JULIAN

I didn't sleep after Ethan's call. I just lay there holding Claire, watching the night slowly turn to gray, watching the sky change colors as the sun rose.

By the time morning light filled the room, I'd made a decision. I wasn't going to tell Claire about the call, not yet anyway, she didn't need that worry on top of everything else.

When Claire woke up, she stretched and looked at me with sleepy eyes. "Morning," she said, her voice rough with sleep.

"Morning," I replied.

She noticed something immediately and her hand came up to my face. "You didn't sleep," she said. It wasn't a question.

"I did...