The message came through Claire.
Not Daniel.
Claire his assistant, composed and professional, who sent the kind of messages that were designed to be impossible to argue with because they contained no emotion to push against.
Mr. Blake sends his apologies. Tuesday's coffee will need to be rescheduled. He'll be in touch when his schedule allows.
Julia read it once.
Put the phone down.
Made Nora's breakfast.
Packed her school bag. Found the left shoe that had migrated under the couch. Braided Nora's hair the way she liked it two plaits, not one, because one made her look like a baby and she was very clear about not looking like a baby.
She did all of it without saying anything about the message.
Nora chattered through breakfast the way she always did something about a girl at scho
