EROS
"Family commitments," Claire stated calmly. "My mother required assistance, and I chose to prioritize that."
"How commendable." Dora's grin was flawless. "It must be quite a transition, though. From advanced academic pursuits to...childcare."
The pause before "childcare" was precise. She might as well have uttered "Scrubbing floors." The suggestion lingered in the atmosphere like a fragrance, pleasant on the surface yet stifling beneath.
I opened my mouth. I wasn't certain what I intended to say. Something corrective. Something that would balance between defending Claire and not openly contradicting my mother, a space that was roughly two millimeters wide.
Claire beat me to it.
"In fact, they share more similarities than you might realize." She broke off a piece of bread and pla
