“And leave the silver vanity set on the dresser,” Clara added.

“Julian bought that set for you two Christmases ago.”

I set the hairbrush flat on the polished walnut and zipped the suitcase shut.

I picked up my heavy coat and walked past Clara into the dark hallway while she stood watching from the doorway.

The radiator above the bakery clanked at eight in the morning, pushing the smell of fresh bread and warm yeast up through the floorboards of my rented room.

I sat on the edge of the narrow metal bed and pulled a card table close to my knees.