TWO DAYS LATER: EVENING
The house was quieter than usual. Barry was gone. So was his fiancée.
Lucy stepped out of her room slowly, barefoot, her toes curling slightly against the cold marble floor. The silence wrapped around her like a soft blanket. She peeked down the hallway first, just to be sure no one was there. When she saw it was clear, she relaxed a little.
Her stomach let out a low growl. She hadn't eaten much all day.
Dragging her feet to the kitchen, Lucy leaned against the counter and sighed. She didn’t feel like cooking a big meal. Just something small, quick.
After a moment, she reached for an avocado, a few slices of bread, and an egg. French toast would do. With a lazy rhythm, she mashed the avocado, added a sprinkle of salt, cracked the egg into a bowl, and dipped th
