eps, no clinking cutlery, just silence and the lo

y cost more than her entire closet back home. She hadn't slept much. T

he kitchen

into her mouth while nervously checking the h

when she saw her. "I swear I

you... eating the

nse, Mrs. Santiago makes the best bacon sandwiches, and I on

r head. "Do you

ly the same thing except with less money and

ced with equal parts

smile. "Amira. An

er apron. "You don't loo

ual

asional minor celebrity. They

s comf

You just seem

the counter. "Of

about her, like she hadn't yet been trained to speak

t coffee?"

had some

creepy silver tray kind.

iled. "T

nd cup, she chattere

o one uses except me and the cat. If you hear piano music at night, that'

a brow. "He

's weird. Like h

ndal

eal laugh that loosened s

didn'

hen came

that my wife is frate

a tu

leeves rolled up, tie absent, looki

fast her spine crack

interrupted. "She w

gaze lingered. On Ivy. On her

. "I'll go,

curri

o intimidate her,"

ias said, walking to the co

coffee-black, no s

sleep?"

rel

d. That room was

u put me in a de

quietest room in the house. I tho

om

everyt

that how you live? Di

wer. Just sip

und herself flipping through a

to Elias, to the strange tension th

n't tru

t entirely ha

t was d

Lissa jo

ou here?"

you. And

window, eating salad tha

How's married life

.. com

or emotionally

a la

s really testing you. Right now, he's in observation mode.

very rea

t

silence fo

s dangerous?" Ami

e vanished.

ra took a walk th

ming. The scent of jasmine. T

th

ke you don't

tu

nd her, hands in his pockets

don't,"

d you just haven'

lked in

mira asked

her. "What

of women you could

uiet for a

hing," he said finally. "Not mon

e me... what?

ed. "It made

hat, he wa

dusk. With a heart that was star

e