"Oh, understood. Please save Bennett's portion. He's not hungry now. He'll eat later," Claudia instructed.

Marcia, sensing Bennett's foul mood earlier, complied without question. After dividing the meal, she retreated to the kitchen.

Dinner finished, Claudia gazed out the French window at the continuing rain, then headed upstairs to her room.

Around ten in the evening, after her shower and just before bed, she thought of Bennett again.

After some hesitation, she knocked on his bedroom door.