Page 35 of The Getaway

“Let me help,” Marley said, shoving her phone into her pocket.

“No, no. It’s my job.” Magdelena waved her off and opened the refrigerator. Marley’s heart went out to her. A few years back, she and Magdelena had bonded over a rather disastrous lemon merengue pie incident and had figured out they had a few things in common. Namely, a passion for watching Premier League soccer and an obsession with YA fantasy novels. Every now and then they’d text each other book recommendations or match scores, and occasionally they’d touch on more serious topics. For example, Marley knew that Magdelena hadn’t taken it well when Lily was removed from her life. And that she absolutely, positively did not like working for Hazel.

She’d loved Lincoln, though. Just like everyone else.

Marley went over to the fridge and was there when Magdelena closed the door, coming out with a carton of eggs in one hand and a bowl of fruit in the other.

“I’m going to hug you now,” Marley said.

Magdelena’s entire face broke. “Okay,” she whispered.

So Marley took the food from Magdelena, put it on the counter, and let the woman cry into her shoulder.

“I just can’t believe it,” Magdelena said. “Just yesterday we were talking about hosting Thanksgiving, and now he’s gone.”

“I know. It makes no sense,” Marley said, pulling back. “I don’t think it’s fully sunk in.”

“I don’t know what I’m going to do now.” Magdelena grabbed a clean dish towel from a drawer and dabbed her face. “I’m going to have to look for a new job.”

“Hazel’s not going to fire you,” Marley said automatically.

“That woman can’t stand me. She thinks she knows how to craft a menu better than I do,” Magdelena said bitterly. “Miss Lily always trusted my taste and instincts. That one thinks I’m too old-fashioned. I’m not even forty! Do you see a gray hair?”

Marley shook her head. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, obviously, but even if she does let you go, I’m sure you’ll have no problem finding work. You’re a genius.”

Magdelena managed a weak smile. “Thank you. Maybe Miss Lily will hire me.”

“You haven’t heard from her, have you?” Marley asked. “From Lily?”

The cook wiped her hands on her apron and grabbed up the eggs again. “No. Why would I have?”

It was evasive, for sure. The first time since she’d entered the room that Magdelena wasn’t looking Marley in the eye.

“Are you sure? You haven’t . . . seen her?”

Magdelena looked up at that, her dark eyes clear. “I haven’t seen her since the day she walked out of the house almost two years ago. And I miss her every day.”

Marley felt that she had offended Magdelena somehow, and she didn’t know what to say. Her throat was so full she wasn’t sure she could speak at this point anyway.

“I’m sorry; I have to start cooking. If you’ll excuse me.”

“Yes, of course,” Marley muttered.

She turned and walked back into the great room, trying to catch her breath. The emotional upheaval might actually kill her. Gemma sat at the far end of the dining table, her elbows on the surface, her head in her hands. Juliet was perched on the edge of one of the armchairs, staring at her phone in frustration. Everyone else was gone.

“He’s still not picking up,” Juliet said. “Did you talk to Lily?”

“No. She . . . wasn’t there.”

Juliet nodded, distracted. Clearly it didn’t occur to her that it was strange and even alarming that Lily wasn’t where she was supposed to be. Marley took in a long, deep breath and held it, then let it out slowly.

“Maybe we should do some yoga,” Juliet said, having noticed the deep breathing. She cocked her head thoughtfully. “Try to center ourselves?”

Marley bit back a sarcastic retort. Juliet was just Julieting.

“Maybe. But first I’m going to try Lily’s cell.”

She was about to hit the call button when a scream cut through the noise of the storm, desperate and terrified. Wintour jumped up on all fours on the couch and started barking nonstop.