Chapter 11

Evelyn leaned back in her chair, savoring the last sip of her white wine as the sun sank below the horizon. Empty plates sat before them, and Evelyn was happy with how the rosemary chicken and roasted vegetables had turned out.

These Tuesday evenings with Claire had become something she looked forward to. Claire would arrive with fresh groceries, and Evelyn would invite her to stay for dinner. What had started as a simple gesture of gratitude had evolved into something more.

Ever since that day that Claire had taken her for a drive, they saw each other at least twice a week, sometimes three or four times. The weekly horseback rides were the highlight though, a chance to explore the breathtaking Irish countryside and to talk about everything and nothing. They'd gone on a few more drives too, with Claire taking them to two of the most beautiful beaches that Evelyn had ever seen.

She couldn't ignore the pull she felt towards Claire. Every time Claire smiled, Evelyn felt that flutter in her chest, and sometimes, she swore Claire felt it too. But Evelyn refused to act on it. She wasn't even going to bring it up. She was too old for Claire, her life too complicated.

It was somehow already the end of June, and she'd have to go back to L.A. in just a few months. A fling with someone like Claire was just a bad idea all around, especially with what Claire had said about her ex being married.

Claire deserved someone who could be in her life fully, and that would never be her. Her life was in Los Angeles, and she couldn't even imagine what it would look like for her to come out at this point in her life, so there was no point letting Claire think for even a second that Evelyn wanted her.

"You know," Evelyn said, pushing those thoughts aside. She set her wine glass down on the table. "I think this will be my first 4th of July away from the U.S."

Claire looked up, curiosity in her eyes. "Do you usually celebrate with family?"

Evelyn shook her head. "No, not in a long time. Both my parents have passed. I usually go to a friend's house. Someone always has a dinner party and a view. Last year, I was at Robert Larkin's place in Beverly Hills. We could see the fireworks from the Hollywood Bowl really clearly, and there were a few smaller shows scattered across the hills."

Claire met her gaze, her lips sliding into a smile. "I've gotten so used to being around you that I've forgotten that someone like Robert Larkin is your friend."

Evelyn felt that warmth in her chest again as she returned her smile. "And that's why I like spending time with you. I don't have to put on a show. I can just be myself." She swallowed down the emotion that had come out of nowhere. "You have no idea how rare that is," she said softly, almost to herself.

As physically drawn to Claire as she was, it was the way Claire treated her that Evelyn found most attractive. In her world, superficial friendships were the norm, and all of her past romantic relationships had been purely for appearances. Genuine connections were so rare that she could count them on one hand - connections where she didn't have to worry about ulterior motives or seeing her personal life splashed across the tabloids the following week.

Evelyn found herself already thinking about how much she would miss this when she returned to Los Angeles. Not just the quiet countryside, but the time she'd spent with Claire.