Diane had already been promised a home without an end date.

If Claire agreed to a night under those conditions, tomorrow’s discussion would begin with the claim that she had accepted the arrangement after all.

There might have been a different conversation if anyone had asked her yesterday.

“I’m not agreeing to an overnight stay tonight,” she said.

“I’ll sit with you while we work out a safe alternative.

I’ll help check practical information.

But I don’t want this move starting by default.”