“She should be grateful. Got the whole barn to herself.” Claire’s stomach tightened. She tried to brush it off, but her voice cracked as she said, “I stayed. For over a year. I gave up my job. My life. I’m not asking for anything. But don’t act like I didn’t earn more than dust and splinters.” Bryan shrugged. “You didn’t stay for the money, right? So what does it matter?”
Sam leaned back. “Look around, maybe you’ll find something shiny in there.” The laughter that followed scraped like glass. Claire turned and left without another word. That night, she lay awake in her childhood bedroom, staring at the ceiling fan creaking in slow circles.