CHAPTER FORTY THREE

When Claire awoke again, it was 7am already. She stretched and yawned, reaching for Jake as she did so, but the bed was empty besides her.!

She suddenly became wide awake, as she turned swiftly and sat up on the bed. She looked around, he wasn't there, neither were his clothes!

She scurried out of bed alarmed! Pacing around.

"Where did he go??!"

"Did he leave??!"

"No..that can't be...he couldn't have just left--Nath!" She suddenly remembered.

She hurried out of her room to Nate's.

As she barged in without knocking, she stopped at the door, eyes wide open, her chest visibly heaving from panic!

"Sshhhh..." Jake shushed her, looking rather amused than surprised.

"You are going to wake him." He added, quietly.

Claire gradually relaxed now...

"I thought-- I thought you left...." She started to say, but ended up sobbing quietly, turning away from Jake, resting her forehead on the door.

Jake rose quickly and reached for her, turned her around and took her in his arms.

"Am here, darling...am