She waits for Irvin to break the silence, to offer even a single word... but he gives her nothing. He freezes completely for several heartbeats, then returns to his meal as if nothing happened. Yet it's obvious he's holding back words that want to spill out. His shoulders bunch and tighten like he's carrying invisible weights.
This proves her point exactly. Just mentioning that name transforms him completely.
Footsteps ring through the hallway, and a maid appears in the dining room doorway.
The woman approaches in her crisp uniform, clutching something. An envelope. Plain and unremarkable. Oh no, not right now!
Louise recognizes it instantly without explanation. She knows.
Her pulse hammers against her ribs.
The maid moves closer, head dipped respectfully, and sets the envelope beside Louise's untouched plate. "This just came for you, ma'am," she murmurs.
