rs eased almost imperceptibly. He pulled his arm from Claire's

limp and cold, as if sh

ining its usual cool composure. It was softer,

isapproval, brightened instantly. She moved

dear, pleas

d perfection. She took in the scene-the tense standoff, the discarded clipboard, and Claire, still perched on the edge of the examination table

nt. She reached up and gently smoothed the frown lines between

suddenly, I thought something terrible had occurred." A delicate diam

allowed it. That small act of acceptance

the narrative. "We were just getting Claire a routine chec

dn't reach her eyes. "Oh, is this a friend of yours, Bishop?" S

afterthought, "I was just next door for a gynecological

conference. The

laire of her name, her status, her very identity. It left her

uth as if to correct her, but Janae had

ncern. She gently took his hand-the one he'd slammed the clipboar

ory and effortless intimacy. Eleanor, beaming at them like a proud mother. And

t like

She grabbed her trench coat from the chair where she'd left it and wrap

r voice low and steady. "I'm feeling m

ed to be released from the f

n-law. "Mother, I'm not feeli

ith Janae. She waved a dismissive hand in

d towards the door. Her back was straight, her

oorknob, she heard Janae'

, Bishop. I made reservati

or his answer. She d

kening until she was almost running down the corridor,

The chill was already deep inside her. She stood on the sidewalk, the

could

h expensive furniture and unspoken rules. Her old apartment, the one she'd had befor

Utterly and co

to pull her under, a black sedan sl

rear wind

rp angles and shadows,

ve to. His eyes, cold and com

n the