Counting did not change it, but it made the next decision feel less vague.

Claire looked at the napkin.

“For how long?”

“I don’t know yet.”

The waitress refilled their coffee.

Maya moved the napkin away from the damp ring beneath her cup.

Lily was at the other end of the booth with a pancake and a spoon she insisted was better than a fork.

She had slept badly, waking once to ask whether the cake was still in the yard.