Chapter 156 - The Vanishing (2/2)

But Sam is busy kissing Claire's face, ŀȧpping up her tears.

Claire is too emotional to speak. She just lets the puppy kiss her, as though with every kiss, Sam removes a tiny shred of pain from her heart.

Dale and Lucille exchange looks. Something terrible is up, and they're not sure what.

”Are you really serious about leaving, Miss Claire?” Dale says after a long while.

”Miss Claire is leaving? Where?” Lucille exclaims.

Claire only nods and takes the puppy in her arms, carrying her like a baby. Quietly, Lucille puts the leash on Sam. They all stand there awkwardly watching Claire cuddle the puppy with tears in her eyes.

After what seems like a long time, Claire says, ”Lucille, do you have a pet carrier for Sam? Something I can put her in?”

Lucille hesitates; she looks at Dale, who nods. ”Yes, Miss Claire. We have it in the office. I can go and get it for you.”

”Please do. Thank you, Lucille.”

”You know you can talk to me, Miss Claire, whatever it is,” Dale says as they wait for Lucille to come back.

Claire merely sighs. Yes, she can talk to him. Yes, she can pour her out and Dale would be the perfect listener, as always. But that solves nothing. What lies before her still is a solid sense of impossibility. Her relationship with Gabriel was good while it lasted—then she realizes she's already thinking of Gabriel in the past tense. That sends a pang of pain in her heart.

Lucille arrives and she quietly lets Sam into the pet carrier. Thankfully, it was small enough, just about the size of the puppy, so that Claire can carry it with her suitcase in tow.

”I'll call Dean for you, Miss Claire,” Lucille offers.

”No, thank you, Lucille. I can manage.” Claire smiles. She pauses. Then she gives Lucille a warm, tight hug. And Dale, too, who at this point is already sobbing like a child aa the gravity of the situation finally dawns on him.

”You're really leaving us,” Dale mutters. ”Is this really happening?”

”Take care of yourselves, Dale, Lucille.” Claire takes a deep breath. ”If Gabriel shows up, tell him I just went out for a walk. I need some lead time. You will soon understand. Gabriel will soon understand. But for now, I think I need time for myself. So many things have happened in the past few weeks that I feel I cannot go on like this. My heart is too weary, too tired.”

Dale nods. He says nothing. He and Lucille merely watch Claire walk out of the lobby's doors and into the afternoon sun. They watch as Claire flags down a cab—Dean is nowhere in sight and is unable to offer her a ride—and gets inside, with Sam in the pet carrier beside her in the backseat. They see Claire look back at them and wave a hand weakly. Then the cab rolls out into the main avenue, and that's it: Claire Monteverde is gone, out of their lives. Out of Gabriel's life?

As soon as the cab is out of sight, Dale is quickly upon the telephone. He dials Gabriel's number, his hands trembling. Lucille looks on, understanding what is happening.

”Sir Gabriel, please answer,” Dale mutters to himself as he listens to the phone ring on the other end of the line. ”Please answer now, Jesus Mary and Joseph.”

But it only rings and rings, Gabriel not picking up—he's probably out and about town, trying to arrange some surprise for tonight's dinner date.