As he passed, a sharp splash landed across the open page of Claire’s book, warping the paper instantly. She froze for a beat, staring at the curling edge of the page, then slowly closed the book. Her pulse thudded in her ears.
This could be a simple thing, she told herself; a brief, civil conversation, not an argument. She looked toward the mother, who was still hunched over her laptop, the glow of the screen reflecting in her sunglasses.