Had Claire been there before me?
Had Noah?
The possibility was so painful that my mind resisted it.
Mila looked up from her sandwich.
“Mommy, why are you sad?”
Every adult in the room went still.
I turned toward her.
“I’m not sad because of you.”
“I know.”
She slid down from her chair and came to me.
“Is Daddy sick?”
“No.”
“Did he forget us?”
The question broke something open inside me.
I pulled her onto my lap.
“No, sweetheart. No matter what happens tonight, you did nothing wrong. Do you understand?”
She nodded against my shoulder.
“Can I give him the necklace later?”
I closed my eyes.
“Yes,” I whispered. “You can decide later.”
Priya stood.
“There’s a children’s room downstairs for employees’ families. One of my assistants is there with her daughter. Mila could stay with them for a little while.”
I hesitated.
Under ordinary circumstances, I would never have left her in an unfamiliar place.
