CLAIRE

After dinner, I helped Julian clean up the kitchen, both of us moving around each other in comfortable silence.

"I'm going to head to bed," I said finally, drying my hands on a dish towel. "Today was good but I'm exhausted."

"Get some rest," Julian replied, closing the dishwasher. "You earned it."

I walked down the hallway to the guest room, my body tired but my mind still buzzing with thoughts about fabrics and timelines and all the work ahead of me.

I changed into pajamas and went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face, the routine automatic and soothing. When I looked up at...