“Call the family doctor.”
His wife immediately objected.
“Why?”
“To ask how tea can be tested.”
“That is insane.”
The matriarch looked at her.
“Is it?”
The daughter-in-law had no answer.
The husband reached for his phone.
Then stopped.
Something near the flower vase caught his attention.
Black glass.
A phone.
Half-hidden behind white peonies.
He frowned.
“Whose phone is that?”
His wife’s face changed.
Not dramatically.
Enough.
The husband walked toward the vase.
“That’s mine.”
“Why is it there?”
“I was recording something.”
Everyone looked at her.
“What?”
She stood abruptly.
“I was making a video.”
The husband picked up the phone.
“Of what?”
“Just give it to me.”
She moved toward him.
He stepped backward.
“What were you recording?”
“Nothing important.”
“Then why are you panicking?”
“I am not panicking.”
The housekeeper watched.
The matriarch watched.
The phone screen was still active.
Camera application open.
Recording timer.
Twenty-eight minutes.
The husband stared at it.
His wife reached.
“Give me that.”
He pulled it away.
“Why has this been recording for twenty-eight minutes?”
“I told you. I was filming.”
“What?”
“A lifestyle video.”
The housekeeper almost laughed.
The daughter-in-law shot her a murderous look.
The husband looked at the camera angle.
It faced the kitchen island.
The teacup sat directly in frame.
He looked toward his wife.
“What were you making?”
“I wanted some morning content.”
“For what?”
“My page.”
“You haven’t posted in months.”
“That doesn’t mean—”
He tapped the recording.
Stopped it.
His wife’s face drained.
“Don’t.”
He looked up.
“What?”
“Give me my phone.”
He studied her.
For the first time that morning, real fear entered her eyes.
Not the theatrical fear she had shown while accusing the housekeeper.
This was different.
Her pupils widened.
Her breathing stopped.
The husband looked down.
He dragged the video timeline backward.
His wife lunged.
Actually lunged.
The husband stepped away.
She grabbed for his wrist.
“Give it back!”
He pulled free.
The housekeeper rose.
The daughter-in-law shoved her aside.
The housekeeper nearly fell against the stool.
The husband shouted.
“Stop!”
The daughter-in-law froze.
Everyone froze.
He looked at his wife.
“What is on this?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why did you just shove her again?”
She could not answer.
The husband pressed play.
For several seconds, the screen showed an empty kitchen.
Morning light.
Flowers.
Island.
Then his wife entered.