“Claire called the house before I left.
Rosie asked if she could come.”
I looked up.
“We told her not yet,” Claire said quickly.
“We wanted to — we needed to do this part first.
Make sure it was real.” She paused.
“But she asked.
I thought you should know that.”
I nodded.
I didn’t trust my voice.
“James,” Anna said.
It was the first time she had used my name since the kitchen table.
“What do you want?
From all of this.
What are you hoping for?”
It was the most honest question anyone had asked me all day.
“I don’t want to take anything,” I said.
“I’m not here to insert myself into a life that was built without me.
I know I don’t have the right to that.” I looked at Claire.
