Page 26 of Blue Gold

A loud snort escaped her. “Are you telling me you drove all the way to Brooklyn for a bistro?”

Knowing her, she didn’t doubt my words but was genuinely surprised. After all, Claudia preferred staying in the realm of her beloved Manhattan.

“It’s a good place. Very authentic,” I said.

“You know what, now I'm intrigued. How about we go there for dinner?”

“Pardon?” I frowned at her bizarre request.

Slapping my chest, she smiled. “I said, take me there.”

Feeling like a mouse caught in a trap, I stifled my panic and cleared my throat.

“Are you sure?”

Moving from beside me, Claudia went over to Maya and began helping her mix the batter.

“Yeah. This baby girl is going to a playdate this afternoon, so why don’t we have a date ourselves? It’s been a while since we went to eat in a new place. It could be fun.”

A sense of possessiveness took over me with the thought of my wife invading what was mine.

“It’s a bit far, though.” I moved to stand beside her, my pulse roaring like a drumbeat in my ears.

“Now I’m even more curious. Any restaurant that made my husband drive there is worth seeing, don’t you think?” She turned to look at me, a small smile on her lips.

I wanted to say no, as I hated this idea. Yet, not wanting to make her suspicious, I nodded.

“Fine. I guess you’re right.”

Completely unaware of the inner chaos she’d just caused, Claudia’s face lit up, and she stood on her tiptoes to kiss me before moving her attention back to our daughter.

And to think I started this day thinking it would be a good one.

9

DANIEL

Claudia’s sudden urge to go on an adventure couldn’t have come at a worse time. With Elliot still sensitive over what had happened a few weeks ago in his apartment, where I practically yelled at him for having a life of his own, I assumed he wouldn’t be pleased about me coming here with my wife—the wife he, thus far, had only heard of and never met.

With my stomach twisting with nerves, I opened the car’s door for Claudia and waited for her to step out before telling John to go and park the car. After he drove off, I unwillingly turned to look at the small bistro. Its wooden windows and Open sign that hung on the door often made me smile, but not today. For the first time since coming here, I hoped the place would be closed.

“This looks cozy,” Claudia said while fixing her dress so it would fall down smoothly as she looked ahead.

“I told you it’s a small place.”

“This isn’t small, honey—it’s tiny. Anyway, let’s get inside. I’m starving.” She linked her arm with my elbow while waiting for me to take the first step.

I hate this.

Cold sweat broke out across my skin as I walked toward the door, my heart practically stopping once I opened it and the small bell announced our arrival. Typically, Elliot would poke his head out of the kitchen at this point. Hopefully, not today.

As usual, the place was empty, and it saddened me, considering it had so much potential if only for the right marketing.

“Are you sure they’re open?” Claudia whispered, a frown on her face, just as the kitchen door opened and out walked⁠—

“Bonjour,” Elliot greeted before he looked up to see us. Our stares quickly met, and his eyes shone with joy, only for it to wash off the second he noticed I wasn’t alone. The shock on his face was like a punch to the gut, and I wished to turn around and walk as far away as possible from this catastrophe.

“Oh my, they really are French.” Claudia beamed while I tried swallowing down my growing panic.