Page 40 of The Long Way Home

“I found her wandering dazed through Tower Hill,” Gus tells them.

“What happened?” Bridget asks him.

He shrugs.

“Magnolia?” she presses.

I shake my head.

My sister frowns. “Tell me.”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

Taura stares at me in disbelief. “What did he say to you?”

“Nothing—” I shake my head. An obvious lie. I look from her to my sister. “I can’t—”

They both nod at me, barely, then exchange glances.

“I’ll make you a tea—” Bridget moves towards the door.

“No,” I tell her and she stops.

Her head tilts, sad for me. “I’ll put in a million sugars.”

“I don’t want a tea—”

She stands in front of me. “What do you want, then?”

“I want to leave.” I tell them.

“Leave where?” Gus frowns.

“London.”

Bridget shakes her head. “Magnolia, you can’t just—”

“—Now.” I shake my head to silence her. “I need to go now. I told him I was leaving town, I need to go.”

“But you’re supposed to be home for another week — you can’t just run away every time something happens.”

“I’m not running away.” I shake my head. “We’re done. There’s nothing to run from.”

My sister tilts her head. “Magnolia, it’s not—”

“—Booked us on a flight to Paris,” Taura announces with a glance between us after she looks up from her phone. “It’s in three hours.”

“What?” Bridget frowns.

“I have a job,” Gus tells us.

“You work for her dad.” Taura rolls her eyes. “I think you’ll be okay.” She looks over at me. “Should I go home and grab a bag or would you rather me stay here?”

“Go home. Airport is good — I’ll meet you — I’m fine,” I tell her but I don’t really tell her, I tell my bookshelf.

She looks over at me and squints. “I’ll stay. You go,” she tells Gus. “8pm at Heathrow. We’ll meet at the BA counter.”

Gus frowns at her, a bit impressed. “Very bossy.”