Eileen picked up her sister’s latest book and got in line behind the two other women clearly eager to read Clare’s last words.

After she paid, with another credit card that made her hold her breath, the cashier asked her, “Would you like a bag?”

Eileen forced a smiled. “No thanks.” She picked up her book, along with the free bookmark, and opened her tote. “Shit,” she said.

“Excuse me?” the cashier asked.

“Um, nothing. Sorry. I just realized—thank you,” Eileen mumbled and headed with her suitcase out past the other passengers, who were now congregating around the table displaying Clare’s book. Back out in the concourse, she opened her tote again and saw the large envelope addressed to Eric still in her bag. “Damn it,” she whispered. She’d meant to leave it on his desk in his office before she left.

She pulled out her cell phone and checked the time; she still had forty-five minutes before they would start boarding her flight. She opened her recent calls list and tapped Eric’s contact. With her phone pressed to her ear, she stuffed Clare’s book in her tote next to the envelope and began walking toward the restaurants on the other side of the concourse.

“Hello?” Eric answered.

“Hey,” she said, adjusting her bag on her shoulder and taking the phone back into her hand. “I’m at the airport.”

“Everything okay? You made it on time?”

“Yes. I actually have a few minutes, so I was going to grab a bite.”

“Is that Mom?” Ryan’s voice echoed in the background.

“Yes,” Eric said, his mouth aimed away from the mouthpiece. “She’s at the airport.”

“You’re at home?” Eileen asked, surprised. All the kids were now talking at once in the background.

“Yes. Guys, be quiet so I can hear. Yes, after you called, I cancelled my last meeting and came home. How you holding up?”

Eileen found an empty table outside a Mexican food restaurant that looked cleanish and lowered her tote onto the empty seat. “I’m not sure. I think I’m just moving from one thing to the next.”

“I’m so sorry. I wish I could be there with you.”

Eileen closed her eyes. She wouldn’t cry again. Not in the middle of the airport. “I wish you were too. But honestly, I’m glad you’re home with the kids.”

“Speaking of that…what have you told them, exactly?”

“I said she had an accident. Not that she shot herself.”

“They’re reporting her death on the news,” he whispered into the phone. “It won’t be long before the details come out.”

Eileen took a deep breath. “I don’t know what to do.”

“I’ll talk to them.”

“I feel awful. I’m sorry. I never meant for you to have to handle that on your own.”

“I think it will be awful no matter how they find out.”