CLAIRE

We'd been back from Tokyo for two weeks when Blake called. It was a Sunday morning.

Julian was making breakfast and I was at the kitchen counter going through emails from Nina about the upcoming CLAIRE Studio orders.

My phone rang and Blake's name appeared on the screen. I answered immediately. "You're calling early," I said. "Everything okay?"

"Everything is more than okay," Blake replied. "Are you sitting down?"

"Should I be?" I asked.

"Probably not," Blake admitted. "But I'm going to tell you anyway."

Julian glanced at me from the stove. I put the phone on speaker and set it on the counter between us. "Go ahead," I...