I pressed my hand over my mouth.
Tom looked away at the window.
Anna made a small sound and covered her face.
“She knew,” I said, when I could speak.
“She knew what she had taken from both of us.”
“Yes,” Claire said.
“She knew.”
We sat with that for a while.
No one rushed it.
It was Tom who finally spoke, and he spoke quietly.
“I want to say something,” he said.
“And I hope it doesn’t come across wrong.” He looked at me.
“Claire has had a good life.
A full life.
She had a mother who loved her and worked herself to the bone for her.
She had friends and school and a career she loves.
She has me, and she has Rosie and Daniel.” He paused.
