Melanie’s POV
“Is everything okay?” Alice asked when I got back to the kitchen.
“Yeah, it was just my brother,” I answered.
“I bet he misses you,” she said.
I nodded. “I haven’t been back home in a while. I miss them too,” I replied.
“It’s good you still keep in touch with them.”
“What about you?” I asked. “Are you close with your family?”
Alice turned to face the sink so her back was to me but I saw the rigidness of her shoulders. “No, I’m not,” she said.
I figured it was a sore topic for her so I decided not to proceed any further.
“How long have you been working for Adriano?” I asked instead.
Alice welcomed the subject change and answered, “About five years.”
“Do you ever leave the house?” I asked.
She loaded the dishwasher and finally looked at me. “I do leave the house, al
