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After dinner, Claire helped Emily bake cookies. Mrs. Carter and Emily insisted Claire didn’t have to help, but she wanted to. She thought it would be nice to bake and chat with Emily. Plus, there wasn’t much she loved more than making cookies.

As they shaped the cookie dough, Claire asked whether Emily and Ainsley had always lived in the guest house.

Emily’s hands slowed. “Since I was pregnant. Ainsley’s father decided he didn’t want to be involved, so I came home.”

She said it without self-pity, but Claire heard the history beneath it. Suddenly, she understood why Ainsley adored Noah so fiercely and why she never left his side. He had been one of the people who stayed.

While the cookies were in the oven, Ainsley insisted she braid her hair. So they sat on the floor in the living room, Claire braiding her hair.

“Claire?” Ainsley turned to look at her.

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Can I call you Aunt Claire?”

The word lodged somewhere deep in Claire’s chest.

Aunt Claire.

It sounded permanent.

Her heart skipped a beat.

She didn’t know what to say. She froze and looked toward Noah. He was talking with his dad. He didn’t hear.

She should have gently corrected her.

She should have reminded Ainsley that she was only Noah’s girlfriend. His fake girlfriend at that.

But Ainsley was looking at her with so much hope that Claire could not make herself take the belonging back.

“Of course,” she said softly. “I’d love that.”

A huge smile came across Ainsley’s face, and she threw her arms around her. Claire hugged her back, emotions overcoming her.

Later, Claire helped Mrs. Carter clean up the dishes. She had finally accepted Claire was determined to help. While doing the dishes she had insisted Claire refer to her as Maggie, or at least Margaret, and not Mrs. Carter.

“We’re so happy Noah found you,” Maggie told her.

No one had ever spoken about Claire as if her arrival were something worth celebrating.

Claire froze. Because it wasn’t real.

At least not the relationship.

But the way that made her feel? It was very real.

Noah approached. You okay? he mouthed to Claire. She nodded.

“I’m sure you two will be okay staying in Noah’s room,” Maggie said to them.

Claire gulped. “Yes, ma’am.”

Later, Claire stood alone on the porch. A cool breeze stirred the evening air. One of the rocking chairs creaked softly behind her. Through the window, she could see Ainsley gesturing dramatically while Noah laughed at something she said.

She realized she didn’t want to leave.

Not because of Saratoga Springs.