Chapter 37 - clara chose preston as father without choosing his family system
At twenty-one, Clara invited Preston to her university graduation.
Veronica too.
Different seating.
Different relationships.
After the ceremony, an older Caldwell relative approached.
“Clara Caldwell?”
Clara smiled.
“Clara Grant.”
The woman apologized.
Then:
“Of course. Preston’s daughter.”
“Yes.”
No discomfort.
No need to explain.
Preston heard.
Years earlier the surname bothered him more than he admitted.
Now he simply said:
“That’s my kid.”
Clara rolled her eyes.
Later she asked:
“You really don’t care?”
“About the name?”
“Yes.”
Preston thought.
“I care that you’re my daughter.”
“I learned those are different.”
Clara hugged him.
It was one of the first times Amelia saw them together without mentally inserting the man from the foyer between them.
May you like
Not because she forgot.
Because Clara’s relationship had accumulated its own evidence.
