Maddy

That task done, Maddie stepped back outside and tested the code. Once she was satisfied that it was working correctly, she left the door locked and wound her way back down to the street. She walked another couple of blocks along the sleeping streets, only encountering a handful of twittering birds along the way.

These early birds chattered away in fruit trees in residential front yards or hopped inquisitively around the doorways of closed shops and restaurants. But on the final block of her short walk, she met other people, early risers like herself. They were drawn to this block by the same place that she was going.

These early birds chattered away in fruit trees in residential front yards or hopped inquisitively around the doorways of closed shops and restaurants. But on the final block of her short walk, she met other people, early risers like herself. They were drawn to this block by the same place that she was going.

These early birds chattered away in fruit trees in residential front yards or hopped inquisitively around the doorways of closed shops and restaurants. But on the final block of her short walk, she met other people, early risers like herself. They were drawn to this block by the same place that she was going.

A little bakery whose open door was already letting out tempting aromas of fresh baked goods. Maddie stepped inside the bakery and a cloud of sweet smelling warmth greeted her. Moving forward to order, she greeted the smiling woman behind the counter. The woman handed her a bag of a dozen fresh croissants and a selection of just baked pastries.

A little bakery whose open door was already letting out tempting aromas of fresh baked goods. Maddie stepped inside the bakery and a cloud of sweet smelling warmth greeted her. Moving forward to order, she greeted the smiling woman behind the counter. The woman handed her a bag of a dozen fresh croissants and a selection of just baked pastries.

A little bakery whose open door was already letting out tempting aromas of fresh baked goods. Maddie stepped inside the bakery and a cloud of sweet smelling warmth greeted her. Moving forward to order, she greeted the smiling woman behind the counter. The woman handed her a bag of a dozen fresh croissants and a selection of just baked pastries.

To these, she added a raspberry muffin and an almond croissant on Maddie's request. The owner of the bed and breakfast had explicitly instructed Maddie to order herself breakfast on his tab each morning when she picked up fresh pastries for the guests. Maddie clutched the warm bags against her and thanked the woman. Then she headed out into the freshness of the morning again,

To these, she added a raspberry muffin and an almond croissant on Maddie's request. The owner of the bed and breakfast had explicitly instructed Maddie to order herself breakfast on his tab each morning when she picked up fresh pastries for the guests. Maddie clutched the warm bags against her and thanked the woman. Then she headed out into the freshness of the morning again,

To these, she added a raspberry muffin and an almond croissant on Maddie's request. The owner of the bed and breakfast had explicitly instructed Maddie to order herself breakfast on his tab each morning when she picked up fresh pastries for the guests. Maddie clutched the warm bags against her and thanked the woman. Then she headed out into the freshness of the morning again,

and hurried back to the house. Once there, she entered the door coat, and this time she went inside and hung up her coat. She made her way quietly across the thick carpet of the entryway and into the kitchen. The house was already comfortably warm, as it was very well insulated, despite its old-fashioned appearance, and it had been updated with thick-paned glass on its many windows.

and hurried back to the house. Once there, she entered the door coat, and this time she went inside and hung up her coat. She made her way quietly across the thick carpet of the entryway and into the kitchen. The house was already comfortably warm, as it was very well insulated, despite its old-fashioned appearance, and it had been updated with thick-paned glass on its many windows.

and hurried back to the house. Once there, she entered the door coat, and this time she went inside and hung up her coat. She made her way quietly across the thick carpet of the entryway and into the kitchen. The house was already comfortably warm, as it was very well insulated, despite its old-fashioned appearance, and it had been updated with thick-paned glass on its many windows.

The airy, farmhouse-style kitchen was much the same. It retained its original charm, but was modernized with all the latest conveniences. Relishing the quiet and warmth in the old house, Maddy turned to the coffee corner. She opened a large container of French roast beans and breathed in their rich scent.

The airy, farmhouse-style kitchen was much the same. It retained its original charm, but was modernized with all the latest conveniences. Relishing the quiet and warmth in the old house, Maddy turned to the coffee corner. She opened a large container of French roast beans and breathed in their rich scent.

The airy, farmhouse-style kitchen was much the same. It retained its original charm, but was modernized with all the latest conveniences. Relishing the quiet and warmth in the old house, Maddy turned to the coffee corner. She opened a large container of French roast beans and breathed in their rich scent.

Then she scooped a generous portion into a large coffee maker and added water to the tank and set it to brew. Its tempting fragrance began to fill the kitchen While it brewed, Maddie took out a wooden tray. On it, she arranged a sugar bowl and milk pitcher. These were made of white porcelain, decorated with scenes of long-ago country life, painted in delicate blue.

Then she scooped a generous portion into a large coffee maker and added water to the tank and set it to brew. Its tempting fragrance began to fill the kitchen While it brewed, Maddie took out a wooden tray. On it, she arranged a sugar bowl and milk pitcher. These were made of white porcelain, decorated with scenes of long-ago country life, painted in delicate blue.

Then she scooped a generous portion into a large coffee maker and added water to the tank and set it to brew. Its tempting fragrance began to fill the kitchen While it brewed, Maddie took out a wooden tray. On it, she arranged a sugar bowl and milk pitcher. These were made of white porcelain, decorated with scenes of long-ago country life, painted in delicate blue.

She added a wooden box filled with a selection of tea bags in every possible blend and fragrance. English breakfast in earl grey, jasmine and orange blossom, green tea and mint, chamomile and lavender and hibiscus. Next, she removed a white porcelain butter crock from the refrigerator, graced with the same blue pattern as the sugar bowl and milk pitcher.