Julian looked toward the hallway.

“Then don’t teach her that adults become less accountable when the truth is inconvenient.”

He ended the conversation.

Later, he told Anna only what affected her.

That no one in the household would approach her about withdrawing her account.

That her wages remained paid according to the arrangement they agreed while her employment position was clarified.

That any correction to the claim she resigned would be made accurately.

She thanked him.

Not warmly.

Precisely.

He accepted that too.

Respect did not require her to sound grateful for something she should never have lost.

Anna spent the first week at Beth’s apartment.

She slept badly.

A door clicking shut in the corridor made her sit up.

She disliked being asked whether she was ready to talk.

Sometimes she wanted ordinary conversation.

The price of groceries.

A terrible television program.

Whether the neighbor’s dog actually needed the little coat it wore.

Beth understood.

Other people didn’t always.

One friend said at least nothing worse happened.

Anna ended the call early.

Something bad had happened.

She didn’t need to imagine a more frightening version before taking her own seriously.

She obtained independent advice.

She gave the accounts required by the people investigating.

She decided who could speak to her about the incident and when.

Julian was informed of practical matters.

He was not invited into every part of her recovery.

That was appropriate.

He was her employer.

The father of a child she loved.

He was also the person whose home had become unsafe through authority he allowed someone else to exercise.

His intentions mattered.

They did not remove that connection.

When he asked whether she needed anything, she gave concrete answers.

A copy of her contract.

Access to her room with Beth present.

Confirmation that no resignation had been received from her.

He provided them.

She noticed.

She did not mistake compliance for a reason to hurry.

Maisie wanted to send a present.

Something for Anna to keep.

Julian asked what she had in mind.

“A new bird.”