"He eats here?"
* * *
What Claire said first was not an answer. She stood up off the rug and crossed the room to June and crouched down in front of her, and she began unbuttoning the flannel shirt from the top with quick, practiced fingers, the way she had unbuttoned a hundred snowsuits and church dresses.
"Let's get this off you, bug. It's not yours to wear."
"But I was going to wear it to do chores with Dad tomorrow."
"I know you were."
"Danny said I could have the gloves when he gets new ones."
Claire's fingers stopped on the fourth button. It was only for a second, and then they went on. "We'll talk about it. Go on up and brush your teeth. I'll be up to read in a minute."