“You can look at it whenever you come here.”
He nodded.
That was all.
When Ethan left, the quilt stayed on June’s bed.
—
January brought a surprise.
Claire came to the Beaumont Hotel.
June was pushing a linen cart toward the service elevator when she saw her standing near the staff entrance.
Camel coat.
Leather boots.
Perfect hair.
The kind of person June usually saw in the lobby, not beside industrial laundry bins.
Claire looked uncomfortable.
June stopped.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Is Ethan okay?”
“Yes.”
“The children?”
“We don’t have children.”
June closed her eyes.
“Right.”
Claire’s expression sharpened.
Then softened when she realized June was genuinely tired.
“Can we talk?”
June looked at the cart.
“I have twelve rooms left.”
“I can wait.”
“That could be two hours.”
Claire looked around.
“I’ll wait.”
June studied her.
Then pointed toward the staff café.
“Coffee there.”
Claire nodded.
Two hours and fifteen minutes later, June found her at a table.
A paper cup sat untouched.
Claire stood.
June remained standing.
“What do you need?”
