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I woke up with the sun that morning. I'd slept terribly that night, repeatedly waking up. I lay in bed with Brutus fidgeting in his sleep and taking up too much space. Trying to come up with an apology proved even more difficult than I had anticipated. I truly didn't know how to make up for blatant rudeness.

I was wide awake when the clock read seven o'clock, the designated time for breakfast. However I was reluctant to get up and face the day. Getting out of bed sounded unpleasant; facing my uncle was dreadful. However, both unhappy tasks needed addressed. Brutus awoke as soon as I got out of bed but didn't move. An ankle length purple skirt and a white button-up shirt replaced my nightgown. I didn't bother to put on any shoes, not really expecting to go out that day.

I entered the dining room with my head held low. "Good morning, Elsie." My uncle greeted brightly. "I really didn't know what you liked, so I had eggs made." I stood looking at the eggs, avoiding eye contact. "Don't you like eggs?" He asked, rising from his chair. "I'll have Jess make you something else. What would you like?"

"No, eggs are fine."

"Are you sure?" Why was he being so nice? I already know I'm a terrible person, why does he feel such a strong inclination to rub it in?

I nodded the affirmative. "Well have a seat." He gestured to a chair. I still stood in the entry way, nervous. "Are you okay?" He asked.

"I'm sorry." I spluttered out. "I'm so sorry about last night. I didn't mean to embarrass you in front of Rebecca. If you want me to go home, I will. I'm so sorry." The words came out rapid fire and I felt out of breath when I was done.

"Don't worry about it. Stuff happens." He said casually.

"Really?" I asked.

He again motioned to a chair, silently telling me to take a seat. I followed the wordless instructions. "Yeah, it wasn't that bad. I'm sorry I didn't tell you she knew."

"You shouldn't be sorry. I completely overreacted."

After a few moments of silence and eating he asked, "Will you be alright by yourself today?"

"Uh, yes." I lied. I was never alone at home and the doctors said I shouldn't be. I was already an inconvenience and I couldn't ask ask him to stay home from his reporting job.

He simply said, "Liar."

"What? How'd you know?"

"Would you believe me I told you my years reporting have sharpened my senses of honesty?" He said with a smirk.

I wrinkled my nose in mock thought. "Absolutely not."

"Your father told me."

"Oh." I frowned. I wasn't sure if I should ask what the plan was, so subsequently we sat awkwardly.

"I asked a few people to drop in." He stated, clearly proud of this idea. I thoroughly disagreed.

"Like who?" If I had thought the previous pause was awkward, standing around the house with total strangers would be awful.

"Like Rebbecca and just a few friends."

"Oh. What about the maid?" I asked. Her company was preferred to that of a stranger's.

"She'll be too busy to keep a good eye on you." He answered. It wasn't the answer I wanted to hear.

"Listen, I've got to go to work. You've got a doctor's appointment tonight."

"Alright."

"Goodbye."

"Bye. Have a good day at work." I said unenthusiastically.

He headed towards the door and I began to pick at my food. I hated one on one situations and this whole day looked bleak. With a sigh I took my plate into the kitchen. I was met with a surprised look from the maid; I'm was fairly sure that her name was Jessa, however not confident enough in my own memory to address her by it.

"Miss Elsie, you don't need to clean up after yourself." The thirty-something year old blonde stated.

"Oh, I don't mind." I said politely.

She smiled and took the dish. "Are you trying to put me out of a job?"

With a small laugh, I told her no. "Good, because I couldn't go back to a factory even if I wanted to."

"Oh?" I asked, inquiring for a more detailed explanation.

"Black listed."

"Really? You don't seem like the type." I stated.

"Well, I've calmed down quite considerably since my twenties. I was a bit rambunctious and didn't always think before I acted."

Thinking back to last night's dinner, I said, "I can relate."

There was a loud knocking on the door. "It's probably your first guest."

"Pssh," I huffed. "'Guest' makes it sounds like I want them to be here."

"Just hope it isn't Mr. Baurle." She laughed, leaving me curious as to what made Mr. Baurle so unpleasant. "I'll go let them in."

"Don't worry, I'll do it."

"If you say so."

I walked to the front of the house and opened the big door. An overweight man with white hair and a dark mustache met me. He wore a hideous suit and the general way in which he carried himself came off as being arrogant. He seemed to eye me up and down making me uncomfortable to say the least.

"Richard Baurle." He introduced himself. I suppressed a scowl as my curiosity increased in an exponential yet miserable way.

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