses.
He established a rule.
Every unexplained symptom received a second look.
Every frightened child was believed.
Every parent was heard.
Lily became the unofficial mascot of the program.
She drew ladybugs everywhere.
Claire laughed when she saw them.
Grant pretended to be annoyed.
He wasn't.
Emma recovered enough to spend weekends with her daughter.
Michael remained in protective custody but called regularly.
The Holloway family became something none of them had expected.
Not perfect.
But honest.
One winter morning, Lily came running into the kitchen.
“Daddy!”
Grant turned.
“What happened?”
“I'm hungry.”
He smiled.
“That's serious.”
“Mommy says breakfast is ready.”
Claire entered.
She was holding pancakes.
Grant looked at her.
“Mommy?”
Claire shrugged.
“She started it.”
Lily smiled.
Grant walked over.
He kissed Claire.
Lily groaned.
“Again?”
Grant laughed.
“One day you'll understand.”
“No.”
“You will.”
Claire watched them.
Her heart was full.
She had entered Grant's life as a nurse.
She had expected nothing.
Now she had a home.
A family.
And a man who looked at her as though she were the greatest thing he had ever found.
One afternoon, Grant took her back to the hospital room where they had first met.
The room was empty.
The fluorescent lights were new.
He turned them on.
Claire laughed.
“You're recreating the scene?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because this was where you saved Lily.”
She touched his arm.
“No.”
“What?”
“She saved herself.”
Grant smiled.
“Maybe.”
They stood together.
He reached into his pocket.
Claire stared at the ring.
“You don't have to.”
“I know.”
“Grant.”
“I don't want a contract.”
He opened the box.
“I don't want an arrangement.”
She smiled.
“I think I've heard this before.”
“Probably.”
He took her hand.
“I want every morning.”
Her eyes filled.
“Every difficult night.”
He knelt.
“Every child running through our kitchen.”
She started crying.
“Every argument.”
“You'll have plenty.”
“I know.”
He smiled.
“Claire Bennett…”
She laughed through tears.
“Grant Holloway…”
“Will you marry me?”
She didn't answer.
She kissed him instead.
Lily, who had been hiding behind the door, screamed,
“She said yes!”
Grant laughed.
May you like
Claire cried.
And the hospital hallway filled with applause.
