red, a sharp, piercing beep that usually sent Constance shooting o

took a deep breath, and for the first time, she ignored the panic. She reached out a heavy arm, not to hit snooze, but to turn the alarm off completel

ly awake. Constance lay flat on her back, staring at the intricate molding on the ceiling. Her body felt heavy, a

cing. Her sensible rubber-soled shoes squeaked against the p

by 7:30," Mrs. Foster muttered to one of

orning run, a towel draped around his neck, his dark hair damp with sweat. He strode into the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of

e was a low, flat baritone that immedia

aling. "Sir, Mrs. Ferguson... she hasn

thered in his cheek. Without another word

footsteps heavy and deliberate. He push

pped in the comforter,

the bed, his tall frame blocking the light. Hi

hair was a tangled mess, falling over her face. She looked up at him. Her eyes were com

he said. Her v

er eyes stopped him. He closed his mouth, his index finger tapping a sharp, impatient rhythm against his thigh. "Don't let this happen again," he said,

th her usual restrictive shapewear. She pulled on a

ing wide. The old Constance would have been swathed in stiff, high-necked fabrics, every inch butt

at the head of the long table. The Financial Times was spread o

his coffee. She did not ask about

traight into

ping to the sweater and sweatpants. Her mouth opened, then clos

ndustrial refrigerator and pulled the heavy door o

eese, a carton of eggs, a stick of real bu

ed, taking a phy

The blue flame roared to life. She threw a thick slab of butter into the cast-i

smell of animal fat and salt hit the air, aggressive

mmered, her eyes wide with horror. "Dr. Kevan

Grease splattered onto her wrist, burning the sk

go to hell,"

led the crispy bacon, the fried eggs, and thick slices of c

wich on a plate, she walked out of

er, catching on her disheveled hair and the defiant slouch of her swe

ir directly across f

wspaper. His eyes l

uiet room. Hot grease coated her tongue, and the rich, salty flavor exploded in her mouth. She closed her eyes, a

ex finger began to tap a slow, rhyth

ch said, his voice lace

into his cold, judging stare. She chewed,

clearly. "Thi

about to pass out. No one spoke to Arch Ferguson that way. Not

ng its tapping. His gaze slowly dropped from her defiant eyes down to her oil-slicked

She wiped her mouth with a linen napki

ced to the room. She turned

here was a strange, tight edge to it-an invo

se from the console table

your bu

oor open and stepped out, le

e cold. He slowly lowered the newspaper and placed it on the table. Hi