Chapter 1: Empty Nesters
Claire Dunphy stood in the middle of her daughters' vacated bedroom. Once again, as she had done every day for the past two weeks, she buried her face in her hands and tried to weep as silently as she could. Phil had caught her crying before, and no matter how supportive he was, she could not bear to appear weak in front of him.
The reality that she was now living in an almost empty, too-quiet house had settled in the evening before, when she had received phone calls from both her middle and youngest child. Alex had landed safely in Switzerland, and would be starting at her new office building in Geneva the following Monday. Luke had phoned a few minutes later to report that he was officially moved into his dorm at the University of Oregon, up in Eugene - nearly two states away. Claire had practically begged him to let her accompany him up there and help him shuttle all of his stuff - the drive was nearly 13 hours - but her baby had insisted he would be fine.
At least Haley was still here, settled into Mitchell and Cam's old place about 15 minutes down the street. But she had her own life now, as a wife and new mother...
"I know I need to get a hold of myself," Claire says, reaching for a box of tissues and dabbing at her eyes. "I can't use Haley as my crutch, calling her every other hour. She's busy." She sighs. "Why can't I be more like Phil? He's been taking it so well, for someone who's usually a big mush ball. I have to be strong, for him."
Normally, Claire would always be able to hear her husband coming up the stairs - he always tripped on that broken step. This time, though, she must have been so lost in thought, that she didn't hear anyone else enter the room until a voice murmured, "Oh, Wonder Woman..."
Claire hastily wiped at her eyes, but that didn't stop her husband from pulling her into his arms and rocking her gently. The intimate consoling caused the floodgates to open anew, and Claire sobbed.
"I've always known how to make Claire Bear feel better," Phil boasts proudly from the couch. "I can always tell when she emotionally needs me. It's like my Spidey Sense tingling. I call it my Hubby Sense..." He frowns, bemused at my expression. "Don't look at me like that! It's an instinct, not a sex toy..." Phil then gets a dopey grin on his face as he concedes, "Although, it probably doesn't help explain the idea I had..."
"How about a date night tonight?" Phil murmured low. Claire sniffled into his shirtfront. "I hear that... Clive and Julianna are in town."
That got her. Claire glanced up into his face, peering, her expression bewildered but hopeful.
"I thought we said..."
Phil shrugged, grinning. "Nothing wrong with bringing them back, amirite?"
Claire gave him a very meaningful look. "OK," she got out softly.
Phil beamed. "That's my girl. Meet you at the bar round 8?"
Claire nodded, gracing him with a watery smile. "Sure."