A middle-aged woman came from the left. Her strawberry blonde hair was tossed up in a bun like mine. She was dressed in sweats and an apron, and a small gold locket hung around her neck. “Kali! Oh, I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve wanted to meet you since I heard Trick was going to get you.”
Kidnap me and haul me here against my will, I silently corrected her. “You’re Casey? You’re the cook here?”
“She’s an amazing cook,” Deanna added with a grin. “She’s why none of us want to cook at home.”
“Oh, stop. I do the best I can. Yes, dear. I run the dining hall and the store, too. Marcus is my husband. Marcus. Marcus!” She shouted and smiled at me. “Please don’t think anything of his dawdling. When Marcus is focused, hardly anything can take him away from his work.”
“I’m the one interrupting yo
