Three days later... 

It was a beautiful morning. Sunlight spilled through the tall windows of the building, painting the floors in warm gold. I stood with two of the house staff out of everyone else, going over simple things like adjustments to the flower arrangements in the foyer, the menu for dinner, and a note about the laundry service coming late. Ordinary details, but things that were necessary, and I liked the small sense of structure they gave me. 

It was comforting, in a way. ...