“You ask questions. You check who I am. We exchange contact information. If after all of that you think I’m a terrible influence, you say no.”
Maggie looked alarmed.
“You’re not terrible.”
“Thank you.”
Ethan studied Claire.
“Why would you even consider this?”
That question was harder.
Claire could have given him an easy answer.
Because Maggie was sweet.
Because it was only one day.
Because she liked children.
None of those was the truth.
Claire looked down at her hands.
“Because today is my birthday.”
Maggie gasped.
“It is?”
“Yes.”
“How old are you?”
“Maggie,” Ethan warned.
“It’s okay. Thirty-five.”
Maggie looked impressed.
“That’s a lot.”
Claire smiled.
“It feels like a lot today.”
Ethan sat on the opposite side of Maggie.
Claire took a breath.
“My father started a company when I was a kid. I grew up around it. Three years ago, he retired and I took over.”
Ethan nodded.
“That’s a big responsibility.”
“I thought it was the only responsibility that mattered.”
She stared toward the sidewalk.
“I’m good at my job. I like parts of it. I’m proud of what I’ve done.”
Neither Ethan nor Maggie interrupted.
“But this morning I woke up and realized I had nobody to eat breakfast with.”
Her voice dropped.
“I checked my phone before my feet touched the floor.”
Ethan’s face changed slightly.
Claire continued.
