The care she had taken made the arrangement feel worse.

It was not an impulsive suggestion.

She had prepared a place for my absence.

I brought the card downstairs and set it beside the paper plate Noah had decorated with a large blue seven.

Then I moved an ordinary dining chair into the space he had chosen for me.

Margaret watched without helping.

Ethan came in carrying a tray.

“Please,” he said, looking at the chair.