And when he told you why, you asked him whether the woman on the highway was his wife or his mother.”

Nobody in that room moved.

Down the hall, the espresso machine finished its cycle and hissed.

“I’m nobody’s mother,” Eleanor said.

“But I have been somebody’s wife, and I have been a stranger at the side of a road, and I know which of those two a man can afford to drive past.”

Gavin’s mouth opened.

Nothing came out.

“Halston Capital withdraws its letter of intent.