As Joanna ate her food in silence, allowing only the occasional sigh of pleasure to escape her lips at the tasty entree, she spent time looking around the expansive dining room. Having only seen it once before, on her tour with Evelyn the day she arrived, as she sat at the end of a table meant for sixteen, Joanna felt dwarfed by her surroundings.

The table and chairs were bulky and old, and the species of wood was unidentifiable due to the stain now aged to the color of espresso. The area rug hiding much of the worn wooden floorboards seemed almost as ancient. Its edges were frayed, and its colors faded, and there was no way of knowing whether the russet in its threads was once a vibrant red or perhaps maroon.

The wainscoting covering the lower third of all the walls was most likely once the focal point in the room. The stiles and rails of the panels were thick and stately, and under the layers of paint now covering its surface, Joanna could still make out faint scrolled carvings in the wooden slabs, but time, as it had throughout the house, had done its damage. Over the years, the wood had expanded and contracted, and the paint had not, so splits and cracks were visible everywhere. The shade of the enamel chosen was a deep burgundy, and the color swept not only over the panels, but up the walls and across the ceiling like a plague.

Except for the wainscoting and the three doorways leading into the room, almost every other square inch of the walls was hidden behind massive gilded-framed paintings. Hunting scenes of red-coated men on white steeds filled the canvases, and with their trusty hounds at their side, the hunters traversed the countryside in search of the lowly fox. As Joanna studied each painting, she was pleased to see the fox had apparently gotten away.

Bored with the artwork, Joanna returned to her meal. After finishing the last bite, she reached for her wine, but stopped when she heard the pocket doors latch. Confused, she looked around to see if someone had entered, but coming up empty, she slowly stood up and peered over the monstrous candelabra.

“What the hell?” she said, seeing Addison’s chair was now vacant. Joanna walked to the far end of the table and did a double-take when she saw the empty plate. How could anyone eat an entire meal without making a sound?

***

The next morning, after visiting her father to make sure he was comfortable and aware of his surroundings, Joanna returned to her room. She opened the armoire and browsed her limited collection of clothes, and slowly a smile spread across her face. Quickly donning her sweatpants and hoodie, Joanna trotted downstairs.

“Good morning!” she said as she walked into the kitchen. “Beautiful day, isn’t it?”