At 7:50, she heard footsteps upstairs. Ethan’s voice drifted in.
“Clara, are there waffles?”
“Not today,” she replied, lifting the lid of the oatmeal pot. “Oatmeal and fruit. Very healthy.”
He appeared in the doorway in dinosaur pajamas, his hair standing on end, rubbing his eyes.
“Healthy is boring,” he complained. “At least there are blueberries?”
“Yes,” she said, placing a bowl in front of him. “And if you eat them, you’ll grow as strong as a T-Rex.”
He frowned. “T-Rexes didn’t eat fruit.”
“Then strong as a… Stegosaurus,” she said.
“They ate plants,” he conceded, taking his spoon. “Okay. I like Stegosaurus.”
She poured him orange juice and placed a coffee mug on the far end of the counter, right where Margaret liked it.
As always, the click of heels echoed in the hallway.
“Good morning,” Clara said.
Margaret entered the kitchen wearing a cream blouse and tailored trousers, her makeup flawless, her hair in a sleek bob. She glanced at the counter, picked up the coffee without looking at Clara, and took a sip.
“Too hot,” she said.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Hamilton,” Clara replied quickly. “I’ll let it cool a little longer next time.”
Margaret hummed, noncommittal.
Her eyes scanned the kitchen, taking stock, then rested briefly on her grandson.
“You’re dropping some oatmeal,” she said.
Ethan stopped mid-bite and checked his shirt.
There was nothing.Gran,” he said patiently. “There’s no oatmeal.”
“Well, there will be,” she said. “Don’t slouch.”
She took another sip of coffee and headed for the door.
“Adam will be working from home today,” she said to Clara over her shoulder. “People are coming this afternoon. Investors, of sorts. The house must be spotless. As always.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Clara replied.
It wasn’t until mid-morning that Clara noticed the door to the jewelry room was open.
Most people didn’t know such a room existed in the Hamilton house. It wasn’t on the official tour Margaret gave guests. It was tucked away behind the upstairs office, a small space with a climate-controlled cabinet and a safe built into the wall.
That’s where the Hamilton family heirlooms resided.
Antique money, antique diamonds, antique gold.
For Complete Cooking STEPS Please Head On Over To Next Page Or Open button (>) and don’t forget to SHARE with your Facebook friends.
