Saving Us

Reunited

He moves to hug her and then pulls back from their embrace.
"Please. Come in." he said.
Miles looks strangely at Neil.
"Oh. Umm... This is my friend, Neil."
Neil smiles and extends his hand.
"Hi. It's nice to meet you."
Miles nods and shakes Neil's hand.

They both take a seat at the dining table.

"Can you I get you guys some coffee?" asked Miles.
"Yeah." replied Claire.
"Sure. Thanks." replied Neil.
Miles nodded and went ahead to the kitchen while Claire and Neil sat in silence.

After a few minutes of silence, Miles returns with the coffees and takes a seat opposite Neil and Claire.
"Thanks." they both said as Miles placed their coffees on the table.
"How have you been?" Miles asked.
Claire nods as she sips her coffee.
"I have been okay."
He nods.
"Good. And your mom? I haven't heard from her in months."
Claire is surprised.
"You kept in contact with her? But you never bothered to see any of us?"
"Your mom told me to stay away."
"And you listened?"
Miles nodded.
Claire widened her eyes.
"How is she? I mean, your mom."
"You...don't know?"
"Know what?"
Claire looked at Neil and then back at her dad.
"Mom's gone."
"She disappeared? To where?"
"Dad, she died."

Miles widened his eyes.
"When... When did she..." he stammered, a bit.
"Last year. She was drinking while driving."
Miles sat in disbelief.
"I thought she was getting help."
Claire tries to fight back her tears and is slightly short of breath. Neil puts his  hand on her shoulder.
"She tried. Really hard."
Miles nods and passes her a tissue.
Claire nods and wipes her tears.
"Claire, I'm sorry you went through that alone." said Miles.
Claire clears her throat.
"I should've been there. I should have never left."
"Well, it's a bit too late to feel sorry now."
"Claire..." said Neil.
"She's right." said Miles.
"And I'm sorry, Claire. I know it can't fix anything now, but I am truly sorry."
Claire sighs.

"I wish I had kept in contact with you. Your mom barely told me much about your life and what you were doing."
Claire sighs.
"Dad, why did you never come back for me?"
"Claire, I couldn't. Even though I wanted to. You always moved houses."
"You should have tried to find me. Like I tried to find you."
"When I came back, the neighbour said you were gone."
"You should've tried harder!" said Claire, raising her voice. Neil looked at her, surprised.
"Claire, with your mom, who wanted to make a career out of singing and tour the country, where would I even start looking?"
Claire sighs.
"You could have gone to the police."
"By the time I did that, you would have moved again."
Claire sighs in disbelief.

Miles exhales.
"At least I got to know that you made a success of yourself. Last I heard, you were a third year resident at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital."
She nodded.
"Fourth year now."
"She's quite great at what she does." said Neil. "She has a unique way of connecting with people."
Miles smiles.
"So you're a colleague of Claire's?"
"He's actually my boss." said Claire, before Neil could say anything.
"Oh. And you guys are friends?"
Neil nods.
"Great." said Miles.

They all finish their coffees.
"Can I use the bathroom?" asked Claire.
"Yeah. First door to your left."
Claire gets up and leaves.

Neil takes the cups to the kitchen.
"Thanks." said Miles as he proceeds to wash the dishes.
"Sorry. I meant to do this earlier." Miles said.
"It's okay. I'll help."
Miles shakes his head.
Neil insists. Miles reluctantly agrees.

As they wash the dishes...
"Thanks. For being there for Claire."
Neil nods.
"Of course. Claire has always been there for me. She saved me. More than once." said Neil.
Miles looks at him, wanting an explanation.
"There was an earthquake last year."
"Right. I heard about that."
Worriedly, he continued.
"Was Claire hurt?"
Neil shook his head.
"No, fortunately not. I was. I nearly died. She donated a piece of her liver.  I was so upset at her because she endangered herself to save me. But I was and still am truly grateful."
Miles nodded as they continued to wash the dishes.
"Seems like there is more to your story than just being friends." said Miles.
Neil smiles and stops washing the dishes.
"Actually there is. We're a couple. Engaged, actually."
Miles is surprised. He widens his eyes amd then relaxes them.
"Well, I know I should not even be the one to give it, especially since I haven't been around for her a lot, but you have my blessing."
Neil smiles.
"Thank you."
"I am glad that Claire has found someone who is there for her. Who cares and clearly loves her and who she wants to spend the rest of her life with."
Claire overhears this as she walks back.

"That's why I am actually here. Dad, I would like it if you could be at the wedding."
Miles sighed.
"Claire, I don't think..."
"You have missed out on so many important moments of my life. I am tired of you not being there anymore. I want you to be in my life. I want my future children to have a grandfather and not wonder why he is not at Christmas dinners or their birthdays."
"I'm sorry, Claire. I don't think I should be there."
Neil sees the hurt and anger in Claire's eyes.
"Dad, please."
"Claire, I think you need to leave." said Miles.
Neil grabs Claire's hand and walks to the door.
"You're leaving me? Again?" said Claire, eyes tearing up.
"I'm sorry."
Miles closes the door whilst Claire's last words resonate in his head.