The next week rolled by wonderfully. The weather continued to be nasty, keeping everyone indoors. Des and I spent the days watching movies in the theater, playing pool in the billiard room or lounging in the library. I found a few good books that I escaped into for hours, curled in the armchair by the fireplace while he worked off his laptop at the table. We always ate our meals together, face to face across the table. His mood swings seemed to disappear completely, nothing like the first few hours when we had met. He was always so gentle and kind, never impatient or demanding of me.
There were occasions he had to attend meetings or work alone where Cam joined me or I kept Silvia company in the kitchen. I helped her bake bread and she taught me how to make her famous peanut butter cookie
