I had learned to let her.

Some parts of my work genuinely were private.

Others were simply inconvenient to the version of our family they preferred to describe.

Eventually I stopped correcting both kinds of omission.

That did not mean I had no pride in my service.

It meant that at home I wanted to be Claire, not an introduction involving responsibilities and titles.

I had not understood how readily people could turn that wish into permission to dismiss me.

I opened the cabinet beside the desk.