Felicity sighed, irritation flickering briefly across her features. “It is to be expected. Her condition is fragile. I will make her tea later. Consistency is important.”
For just a fraction of a second, Lucía saw something unsettling in Felicity’s eyes. Not concern. Satisfaction. The feeling made Lucía’s stomach twist.
Trevor was traveling in Seattle that week, leaving the house eerily quiet. Lucía stayed close to Dolores throughout the day, helping her eat soup, steadying her steps, listening to her stories. By late afternoon, Dolores seemed slightly better, though her strength remained fragile.
At five thirty, Felicity entered the kitchen. Lucía was drying dishes, keeping her eyes lowered. Felicity moved with practiced confidence, filling the kettle, selecting a chamomile packet. Everything appeared ordinary. Then Felicity opened a narrow drawer beneath the counter, one rarely used. From it, she removed a small clear vial with no label. Lucía caught only a glimpse. A quick tilt of the wrist. A few drops into the cup. A gentle stir.
Lucía’s heart pounded violently.
Felicity placed the cup on a tray with two biscuits and left moments later, heading out for a yoga class as if nothing of consequence had occurred. Lucía stood frozen, water dripping from her hands. Fear pressed against her ribs, sharp and undeniable.
She rushed upstairs. Dolores was lifting the cup when Lucía entered. “Please,” Lucía said, her voice trembling despite her effort to remain calm. “It is too hot. Let me bring you another one I made earlier.”
Dolores hesitated, then smiled and handed her the cup. Lucía carried it back downstairs and poured the contents into the sink, watching the liquid vanish as though erasing proof of evil. She rinsed the cup repeatedly, her hands shaking.
That night, Lucía could not sleep. The image of the vial burned in her mind. When Trevor returned the following afternoon, she knew she could not remain silent.
Trevor greeted his mother with visible relief and affection. He listened carefully as Dolores minimized her symptoms, then thanked Lucía for caring for her.
“I trust you,” he said simply.
Those words gave Lucía courage.
That evening, she asked to speak with him privately. Her voice shook as she described what she had seen. Trevor’s face tightened, disbelief warring with concern.
“That is a serious claim,” he said quietly.