Chapter 1 - THE MORNING NOAH DIED
Three days earlier, Claire had still believed that grief would be the hardest thing she would ever experience.
She had been wrong.
At 6:12 that morning, the hospital corridor had been silent.
Claire sat beside Noah's bed holding his small hand.
Machines beeped softly.
Noah had been unconscious for hours.
His breathing was shallow.
His mother leaned forward and kissed his forehead.
"I'm here."
Her voice trembled.
"I'm not going anywhere."
Margaret stood near the window.
Noah's grandmother had not slept.
She had spent the entire night praying in silence.
Claire looked at the clock.
6:19.
She called Evan.
No answer.
6:27.
Again.
No answer.
6:31.
She sent a message.
Evan, Noah is getting worse. The doctors don't think he has much time.
The message showed as read.
11:47 p.m.
Claire remembered that number because she had stared at it for hours.
Read.
No reply.
At 7:03, the doctor entered.
Claire looked up immediately.
She knew.
Before he spoke, she knew.
The doctor sat beside her.
"I'm so sorry."
Claire squeezed Noah's hand.
"No."
She shook her head.
"No, you don't understand."
The doctor looked down.
Claire's voice became desperate.
"He's my son."
Margaret covered her mouth.
Claire leaned over the bed.
"Noah?"
Nothing.
She kissed his forehead.
"Noah, Mommy's here."
The room remained silent.
And somewhere across the city, Evan Bennett was sitting in a hotel suite with Sabrina Cole.
He saw Claire's message.
He read every word.
Then he placed the phone face down.
"Everything okay?" Sabrina asked.
Evan looked at her.
"Claire being Claire."
He poured another drink.
May you like
"I'll deal with it tomorrow."
He had no idea that tomorrow would begin with a white casket.
