"Do you need any help?" Bruce asked Adriana.
He found her in the kitchen slicing a mango.
"I've got it," she said to him.
He nodded. She could tell he wanted to talk to her, and she wanted to talk to him but there was only thing she wanted to hear from him. That he was going back to rehab.
"Actually," she said. "Could you take this in there to Arsenio?"
"Daddy!" they heard Arsenio call. He was in another room with Sidi and Aymara.
"Since he can't go more than five whole minutes without you," Adriana said with a smile and handed Bruce the bowl.
It was the first true smile she had given him since he had been home. Bruce took the bowl, using the opportunity to gently hold onto her hand after he had retrieved it. They looked into each other's eyes for a moment until they heard Arsenio calling again.
"We need some to take some time," Bruce said to her.
"I know," she replied before he left.
Once he was gone, she started to clean.
"I could take care of that if you would like to join your guests," Alfred said as he came into the kitchen.
"Thanks," Adriana said, although she did not mind cleaning.
"And if you have a moment later, there is something I would like to speak to you about," Alfred said to her.
"If it's just a moment," Adriana said to him. "I have one now."
Adriana could see in Alfred's expression that he was deliberating with himself about whether the time was appropriate or not.
"Is it bad news?" Adriana asked him.
"No...no," Alfred said. "I am not sure what to make of it yet, in all honesty."
"What is it? I have time now," Adriana insisted.
"Later, dear," he said.
"Okay," Adriana said but then heard someone coming.
Sidi came into the kitchen carrying the tray of empty glasses. There was an empty pitcher in the center.
"You put brown sugar into your lemonade," Sidi said to Adriana. "And lavender. Delicious."
"Thanks," Adriana said and collected the tray from her but then Alfred quickly collected the tray from Adriana.
"I will bring you a salve for that...unsightly gash tomorrow," Sidi said, looking at the stitches on Adriana's cheek.
"Thanks," Adriana said.
"So, where is your sister?" Sidi asked.
"Oh...she's out to lunch with my friend Lucius," Adriana said.
Adriana wondered if Harri would finally believe the truth.
.
.
.
"He asked the meaning of a word," Alfred said to Adriana once the guests were gone. She had immediately gone to find him to see what he wanted to discuss with her.
"What word?" Adriana asked.
"I believe he was attempting to say, 'terrorist', " Alfred told her.
"What?" Adriana asked, confused. "Why would he ask that? Are you sure?"
"I'm fairly sure," Alfred said.
"Okay..." Adriana said, still lost. "I'll ask him about it. Maybe the news was playing or something and he heard it."
