old back suddenly poured out, strea

e walking from the entryway into the living room. Her

years since she last fel

ed yet, he used to treat her ju

was happening without making it awkward. He made her tea-chamomile, with a little honey-and told her i

ionship wasn't even

egret

hree years ago, maybe neither of them

m, but could

ped, unable

m. You'll be free from me soon.

audible, so soft even s

d glanced over toward the stairs. No

y noticed the house didn't look qu

past three years-this was probably the first tim

s were gone, replaced with quirky lit

enough, it

for a mug o

ttle snowgirl in a red

like

carves, her cheeks pink from the cold. Her skin was pale,

come over and warm her fingers, and when he did, she'

ingers along it,

ized he was feel

said, "That one's madam's cup. Yours, the matching one, is in the cabinet. I can clean and sanit

oward a glass cabinet diago

ly lying among other strange little ornaments he couldn't even

ouched, but spotless-someone h

ll felt like it was cov

er how much he tried to wipe it

e'd looked at him since they go

w, that sweet smile she used to f

took a sip of water straight from her

minute

as she passed by, William stopped her. "You

the cup from her hand

n't stop wondering to herself-Wasn't Mr. Harding supposed to not like Elsie?

n Elsie's door wi

lemon tea. Drink i

nse from

, then knocked again, a

lly-shut door creaked open, reveal

instantl

y to set down the cup an

to in her hand, her fair face

g close to Liam Harding on t

aze darkene

ut the missing half-h

grip on the cup n

y love him

don't even get a c

silent, nobody

r a long time, his eyes glued to the redness at the corne

sigh slipped thr

lifted her up, laying her

ls

l stretched long and b

ke a cloud sinking low, co

g passed before the two s

rn

macked her lips and

felt like she'd sucked on a w

self face-to-face with William, close eno

of alcohol last nigh

de her suddenly opened

gazes

ed back like she'd been shocked,

e still on, she finally

flushed ears, he smirked and teased, "What

ridiculous!" Her

"Then who was it last night clinging to me

anted t

he thought she was dreaming, back in the

around the corner, she di

gized sincerely. "Sorry... I must've moved a

ed. Suddenly, it al

and look

ake you smile? I'm just some

zled. What did that have

ain. He just got up and

re still, her

th a tray when she saw William. She smiled

and jam on the table, and his

you made her

serving it like this the past thr

is for three whole years made

ing because she didn'

Eric give you the checklist

ad handed her a thick stack of notes. P

, and Elsie had always been easygoing. S

William's expression, Lisa coul

er so much, why note down all her preferences and dislikes lik

look like