The Woman in the Kitchen
Andrew found Marisol in the kitchen.
The scent of pancakes and cinnamon filled the room. She stood at the stove, her dark hair tied back, her hands moving with quiet efficiency. She hummed softly as she arranged plates decorated with blueberries shaped into small hearts.
Caleb and Lily would never know how close they had come to a very different night.
When Andrew came in, she straightened at once.
“Good morning, sir,” she said gently. “Breakfast will be ready in five minutes.”
There was a slight hesitation in her voice.
“Marisol, we need to talk,” Andrew said.
Her shoulders tightened. She turned off the stove slowly, as though bracing herself for what was coming.
