Then changed back.
“I see.”
Naomi waited.
Claire stared at the screen longer than necessary.
“Is there a problem?”
Claire looked up.
“This reservation is for an executive suite.”
“Yes.”
“Three nights.”
“Yes.”
Claire’s eyes moved toward Naomi’s small overnight bag.
Naomi noticed that too.
Claire said, “The executive suites are located on our private-access floors.”
“I’m aware.”
“Those accommodations begin at twenty-eight hundred dollars per night.”
Jordan looked up at his mother.
“Twenty-eight hundred?”
Naomi smiled down at him.
“Adult conversation.”
“That’s a lot.”
“Yes.”
“What could I buy with twenty-eight hundred dollars?”
Claire seemed increasingly irritated.
Naomi answered calmly.
“Several hundred tacos.”
Jordan’s eyes widened.
“Whoa.”
Naomi looked back at Claire.
“My room?”
Claire folded her hands.
“I just need to verify a few things.”
“Of course.”
“May I see identification?”
Naomi handed her a driver’s license.
Claire examined it.
Then looked at Naomi.
Then back at the license.
“Credit card?”
Naomi handed her one.
Claire looked at the card.
Then at the screen.
Then back at Naomi.
“What exactly are you verifying?”
Claire smiled.
“Standard procedure.”
Naomi glanced toward the next reception station.
A white couple had arrived moments after her.
The clerk beside Claire greeted them enthusiastically.
“Welcome to the Ashford Grand! Are we celebrating anything special?”
The couple smiled.
Their identification remained inside the man’s wallet.
No card had yet been requested.
No questions about whether they understood the price of their room.
Naomi looked back at Claire.
“Is this procedure standard for every guest?”
Claire’s expression tightened.
“Of course.”
Naomi nodded once.
Jordan tugged gently at her sleeve.
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
“I’m hungry.”
“I know.”
“You said we could get fries.”
“We will.”
“When?”
“When we finish.”
Jordan looked toward Claire.
“How long does checking in take?”
Claire stared at him.
Naomi touched his shoulder.
“Jordan.”
“What?”
“Patience.”
He sighed dramatically.
“I’m trying.”
Despite herself, Naomi smiled.
Claire did not.
She handed back the license but kept the credit card.
“There appears to be another issue.”
Naomi’s smile disappeared.
“What issue?”
“The cardholder information may require additional verification.”
Naomi looked at the card.
Her name was printed clearly across it.
NAOMI E. GRANT.
She looked back at Claire.
“What additional verification?”