17 TROPHY DISPLAY

A phone rang in the Davis residence and beautiful woman who looked to be in her thirty's ran to the phone. She grabbed it and in excited and youthful voice she answered.

"Davis residence. How may I help you?"

"Hello, is Claire there?"

"This is she?" She sounded so much like a child answering the phone that the person on the other end couldn't help laughing. She thought the behavior felt familiar but she couldn't figure out why.

"It's Adriana. I'm sorry to call out of the blue, I got your number from Aidan."

"It's not a problem, what can I do for you?"

"I was wondering if you and Toni would like to come over and take some cooking lessons with me. I get bored doing it on my own and I really enjoyed spending time with you two."

There was a pleading note to the woman's voice and it immediately made Claire agree on the spot.

"We'd love to, when?"

"Does Saturday sound good?"

"It does for me. I'll call Toni to make sure she doesn't have any plans and call you right back."

"Perfect."

They chatted for a few minutes longer before Adriana gave Claire her phone number then they said their goodbyes and hung up.

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The minute Clair hung up she called Toni. The phone didn't ring for long before she

answered.

"Toni!"

"Hello Claire, you sound extra bright today." She couldn't help the smile that came easily at hearing Claire in a good mood.

"I am. What are you doing this Saturday?"

"Not shopping I hope?" She gave a little nervous laugh.

"Not at all. How would you like to take some cooking lessons?"

"That sounds like fun, I'd love to." She was relieved to hear she won't have to go shopping so anything else would do.

"Perfect, I'll pick you up."

"Why don't I just take a cab to your house."

"Oh, we're not doing it here. We are going to the Booth's. Adriana invited us. Will pick you up around eight thirty in the morning."

"Oh, ok."

Claire could hear the nervousness in her voice and wanted to reassure her.

"Don't worry, it will be just us girls and the Chef. Cameron is out of the country and Aidan doesn't live there."

"Ok, I'll see you Saturday then."

She heard the relief in her voice and she couldn't help how her heart broke at the lonely life this child had led.

"Enjoy the rest of your day honey."

"You too Claire."

Toni went back to designing her new product. It was meant to be a mechanical heart for patients on the transplant list who needed something more reliable to keep them going while they waited. She had trouble with it because she had to find get familiar with biology but the doctor she met on one of her hospital volunteer trips she took with Claire was a great help. It was something she was doing for fun though and even though she took it seriously, she didn't plan on going beyond making a prototype for her trophy display.