She paused to breathe, letting the noise of the crowded lobby fill the space between them.

She realized she didn’t feel the need to retreat.

The panic that had gripped her in the university courtyard was completely gone.

“Boys, wait here with Arthur,” Claire said.

She walked over to a quiet corner near a row of empty registration tables covered in dark blue tablecloths.

A stack of leftover schedule packets sat neatly near the edge.

Daniel followed her, stopping a safe distance from the edge of the cloth.

He reached into the inside pocket of his expensive suit jacket.