Page 84 of Dear Ripley

I took a subtle, steadying breath. “I really don’t know, sorry.”

She growled in frustration, any semblance of a façade falling away. “You’re no help. I’m getting to the bottom of this.”

She turned, stalking to the door again, almost ripping it off its hinges with the way she jerked it open.

I wondered whether the act yesterday had been for her friend’s benefit or mine. I also wondered where they’d gotten to today.

Few people ever truly intimidated me. I’d learned early on to handle intimidation, to be unbothered by it. I knew the people who needed to intimidate others were often insecure and looking to make themselves feel better.

This time, however, my breath left me in a shaky sigh. I wasn’t sure whether Ellie was just the straw that broke the camel's back with everything going on lately, but I didn’t like it.

I held myself steady on the counter, my mind whirling.

Ellie had run out of here angry and determined. She wasn’t going to just give up. I needed to warn the others.

I pulled my phone out, texting Edith first. The others were well hidden at Morgan’s. Edith lived in a place Ellie knew.

She replied quickly that she was out of the house, staying safe with some of her bridge friends. I’d never been more grateful to bridge players in my life. She also had a doorbell camera that would alert her of any disturbances at her home, but, so far, there had been no sign of Ellie.

Once I knew Edith was okay, I messaged the others, letting them know Edith was safe, Ellie was on the warpath, and that they needed to stay hidden and safe for now.

Just like her mother, Harlow replied quickly.She does this sometimes when things don’t go her way. She’s just going to go to the gym until she can no longer stand up properly. Don’t worry. But she will likely be back, playing that she’s in a better mood, and that earlier was a mistake, she was just tired and caught off guard, being incredibly apologetic, etc… So, you should watch out for that.

I stared at the message, my heart twisting for the way Harlow said all of that as if it were normal. Maybe it had been normal for her for a long time. I hated that. She deserved so much better. Everyone did.

Before I could figure out how to reply, Alicia started typing. Something in me felt comforted by the knowledge the two of us were going to be on the same page, and that she’d know the right thing to say, she’d capture everything I wanted to say to Harlow.

We’re staying here, she said.Not leaving, not being seen, and we’re going to be looking for a therapist for Harlow, because none of that is the kind of thing you should be experiencing in a relationship, and I think it’s time to talk about it with someone.

I nodded, even though none of them could see me. I wondered whether Harlow was arguing with her in real life. I couldn’t imagine she’d be against therapy, so perhaps it was a debate over whether they could leave the apartment. There were no messages for several minutes, so it seemed as though a discussion of some kind was taking place.

Even as I itched to know what was happening, I knew Alicia would handle it well. The trust and reliance I’d always had in her hadn’t gone away. Or, if it had, it had come back as easily as slipping into my favorite shoes. And, when Harlow eventually replied,Yeah, therapist. Morgan and Ripley, feel free to recommend someone in the area…,I knew I’d always be able to rely on Alicia to do the right thing.

Chapter 29

Alicia

“Ireally do think we should be going to the police with this,” I said, looking at Harlow as she lounged on Morgan’s couch.

She laughed. “I know you do. You’ve been telling me that for the past six hours.”

I groaned. I knew I must sound like a broken record, but we’d basically been cowering in Morgan’s apartment since Ripley’s message came in that Ellie was on the warpath, and, while it was a lovely apartment, we couldn’t stay here forever. At some point, something had to give, and I wasn’t willing to let it be Harlow’s safety that did.

She put down the book she’d been reading, sitting up to look at me earnestly. “I know you’re worried, but I promise everything’s going to be okay.”

“How can you possibly know that?”

She sighed. “Because this is just how Ellie is. Look, she doesn’t like it when things don’t go according to her plans, but that doesn’t make her dangerous.”

“We’re talking about the woman who cheated on you, left you in the dirt, and then stalked you back to Jackson Point?” Morgan called from her office. I hadn’t realized she could hear us. I hoped we hadn’t been too distracting as she worked.

Harlow rolled her eyes. “Well, it doesn’t sound great when you say it that way.”

“Because it’s not great, Harlow,” I said emphatically. “This isn’t regular or excusable behavior.”

Morgan entered the room, a decorative robe billowing out behind her as she sat on the floor. “Yeah, this isn’t one of those terrible movies where stalking is supposed to be romantic—honestly the weirdest thing ever.”

“I know that,” Harlow insisted. “But I also know Ellie. Yes, this needs to be nipped in the bud, but I don’t think we need to start involving the police. That’s so serious.”

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