“We’re not doing this drama today, Mom,” he said, tapping his gold wristwatch with two fingers.

“I have a nine-thirty conference call with the vice president.”

I smoothed the front of my cardigan down with both thumbs, keeping my voice flat and even.

“You should drink your coffee,” I said.

Sloan tapped her long manicured nails against her glass coffee mug, her eyes narrowing as she glared across the island.

“She actually thinks she has a say in what happens next,” Sloan said to Mark.

“She’ll figure it out when the transport team gets here,” Mark said, turning his back to pour fresh water into the espresso machine.