“Busy week,” he said.

Evelyn’s hand went to her pearls.

“With the hours Julian works, I would have thought the house might be a little more settled.”

I moved the basket to the floor.

“Say the rest of it.”

“I didn’t mean anything by it, Nora.” She sat down in Frank’s chair, which she always does, and folded her scarf across her knees.

Frank lifted Maya out of the bassinet without asking.

He held her stiff-armed, both palms flat under her back, the way a man holds a tray he doesn’t want to spill.