Chapter 21 - THE HOUSE THEY CHOOSE TOGETHERClara refused Conrad’s Manhattan townhouse as family home.
“Too many ghosts.”
He understood.
She refused Boston mansion.
He did not own one.
They eventually chose townhouse in Brookline? Conrad works NY, Rose in Boston. Maybe Conrad splits. Better they purchase a brownstone in Boston's Back Bay? Expensive but not fortress. Conrad opens Boston office, commutes to NY. Clara wants stay because Rose's life.
This mattered.
Old Conrad would have moved family to his world.
New Conrad moved part of world.
They chose Beacon Hill townhouse.
Clara had equal input.
Not because money equal.
Decision equal.
She kept own account.
Signed prenuptial/postnuptial update protecting independence.
Conrad suggested.
“Romantic.”
“Very.”
They revised marriage finances:
separate personal property,
joint household,
Rose trust independent,
Clara no obligation join Bellamy business.
Clara felt oddly more loved by documents than diamonds.
Because good paperwork could be intimacy too.
Rose got purple room.
Conrad wanted designer.
Rose chose glow-in-dark stars.
Clara laughed.
One evening movers left.
Conrad and Clara sat on floor eating pizza.
No furniture.
Rose asleep upstairs.
Clara leaned against him.
“Remember first apartment?”
“Yes.”
“You hated couch.”
“It was criminal.”
“You said we’d replace and never did.”
“We had other priorities.”
He kissed her hair.
Clara asked:
“Do you ever think we shouldn’t be together?”
“Yes.”
She looked.
“Frequently?”
“Sometimes.”
“When I’m angry about Rose.”
“When you look at me like my surname is danger.”
“When I remember Vivienne.”
Clara nodded.
“Me too.”
“Good.”
“Good?”
“If answer never, we’d be lying.”
She smiled.
Then:
“I think about Simon.”
Conrad stiffened.
Clara laughed.
“Not like that.”
“Sometimes I miss who I was with him.”
“Quiet.”
Conrad understood.
“I miss who I was with Vivienne.”
“Less haunted.”
Clara looked.
“Does that mean wrong?”
“No.”
“It means people gave us things.”
Mature.
They kissed.
Later made love on mattress because bed frame not assembled.
Clara laughed when smoke detector beeped due pizza oven, ruining mood.
Conrad swore.
She laughed harder.
Sex as life not dramatic tool.
May you like
Normal.
That was healing.
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