I made the stuffing.
I baked the pies.
Every few minutes, Patricia came into the kitchen to check on me.
She was convinced she had won.
At around five o'clock, the first guests started arriving.
Everyone was dressed beautifully.
They were laughing.
Drinking wine.
Taking pictures.
Patricia proudly told everyone:
“Claire prepared everything herself.”
Nobody knew she had spent the entire day chained to the kitchen.
Nobody knew my father was dying.
Nobody knew what Ethan had done.
Then the doorbell rang again.
Ethan opened the door.
His smile disappeared.
Two police officers were standing outside.
Behind them was a paramedic.
Patricia rushed toward the door.
“What is this?”
One of the officers looked at Ethan.
