He rubbed the back of his neck with one hand while tapping the list with the other.

“Use your personal debit card if the house budget card is slow to clear.”

Eleanor came into the kitchen right behind him, pulling the lapels of her floral robe tight across her chest.

She didn’t look me in the eye, but her gaze lingered on the smooth top of my scalp.

“You’ll sit down at the desk in the spare room before you run any errands, Mariana,” Eleanor said, her voice clipped and deliberate.

“I want that resignation letter written and saved on your screen by noon.”