ting in the fabric of her apron. She look

and walked straight to the woman. She didn't offer a handshake. She

, and she collapsed against Aria, her arms coming u

of a home that was lived in, not curated. Aria closed her eyes for

loudly. He turned around, his face twiste

ously. "This is... this is ev

at the reflective buckle on Aria's back

tchen. She was holding a stack of mismatched plates. She looked at

oking down at her boot

ooden floor. Aria stepped onto the wood in her s

nk said, his voice ove

four, squeezing in a fifth chair. Knees bum

ip on the rim. Leo was watching her, waiting for her

meatloaf, which was heavy on the filler and light on

lty. It w

food uptown," Aria said. She

her eyes. "Eat, eat

Stop acting. We know you're used to cavia

snapped. "Tha

lent. Toby shrank

inst the ceramic. She turned her head slowly

e said, her voice low and

but the words died in his thro

lfway to her mouth, her eyes n

on Aria's jeans. It was Toby. He pu

t better,"

winked at him. Toby gigg

, Aria stood up and be

a guest!" Susan protested, tryi

w," Aria said.

he sponge and began to scrub. Her movements were efficient, though she braced her hip against the counter to take the

inst the doorfra

isle mansion?" she asked, skep

and setting it in the rack with

n the TV, blasting the volume to

chen, her eyes scanning the room. In the corner, covered

that infor

closed door. "Your...