She wrote her name on the first line, then on the second, and pressed the sheet flat on the counter with the heel of her hand until the curl went out of the paper.

The counter had a knife scratch in it, and the paper covered the near half of it.

She pressed it flat again with both hands and left them there.

Then she went to find the school’s fax number.

Owen set the duffel bag in the trunk, lifted it back out, and set it in again with the handles turned toward the bumper.

Claire let him.