No Guarantee

Alex came home from work with a dark cloud hanging over him and Claire's heart twisted at the sight. She rushed forward to hug him.

"Hey…are you doing alright? Can we talk about what happened earlier?"

"What is there to talk about?" he asked with a heavy sigh. "I'm not going to look into this. I don't care about the people that abandoned me. I don't need them anymore than you need the Harringtons."

He said that but his tone indicated he cared a lot more than he let on. She wouldn't blame him for being upset. Anyone would be in that situation. He didn't need to hide his feelings from her; didn't he know that?

"Alex, you don't have to lie to me. I'm not going to judge you for whatever it is you're feeling right now," Claire said softly as she hugged him tighter.