Claire's POV
I had the preliminary framework done by eight-fifteen.
This was partly because Theo had gone to bed at seven with unusual cooperation — the worm situation had apparently reached a peaceful resolution that afternoon and he was satisfied enough with the outcome to sleep without negotiation — and partly because once I sat down at the kitchen table with the documents I found I couldn't stop.
Not because of the work.
Because of what Alexandre had said at lunch.
I have never once looked across a table at someone and thought: I want to do this with her.
I had been turning it over since the restaurant. In the car on the way to collect Theo. During bath time. During the bedtime story — two pages of which I had read on autopilot while Theo looked at me with the expression of someo
