Lucille seemed distracted when I showed her the machine. I couldn't believe it's working. I listened to every hiss, every crank of the clogs, every breath of smoke and not a single sound was out of place.

I can't wait for Edith to see it.

"Edith? I did this with you."

I turned to Lucille, shocked that I said it out loud. I recovered as best as I could but I didn't know if it was good enough. When Finley approached us about the coal, I eagerly jumped at the opportunity to change the subject. Lucille gathered her skirts and started to head back to the house but then froze. After a moment, she turned to throw the key to Finley. I thought about following her but decided it would better to just leave her be. My slip of the tongue must have hurt her. 

A little while later, hunger gnawed at me, the earlier excitement slipping away. When I entered the kitchen, Lucille was there at the stove. The smile on my face faltered. Lucille's face was stoic as she rhythmically broke the eggs into the hot pan. I winced at the sound. 

Crack

Crack

Crack

"I was making breakfast for you," she said as though she had said it for the second time, a kind of weariness in her voice.  

I approached her, reaching for the pan handle. She moved aside and my hand recoiled at the heat. Shocked, I looked at her hands. They were red and were starting to blister. 

"Lucille, what did you do?" I instinctively cupped each hand in my own and brought them to my lips, gently kissing them like I have for every scar on her body. My eyes strayed to the table where bits of scrambled eggs were scattered near a circular scorch mark.

"What happened at the depot, Thomas?"

I moved back to the pan, stirring the eggs and avoiding her stare. My heart raced as I repeated my question. 

"Lucille...what did you do?"

Lucille scoffed.

"Edith's fine...for now."

I tried not to show my relief. The image of Lucille hurting Edith with the scalding pan disappeared, but I was unnerved by the smile I could hear in her voice. For now.

"I was only playing my role," I stated as coolly as I could. The lie tasted bitter in my mouth. 

Silence.

I turned to find I was alone.