Chapter 14 - THE HOME THAT LEARNED TO LAUGH
Months passed.
The hidden room was removed.
The drawing room was renovated.
The silver mirror disappeared.
Adrian replaced it with a large painting of the Chicago skyline.
Claire continued working at the estate for a while.
Then Adrian encouraged her to pursue training in investigative administration.
She enrolled in a certification program.
Lucy started kindergarten.
And the house slowly changed.
There were toys in the library.
Crayon drawings on the refrigerator.
A stuffed bear occasionally abandoned on Adrian's desk.
One evening, Adrian found Lucy sitting on the floor beside the fireplace.
She looked up.
“Mr. Vale?”
“Yes?”
“Do you know how to play checkers?”
He frowned.
“Of course.”
She smiled.
“Good. Because Mommy says you're too serious.”
Adrian looked toward Claire.
She was standing in the doorway.
Trying not to laugh.
He smiled.
“Does she?”
Claire blushed.
“Lucy.”
The little girl grinned.
“It's true.”
May you like
Adrian sat on the floor.
“Then I suppose we'd better fix that.”
