“If we keep this up,” Addison said as she propped herself up on her elbow. “Fiona’s going to find us dead.”

***

Just as she placed another forkful of pot roast in her mouth, Joanna raised her eyes and discovered she was being watched. Waiting the time it took to swallow, she smiled at Addison. “You’re staring.”

“Was I?”

“Weren’t you?”

“Maybe. Actually, I was...I was thinking about something?”

“Such as?” Joanna said, reaching for her wine.

“I was thinking this table is far too long.”

Joanna’s smile doubled in size. “You think?”

Before Addison could answer, Fiona entered the room to clear the dishes. As she reached for Addison’s empty plate, she stopped halfway to the rim of the china when Addison said, “It was delicious.”

“Oh...um...thank you,” Fiona said, her eyes darting toward Joanna for a split-second. “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“Would there be any more?”

Again, Fiona quickly looked toward the other end of the table and when she saw Joanna’s eyes sparkling back at her, it was all Fiona could do not to laugh.

When she had returned in the afternoon to fix lunch, Fiona found herself to be the only occupant on the ground floor. She had tittered as she prepared a luncheon platter, but with the morning’s fiasco still fresh in her mind, when she had reached Joanna’s door and saw the breakfast tray sitting on the floor, Fiona had rapped lightly on the door, switched the trays, and scurried back to the kitchen. She didn’t return again until shortly after four to put in a roast, and climbing the stairs, she went to retrieve the empty tray only to find the assorted lunch nibbles she had prepared had gone untouched. It had been thirty-five years since Fiona’s honeymoon, but as she picked up the tray, her cheeks turned rosy, remembering the meals she had once missed as well.

“Yes, Mrs. Kane, there is,” Fiona said, her face turning rosy as she picked up Addison’s plate. “I’ll just go fix you another serving right away.”

“Thank you.”

“Would you like some also?” Fiona said as she headed down the table to collect Joanna’s empty plate.

Joanna’s cheeks flamed crimson, and pressing her lips together, she cleared her throat. “Yes, please. If you don’t mind.”

“Not at all, miss,” Fiona said, smiling as she picked up the plate. “Not at all.”

***

A short time later, Fiona returned to gather the second round of plates, and after filling the wine glasses with what remained in the bottle, she disappeared into the kitchen to finish up for the evening.

Addison picked up her goblet, and leaning back, she crossed her legs as she gazed at Joanna. “Does Millie still send you my calendar?”

“Um...no. Why?”

“I wasn’t sure if you knew I was leaving town on Tuesday.”

“You are?”