I stepped into the foyer and headed for the kitchen.

The sharp smell of lavender furniture polish filled the long hallway.

Melissa was standing at the kitchen island.

She had a soft cloth in her right hand.

She was drawing it across the marble countertop in long, smooth strokes.

She looked up as I came in.

She straightened her pricey gold bracelets.

The metal clinked sharply against the heavy marble edge.