“No, I suppose not...” Evelyn said, her voice drifting off as she became lost in her thoughts.

“Evie, what’s wrong?”

It’s nothing,” Evelyn said, waving her hand in the air. “No worries.”

“It’s something, or you wouldn’t look like the Grim Reaper. Now come on, out with it. What’s wrong?”

“My neighbor’s on holiday,” Evelyn said, taking a seat.

“And?”

“She watches my cats when I’m away, and in turn, I watch her dogs. That’s the reason I’ve been leaving early all week, but with this rain, if I don’t go soon, I won’t be able to get home. And if I do leave, there’s no one to take care of Addison since George and Fiona are on holiday.”

“There’s me,” Joanna said, straightening her backbone. “I know how to cook, and with this weather, Addison can’t go anywhere anyway, so she won’t need a chauffeur.”

“Oh, I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You’re not asking. I’m volunteering,” Joanna said, hopping off her stool. “Besides, according to what they’re saying on the telly, this rain isn’t supposed to stop for at least another day. You have responsibilities at home, so go take care of them, and I’ll take care of Addison.”

“I know, but Addison—”

“Addison will survive. Trust me.”

“Yes, but will you?”

***

The intercom buzzed for the umpteenth time, and Joanna stopped reading long enough to smile...again. Over the last hour, as she sat perusing cookbooks at the small table in the kitchen, the electronic signal for assistance had gone unanswered over a dozen times. She had no problem planning and preparing their meals, but she had no intention of being at Addison’s beck and call.

Hearing the kitchen door swing open, Joanna refused to raise her eyes, preferring to wait until the intruder announced herself.

“I’ve rung the bloody intercom a dozen times! Doesn’t anyone around here value their jo—” Addison’s mouth snapped shut when she realized the only other person in the kitchen was Joanna. “What the hell’s going on? Where is everyone?”

Joanna looked up to see Addison standing near the doorway with an insulated coffee jug dangling from her fingertips. “If you mean the staff, they aren’t here,” Joanna said, glancing back at the recipe she’d been reading.

Addison took a step in Joanna’s direction. “What do you mean they aren’t here?”

Closing the cookbook, Joanna leaned back and raised her eyes. “I mean they aren’t here. I don’t know if you’ve noticed the monsoon we’ve been having the last few days?”

“So?”