Dominic
In the middle of the night I get out of bed, put on my bathrobe, and head downstairs into the basement after pouring myself a glass of rum and taking the bottle with me. Eloise hasn't been down here yet but, truth be told, I haven't brought her down here for a reason. I come down here when I need to think. It's my den, my place of escape. There is a wood-burning fireplace—which is up to code and has passed inspection—that I light on the rare occasion I come down here. Throwing on a couple logs I start the fire, setting the lamps hanging on the wall on either side of the fireplace to dim. I have two ivory velvet chairs, the shape of scallop shells, facing the fire. It's funny because no one, not even Dante, has been down here before. Just myself.
Dinner was, by all means, a succes
