Page 4 of Dull
Chapter Two
The house was eerilyquiet.
Clarissa hated when the house was like this.She preferred to hear the echo of the guards’ steps, or to hear them talking.She didn’t always know what they were saying as they spoke in muffled tones.At least, there was noise.
She opened the curtains in her bedroom, stepping onto the small veranda that overlooked the garden.Lorenzo had an absolutely beautiful estate that stole her breath away.She loved it.
She couldn’t help but smile as she looked at the amazing garden.A light frost had fallen, and she wrapped her arms around herself and tried not to get too cold.That was going to be nearly impossible.Stepping back inside her bedroom, she closed the door, flicking the locks into place, even though she had learned that no matter how safe a home was, if someone wanted you dead, they would find a way to get inside.
She left her bedroom and made her way across the small hall to where her sewing studio was, and she did the same, allowing some fresh air into the room.The last thing she wanted was to have it stuffy with dust.After a few seconds, she closed everything and glanced around the room.The suit, once again, caught her eye.
She was not going to destroy all that time and effort.Maybe she would befriend one of the guards, who was similar in stature to Lorenzo, and gift it to him for Christmas.
Leaving her sewing space, although it was the last thing she wanted to do, she made her way downstairs in the empty house—the silent, almost haunted house.She went toward the kitchen, only to stop when she caught sight of Lorenzo behind the stove.
“Good morning,” he said.
She had never seen him in the kitchen.She rarely ever saw him before ten o’clock.It was a little before eight.She’d been up a couple of hours, but hadn’t ventured downstairs until hunger was starting to get the better of her.
“Morning,” she said, a little stunned to see him.
Something was different.She’d never been a rude person.It was drilled into her, with the occasional slap, to always be polite, so she didn’t say anything.
“I’ve got the coffee on, and it should taste good.Bacon, eggs, and some fresh grilled tomatoes for this morning.”He offered her a smile, and she was taken aback.
In the year and a half they’d been married, not once had Lorenzo even smiled at her.At least, she couldn’t recall him ever smiling at her.She couldn’t move, because it had taken her by surprise.He had a nice smile.It was so unexpected.
She moved toward the coffee.She opened the fridge and pulled out the milk.When it was getting closer to Halloween, she loved to splurge on some creamer, but not yet.She added some milk, stirring the coffee into the mug and giving it a good mix.The scent of bacon was heavy in the air, and it made her stomach grumble.
Turning toward the stove, she watched as he pulled out the crispy-looking bacon, but he was not done.Two slices of bread went into the grease, and he dipped them in, only to keep the bread on the pan for another minute or two, getting it nice and crisp.He did turn the bread, and it looked amazing.
Once the bread was done, he placed a piece on each plate with crispy bacon and soft scrambled eggs.She didn’t have the heart to tell him she liked her scrambled eggs overcooked.It was the way her granddad often did them.Every time she was in the kitchen with him, he’d always complain about how chefs didn’t know what the hell they were talking about and they didn’t have the first clue how to cook.The tomatoes, perfectly grilled, went on toast.
Lorenzo was great at everything, except marriage.Or being a friend.Or having a conversation.He was good at telling his friends about all her shortcomings as a wife.It was her biggest fear that she was never going to be as good as her sister.That was certainly coming true now.She was not as good as ...she couldn’t bring herself to say her name.It hurt too damn much, which is why it was always easier to say “her sister.”
“Breakfast is served,” Lorenzo said.“Are you going to follow me to the dining room?”
She nodded her head and proceeded to follow him to the dining room.They sat down, and Lorenzo had already put the plate of food in front of her.She offered him a smile and a thank you.
“Don’t thank me yet, you might need to try it.”
Clarissa picked up her knife and fork and cut into the piece of bread, being sure to add bacon, tomato, and eggs.Even though the eggs were a little soft, she didn’t mind eating them.Eggs still tasted like eggs, and they were so good.
“It’s really good.”
“That’s good, so I was thinking you and I could hang out today,” Lorenzo said.
“Hang out?”
