Clara reached out as he came closer and touched his coat in the foyer, her fingers lingering on his wool shoulder as she brushed away an invisible speck of dust.

The emerald rings on her hand clicked against the polished brass button on his coat sleeve.

“We decided on sage green for the baseboards,” Clara said, her voice smooth and deliberate as she looked past me toward the stairs.

“This is a private home, Clara,” I said.

“Not a commercial project.”

Clara gave a sharp laugh, a cold sound that made Leo stop playing on the rug and hug his worn rabbit tight to his chest.

“Design principles apply anywhere money is being spent, Audrey,” Clara said, twisting the largest emerald ring around her finger.