Gavin Graves returned from the hospital, while home repairs were underway with workers bustling inside and out.
Broken tables and furniture could be replaced with new ones, but damaged flower beds and bullet marks on the walls required meticulous repair; the almost perfect lawn now flawed, and the blood soaked into the soil, no matter how much it was washed, could not be completely cleansed.
And yet, for a big family like theirs, this was nothing; life went on as usual.
Gavin went to the tea room to select his preferred coffee beans and started grinding and brewing.
This process was time-consuming, but he enjoyed it immensely. Methodically doing something could bring his heart to peace and offer relaxation.
The servant knocked lightly on the door and entered with respect.
"Agnes found this while cleaning; it must have been left behind by one of the female guests last night," said the servant, placing the found earring gently in front of Gavin.
