In the end, I slipped on a pair of flats and went back downstairs. As soon as I reached the lower floor, Molly noticed and her face changed with concern.
"Mrs. Fuller, are you going out? No, you can't. Mr. Fuller gave strict instructions not to let you leave the villa alone. Give me a moment, I'll go with you," she said quickly, already moving back toward the kitchen to finish what she was doing.
I stopped her with a small shake of my head. "There's no need. I won't go far. Just a walk around the neighborhood."
Before anything more could be said, Dr. Linnard, who had been there for my checkup, spoke up. "Why don't I go with you instead?"
Molly hesitated, glancing between us. "Is that okay?"
Her question was directed at me. I nodded. "Sure."
With the way my body felt and how close the moment was getting, it made sense not to be alone. There was a quiet pressure in the air, a subtle awareness that never fully left me, especially with how things stood within the pack.
