For a while after Andrei left, Claire remained where she was, her eyes fixed on the closed bedroom door.
The room had gone quiet again.
She could still feel the warmth of his lips against her forehead, and his last words lingered somewhere in the back of her mind.
Please wait for me, Petarda.
Claire let out a slow breath before turning towards the bedside table.
The breakfast was still there.
The pancakes sat neatly on the plate, accompanied by the fruit he'd taken so much care arranging. Beside them, the freshly squeezed orange juice caught the morning light.
She stared at the tray for a moment.
Then she reached for it.
The first bite brought an involuntary smile to her lips.
It still tasted the same.
Andrei was many things, but when it came to cooking, pancakes were his one undisputed talent. He made them better than anyone she had ever known. She had told him that countless times, and judging by the pleased expression he'd worn that morning, he hadn't forgotten.
Claire took another bite.
She hadn't wanted to eat in front of him. Not after everything they'd said, and certainly not when she knew how much he'd hoped she would accept the breakfast.
But now that he was gone, she found herself enjoying it.
She finished the pancakes, ate some of the fruit and drank the orange juice before setting the empty glass back on the tray.
For a moment, she sat quietly, looking at the plate.
Then she shook herself out of it.
She was about to get out of bed when her phone began ringing on the bedside table.
Mia.
Claire's face softened almost immediately.
She answered before the second ring.
"If it isn't the lover girl herself."
A quiet laugh escaped Claire.
"Hello to you too, Mia."
Mia laughed on the other end.
"Oh, dear. I was almost scared I'd wake you. But since you're awake, please go to your door. I've ordered a surprise for you."
Claire frowned slightly.
"A surprise?"
"Yes!" Mia exclaimed. "So hurry along and go get your surprise."
Claire looked towards the bedroom door, then back at the phone.
"What have you done?"
"Just go!"
Mia sounded far too pleased with herself.
Claire laughed, pushed the covers aside and swung her legs over the edge of the bed.
"I'm going for it. Just hold on."
She picked up the breakfast tray and hurried out of the bedroom, keeping the phone pressed to her ear. By the time she reached the kitchen, she was moving considerably faster than she probably should have been.
She placed the tray in the sink and continued towards the front door.
"Okay," Mia said.
Claire reached for the handle.
At almost the exact same moment, she heard Mia's voice again.
"Open it!"
Claire pulled the door open.
And stopped.
Mia stood on the other side, wearing a ridiculously huge grin. A small Chanel bag hung from one hand, while an equally enormous black suitcase stood beside her.
For a second, Claire simply stared.
Then her face lit up.
"Mia!"
She nearly screamed.
"You liar!"
Mia burst into laughter as Claire rushed towards her.
They collided in a tight embrace, both laughing as their arms wrapped around each other. Claire held her close, almost afraid that if she loosened her grip, Mia might disappear again.
"Urgh, I've missed you," Claire murmured against her shoulder.
Mia rubbed her back.
"I've missed you too, darling."
They stayed like that for a little while before finally pulling apart.
Claire looked at her again, taking in her familiar face, the mischievous smile and the bright eyes that had always managed to make even the most ordinary moments entertaining.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, still smiling.
Mia reached for her suitcase.
"Are you going to let me inside, or should I spend my holiday standing in your doorway?"
Claire laughed and stepped aside.
Mia dragged the suitcase into the penthouse while Claire closed the door behind them.
Once they were inside, Claire turned towards her with an accusing look.
"You filthy liar. Where's my package?"
Mia stopped and slowly drew her head back, looking at Claire as though she'd just been deeply insulted.
"What package?"
"The surprise you told me you'd ordered."
Mia placed a hand against her chest.
"What package is nicer than me? I am the package, darling."
Claire burst into laughter.
Mia joined her, clearly pleased with herself.
"Besides, I brought you goodies from my trips," she added, lifting the small Chanel bag.
"Of course you did."
"Of course I did. You didn't think I'd come empty-handed, did you?"
Claire shook her head, still smiling.
They made their way into the living room, where Mia abandoned her suitcase beside the couch and settled into one of the cushions. Claire followed, adjusting the belt of her robe before sitting beside her.
Mia turned to look at her properly.
Then her eyes widened.
"Girl, you're glowing!"
Claire rolled her eyes.
"Oh, please."
"No, I'm serious."
Mia leaned forward slightly, examining her face.
"Look at you."
Claire laughed and nudged her arm.
"Stop it."
Mia made a disapproving sound before leaning back.
"Fine. I won't compliment you."
"You've already started."
"And I'll continue if necessary."
Claire shook her head, smiling.
Then she looked at Mia more closely.
"You look good too. PR really looks good on you."
Mia's expression brightened.
"I was born for this, girl, and I am living it."
Claire laughed softly.
"I can see that."
Mia settled deeper into the couch, looking entirely pleased with herself.
For a little while, they simply enjoyed being together again. The morning light had spread further across the living room, illuminating the pale furnishings and the glass surfaces. Beyond the windows, the gardens were quiet, with the occasional movement of leaves in the breeze.
Claire glanced at Mia.
"Seriously, why are you here?"
Mia placed a hand against her chest.
"I'm deeply heartbroken."
Claire raised an eyebrow.
"You don't want me here?"
"Oh, please. You know that's not what I meant."
"I don't know. You're looking rather offended."
Mia shook her head, trying not to laugh.
"I came to New York and decided to visit my best friend."
Claire looked at her.
Then at the suitcase.
Then back at Mia.
Mia sighed and lifted both hands.
"Okay, fine. I'm on vacation, and I wanted to spend it with you."
Claire's expression softened.
"Awww. Look at that. My baby is spending time with me."
She slipped an arm around Mia's shoulders and drew her closer.
"But what about Alex?"
Mia chuckled.
"We broke up."
Claire straightened.
"Again?"
Mia shrugged, looking almost unconcerned.
"This time, it might be for good."
Claire stared at her.
"Why? What happened again?"
Mia leaned back and crossed one leg over the other.
"We're just not meant for each other."
Claire gave her a look.
"That's what you said the last time, and you got back together two weeks later."
Mia pressed her lips together.
Then she said, entirely casually, "You can't blame me. The sex is good."
Claire bumped her elbow against Mia's arm.
"Mia!"
"What?" Mia giggled. "I'm just being honest."
Claire shook her head, laughing despite herself.
"But we're not getting back together this time," Mia continued.
Claire looked at her with an expression that made it abundantly clear she wasn't convinced.
Mia noticed.
"I'm serious."
"Of course."
"Claire."
"I'm listening."
Mia laughed and shook her head.
Then her expression settled into something more thoughtful.
"His family still doesn't approve of me. They think I'm too unconventional."
Claire's smile faded slightly.
Mia looked down at her hands.
"Alex wants to choose me and leave his family, but I don't want that."
She paused.
"I know how important they are to him. Besides, it's just his mum and his sister. He shouldn't have to choose between them and me."
Claire watched her quietly.
There was no bitterness in Mia's voice, and that somehow made the decision sound more final.
"I take it you broke up with him," Claire said.
"Well, not exactly. We agreed that—"
Mia stopped when she caught the look on Claire's face.
She sighed.
"Okay, fine. I broke up with him."
Claire smiled knowingly.
"See? You're finally talking."
Mia rolled her eyes.
"Don't start."
Claire laughed and shifted on the couch.
"What would you like?"
Mia looked at her as though she had asked something ridiculous.
"Oh, come on. You don't expect me to be a guest in my own house."
Claire smiled.
"Well, Alex would want me to give you the absolute best treatment."
Mia burst out laughing.
"He absolutely would."
Their laughter filled the living room, carrying on for a little longer before gradually settling.
Mia turned towards Claire, resting her elbow against the back of the couch.
"Enough about me."
Her expression changed.
"How are you?"
Claire's eyes drifted away.
It was a small movement, but Mia noticed.
Claire looked towards the windows, where the morning light had begun to brighten the garden outside. She adjusted the robe around her waist before returning her gaze to her friend.
"I'm fine."
Claire gave her a faint smile.
Mia studied her.
"That's a lie, and you know it."
Mia leaned a little closer.
"So start spilling the truth before I get it out of you."
Claire exhaled.
"Alright, fine."
She paused.
"I told Andrei about the L.A. offer this morning."
Mia's expression grew attentive.
"And how did he take it?"
Claire considered the question.
"I don't even know. Not well, I guess."
"What happened?"
"We sort of got into an argument, if it can even be called that."
Mia waited.
Claire rubbed her thumb against the fabric of her robe.
"He brought up our agreement. Then I brought up the miscarriage, quitting my job, giving up my plans..." She paused, looking down briefly. "Pretty much everything that's happened over the past seven years."
Mia's face softened.
"Oh, dear."
She opened her arms.
"Come here."
Claire moved towards her without hesitation.
Mia wrapped both arms around her, drawing her close. Claire rested her head against her shoulder while Mia rubbed her back gently.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
"I am so sorry," Mia murmured. "I can't imagine how hard it must still be for you to think about the miscarriage after all these years."
Claire closed her eyes.
They eventually loosened their embrace, though neither moved very far away. Claire remained tucked against Mia, their arms still around each other.
"Sometimes I think about it," she said quietly.
Mia looked down at her.
"If I hadn't lost my baby, he or she would probably be six by now."
Her voice softened further.
"I didn't even get the chance to find out if it was a boy or a girl."
Mia reached for her hands and held them between hers.
"Oh, Claire."
Claire looked down at their joined hands.
"Sometimes I wonder what they would have looked like. Whether they would have had Andrei's eyes or my hair. What their little personality would have been like."
She paused.
"I never even got to meet them."
Mia's fingers tightened gently around hers.
"I'm so sorry, Claire."
Claire gave her a small smile.
"It's okay. I got over the sadness years ago. I just wonder sometimes. That's all."
Mia didn't immediately respond.
She knew better than to mistake Claire's smile for the absence of grief. Some things didn't disappear simply because the years had passed. They became quieter, finding their way into ordinary moments when least expected.
"I still think you and Andrei need therapy," Mia said eventually. "Both of you. You need to properly heal from what happened, regardless of whether you decide to stay together or leave."
Claire looked at her.
"It's fine, really."
Mia studied her for another moment before nodding.
"Okay. I won't push it."
She gave Claire's hands a gentle squeeze.
"I just want you to be happy."
Claire's smile returned, a little more genuine this time.
"I know."
Mia leaned back, allowing the conversation to settle.
Outside, a car moved along the road beyond the gardens. Somewhere in the penthouse, the quiet hum of the heating system continued, filling the spaces between their words.
Claire drew a breath.
"So, I plan to go to L.A. tomorrow."
Mia turned towards her.
"Tomorrow?"
Claire nodded.
"I want to get things in place for the offer."
A smile spread across Mia's face.
"Great. Then I'll go with you."
Claire looked at her.
"We can have lots of fun after you're done," Mia continued enthusiastically. "It's been a whole year since we last had fun together."
Claire laughed.
"You've barely arrived, and you're already planning our activities."
"Obviously. Do you think I came all this way to sit around doing nothing?"
Claire shook her head, smiling.
"Some things never change."
"And thank goodness for that."
Mia nudged her shoulder.
Claire stood and held out a hand.
"Come on. Let's get your things inside. You're sleeping with me."
Mia took her hand and allowed Claire to pull her up.
"Yah! We're having fun!"
Claire laughed as they headed towards the staircase.
Mia retrieved her suitcase and began dragging it behind her while Claire walked a step ahead.
They climbed the stairs together, their conversation already drifting towards the plans they would make for the following day.
Mia glanced at Claire from behind.
"You look fine, girl. See that booty?"
Claire turned sharply.
"Mia!"
Mia burst into laughter.
Claire shook her head, laughing too, and continued up the stairs.
For the first time that morning, the penthouse didn't feel quite so quiet.