Ruth set the tray down on the bedside table.

She stood over me, her hands folded in front of her apron.

“You gave us quite a scare, Claire,” she said.

“I didn’t mean to,” I said.

“I know.”

Ruth sat down in the chair the nurse had just vacated.

She reached out and smoothed the blankets over my chest.

“Daniel has been beside himself,” she said in a low voice.

“He hasn’t left this wing of the house since the ambulance arrived.”

“Where is he now?” I asked.

“He’s in his study,” Ruth said.

“He’s trying to manage the board members who are calling about the company.”

“But his heart isn’t in it.”

“I can tell.”

She looked toward the window, her eyes distant.

“I’ve worked for this family for twelve years, Claire.”

“I saw how he changed after Evelyn died.”

“He shut himself away in his work because he couldn’t face the silence in this house.”

“But today, I saw the man he used to be.”

“He was demanding, yes, but he was present.”

She looked back at me, her eyes searchingly intense.