“He’s right, Eleanor,” Martha said quietly.

“You can’t expect your brother-in-law to run a big company out of a cramped guest room.

It’s selfish.”

I sat at the deserted table, turning the wedding ring on my finger while Julian leaned over to whisper something into Arthur’s ear.

At eight o’clock I stood at the kitchen sink, rinsing the dinner plates under the cold tap.

Harper came into the kitchen and let the swinging door fall shut behind her with a dull thud.

She stood by the counter, watching the water stream off the porcelain.