**Chapter 2: "The Doorbell Rings"**

The peaceful atmosphere was shattered by the sudden ringing of the doorbell. Dorothy, who was in the middle of pouring coffee, froze, her hand hovering over the cups. The others looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to answer it. But Dorothy's expression had changed; a look of unease had crept onto her face. Rose, ever the optimist, jumped up from the couch. "I'll get it, Dorothy! I'm sure it's just the mailman or a neighbor." But Dorothy shook her head, her eyes darting towards the door. "I'll get it," she said firmly, setting the coffee pot down. Her heart was racing as she made her way to the entrance. She wasn't expecting anyone, and the sudden arrival of a visitor was throwing her off. As she approached the door, she peered through the peephole and her stomach dropped. It was Lucas, Stan's friend's son. She hadn't seen him in years, but the memories of his erratic behavior and unsettling presence still lingered. Dorothy hesitated, unsure of what to do. Part of her wanted to ignore him and pretend she wasn't home, but another part of her felt obligated to answer the door. She took a deep breath and opened it, trying to muster a friendly smile. "Lucas, hi. What brings you here?" she asked, trying to sound casual despite her growing unease. Lucas's eyes seemed to bore into hers, and his smile was a little too wide. "Hey, Dorothy. I was in the neighborhood and I thought I'd drop by to say hi," he said, his voice low and smooth. But there was something off about his tone, something that made Dorothy's skin crawl. She forced herself to step aside, allowing him to enter. "Come on in, Lucas. But I'm afraid the others are out running errands. We're having a quiet afternoon." As Lucas stepped into the house, Dorothy couldn't shake off the feeling that she was making a mistake. The atmosphere in the room seemed to shift, and she felt a growing sense of discomfort. The girls on the couch looked up as Lucas entered, and their expressions turned curious. Rose smiled and waved, while Blanche raised an eyebrow. Sophia simply looked at Lucas with a mixture of suspicion and disdain. "Lucas, what are you doing here?" Dorothy asked again, trying to keep her tone light. But Lucas just chuckled and sat down on the couch, his eyes never leaving hers. "I told you, I just wanted to say hi. I hope I'm not interrupting anything." But Dorothy knew that Lucas wasn't just paying a social visit. There was something else driving him, something that made her feel uneasy and trapped. As the minutes ticked by, Dorothy's unease grew. She tried to make small talk, but Lucas's responses were monosyllabic and his eyes seemed to be watching her every move. She started to feel like she was walking on eggshells, waiting for him to reveal his true intentions. The doorbell ringing had been a harbinger of doom, and Dorothy couldn't shake off the feeling that her peaceful afternoon was about to take a dark and sinister turn.