“Sorry,” Maggie whispered to the bear.
Ethan came outside carrying a small backpack.
“I packed snacks, water, extra clothes, tissues, hand wipes, two hair ties, and enough emergency supplies to cross several state lines.”
Claire took the bag.
“I respect the preparation.”
“I haven’t been this nervous about anything since kindergarten orientation.”
“Your orientation or hers?”
“Both.”
They went to a neighborhood diner for breakfast.
Maggie ordered pancakes.
Claire ordered coffee.
Ethan ordered eggs and spent most of the meal quietly watching Claire and Maggie talk.
Maggie explained the personalities of every stuffed animal she owned.
Claire listened as if she were hearing a board presentation.
“Mr. Buttons is the oldest,” Maggie said.
“How old?”
“Thirty.”
Ethan nearly choked on his coffee.
“He was mine when I was a kid.”
Maggie nodded.
“So thirty.”
Claire glanced at Ethan.
“Apparently ancient.”
“Apparently.”
After breakfast they walked to the children’s museum.
Ethan stayed with them for the first hour.
Claire built a crooked wooden bridge with Maggie.
Maggie knocked it over.
Claire rebuilt it.
Maggie turned it into a house.
Claire accepted the change in scope without requesting a revised timeline.
Ethan watched from a bench.
At one point Claire caught him smiling.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“That was definitely something.”
He shook his head.
“I’m just realizing you’re not checking your phone.”
Claire looked at the phone buried in her purse.
She had forgotten it existed.
“That is unusual.”
“I guessed.”
Maggie ran toward them carrying a paper crown.
“Claire, you have to wear this.”
Claire looked at Ethan.
He lifted both hands.
“I’m staying out of it.”
Claire put on the crown.
Maggie beamed.
At noon Ethan said he was going home for a few hours.
Claire noticed how carefully he made the announcement.
Not to her.
To Maggie.
