CHAPTER 101 - DARK CLOUDS ---- CAPÍTULO 101 - NUBARRONES
Lorraine steeled herself and took it upon herself to oversee the removal. Before the house was quite emptied, she asked the men to set aside a single piece: the bargueño from the vestibule, that dark, carved wooden cabinet which as a child had so fascinated her, with its multitude of secret little drawers and hidden doors concealed amongst the carvings — a sort of doll's house, a treasure cave to which she had devoted whole afternoons, very often together with her cousin Charlotte. She had it sent directly to Villa Claire, with a short note for Charlotte: Dearest cousin Charlotte, There is no one who deserves this bargueño more than you, who spent so many afternoons opening and closing it with me, hunting for treasures that never existed. May it go on keeping secrets in your house, since ours can keep them no longer. With all my love, Lorraine Charlotte read the note twice before tucking it away inside the smallest drawer of the bargueño, the very one which, as girls, they had...
