AJ’s unease deepened. “Is everything okay?”
“It’s really none of your business,” said Mrs. Gilroy, primly.
“Gilroy, it’s all right,” said Eudora from the top of the stairs.
AJ started at Eudora’s appearance. She wasn’t dressed but wrapped haphazardly in a pink silk bathrobe. The absence of her immaculate cashmere wardrobe was nothing compared to the shock of seeing her face. Here was Eudora, but not Eudora. She looked defeated. She looked old.
“Are you sure, ma’am?” said Mrs. Gilroy as Eudora made her way down, clutching the banister. Her expression was drawn, her mouth a thin line.
“Don’t fuss, Gilroy,” said Eudora.
“Hi,” AJ greeted her mentor. “How are you?”
She waited for Eudora to ask for tea, but she didn’t. She didn’t invite AJ into the drawing room. As Mrs. Gilroy withdrew to the kitchen, Eudora folded her arms across her silk bathrobe.
For a moment, there was nothing but the ticking of the grandfather clock.
“I’m afraid our acquaintance has run its course,” said Eudora.
AJ smiled, not getting the joke. “Sorry, what?”
Eudora shrugged, unmoved. “There’s nothing more I can do for you,” she said. “Please don’t come back.”
AJ suddenly felt like a ragdoll, tufts of cotton in her ears. “I don’t understand,” she said numbly. “What’s going on? Where is Noah?”
“As Gilroy put it rather inelegantly, that’s really none of your business.”
AJ blinked, unable to take this in. “Where is Noah?” she repeated.
Eudora looked at her, eyes burning. “He’s gone,” she said finally.
AJ felt as if her blood was draining into the checkered tile of the entryway.
“What do you mean, gone?” she heard herself say.
“He took his things and the dog and left last week,” said Eudora.
This wasn’t computing. “Why?” said AJ. “Where did he go?”
Eudora shrugged.
“What about his mom?” asked AJ, reeling. There was a natural order to things—there was no way that Noah would just leave her.
“She’s in good hands,” said Eudora. “There’s nothing more for him to do.”
“So they figured out a treatment?” AJ pressed. “Tell me what’s happening.”
Eudora held her at bay with a look. “It’s not my place,” she said coldly. “If Noah didn’t see fit to tell you himself, then I think you know everything you need to know.”
AJ’s mouth fell open, but no sound came out. Then her anger surged. If nothing else, Noah was her friend. “Fine,” she said. “I’ll just ask him when he’s back.”
Eudora regarded AJ with pity. “He’s not coming back,” she said. “Not for a good long while. And now it’s time for you to leave as well.”
Confusion was overwhelming AJ now, stinging her eyes, stunning her into silence.
“Look,” said Eudora briskly. “I think you’re a nice girl, and I wish you all the best. But you must see that this was all for Noah. You had his ear—that’s the only reason I asked to work with you.”
Eudora never does anything that’s not in her own self-interest.
