After twenty minutes at the front of the Belmonts' house, a carriage rolled and stopped. Out stepped Caroline before she headed inside the house, where the door was open.
"Mother? Father? I'm home!" Her voice was bright. She stepped inside the living room and frowned. "Why is it so quiet?"
Upon noticing the bare room before her, she wondered loudly, "Where is the couch? They must have finally decided to replace that dreadful thing. It was uncomfortable. Hm? Even the dining table is gone," she noted obliviously.
"Caroline, you are here! The journey wasn't too tiring, was it?" Mrs. Belmont enquired warmly as she came out of the kitchen.
"Not at all," Caroline replied cheerfully. "But Mother, have you decided to redecorate? The room looks so… spacious."
"We were hoping Mr. Henley and you would gift a couch to us this Christmas," Mrs. Belmont replied, and Caroline laughed, unsure if her mother was joking or being serious.
