Ethan rubbed both hands over his face.
“Sweetheart, you cannot ask people you just met to do that.”
“She’s not just a person. Her name is Claire.”
“That does not make her not a stranger.”
“I know her teddy bear’s name too,” Claire offered.
Ethan looked at her.
Claire shrugged.
“Mr. Buttons.”
Against his will, Ethan smiled.
Then the worry returned.
“I’m sorry.”
“Please stop apologizing.”
“No, this is…”
He lowered his voice.
“She misses having a woman around sometimes. I know that. But she doesn’t usually ask strangers to…”
“Borrow them?”
Claire finished.
Ethan laughed quietly.
“That’s one way to put it.”
Maggie looked between them.
“Claire is lonely too.”
Ethan’s expression softened.
Claire wished Maggie would stop announcing that.
Then again, maybe she didn’t.
Claire slipped her phone into her purse.
“She asked if she could spend a day with me doing some things she misses.”
Ethan shook his head gently.
“That’s very kind, but obviously we can’t do that.”
Maggie’s shoulders dropped.
Claire saw it immediately.
She also saw the relief mixed with guilt on Ethan’s face.
A responsible parent saying no even though some part of him understood exactly why his daughter had asked.
“Obviously not today,” Claire said.
Ethan looked at her.
“I’m sorry?”
“We just met. You don’t know me.”
“Right.”
“And I don’t know you.”
“Exactly.”
“So we do what adults are supposed to do.”
Claire sat on the edge of the nearby bench.
“We talk.”
Ethan didn’t move.
Maggie climbed between them.
Claire continued.
