“I know.”

Claire pressed her thumb against the edge of her wedding ring.

“When did we decide this?”

“We need to talk about it.”

“Before or after she moves in?”

Mark did not answer.

Her unfinished work report was due Monday.

It was Sunday, October 20.

The house had been quiet that afternoon, and Claire had expected to finish the difficult section before dinner.

She had planned the coming week in the downstairs office, where three remote workdays were marked in blue on a handwritten calendar.

“Mark, is she already on her way?”

“I told her we’d figure it out.”

“That is not what I asked.”

Another pause.