“No.”

She placed the folded black suit beside Julian’s cedar box, not inside the wedding closet.

The sale was still pending.

The accounting was not complete.

The new ceremony had not happened.

We had a chosen date, a practical process for the remaining dispute, and promises that would have to be kept in ordinary conversations.

Claire rested her hand on the box for a moment, then let go.

For once, nobody was asked to look away.