Page 60 of The Headmistress

“What’s weird is that Orla is still missing.”

“Do you think she’s…” Sam couldn’t bear to say the words.

“We don’t know yet. It appears, from what Lily and Amanda told us and from what others have said, that she might not have been at the school at all. They’re looking for her now. They’ll find her, I’m sure.”

With the potential of this revelation being too alarming, and the possible implications far-reaching for Sam, she set it aside for the moment and focused on more pressing matters.

“You can’t embrace me like this, Magdalene. Everyone will see. You can’t—”

“Everyone has already seen plenty. Circumstances have changed, and I don’t care.” She only cuddled Sam closer and turned her face into the warm rays of the sun.

Sam lost her thought for a second, mesmerized by how the light fell on the sharp planes of this face, the most beautiful face she had ever seen. Expressive eyes, the cheekbones that could cut glass, and the full lips, that could be mischievous and daring and demanding. How was she supposed to survive the rest of their year apart without simply leaning in every time she chose and closing the distance between them to claim those lips, to touch those faint lines on the corners of the eyes that were currently more amber than blue in the timid sun of the morning? But with Magdalene behaving like she was the one concussed, Sam knew she had to be strong for both of them.

“You should care. You’ve been dreaming about this school and this job all your life.”

Magdalene just tucked a stray lock of Sam’s hair—which was currently more black than blonde—behind her ear and touched her lips to the throbbing temple, instantly making Sam lose her breath.

They sat in silence for a bit, Magdalene’s fingers tracing patterns under the blanket on Sam’s back as if she couldn’t help but touch her. Which was all fine and good and certainly something that Sam never wanted her to stop doing either, but the weight of responsibility, as always, sat heavy on her shoulders. And if Magdalene was traumatized by recent events and suddenly confused or acting recklessly, it was time for Sam to step in and prevent something that Magdalene would surely regret until the end of her days.

“You should care, though,” Sam repeated and tried to pull away, only to be held even closer. Magdalene just sat there, still looking at the dawn and said nothing this time.

“I mean, I understand that you probably got scared by the staircase and that may have traumatized you and you’re acting as if I might have died, but I’m okay.” Magdalene turned to face her fully and Sam almost gasped at how big and tumultuous the eyes were as they watched her still in silence. “Look, this isn’t a romance novel. It’s not like you are the tormented heroine who suddenly realizes her lover could have perished and that triggers a massive revelation that she needs to abandon her dream and throw her life’s work away simply to somehow make a grand gesture to said lover.”

Sam had no idea what she’d expected to happen next, but Magdalene making Sam’s earlier wish come true by leaning in and kissing her firmly on the mouth wasn’t it. They were in full view of the whole school and possibly a trustee, people milling all around them…

“Sam Threadneedle, have you been reading lesbian romance, you adorable lunatic?” She ran a fingertip over Sam’s lips, causing a warm, dizzy feeling to overtake her.

“That is not the point, and also stop looking at me like that!” Magdalene just raised her perfectly groomed eyebrow but Sam barreled onward, desperate to stop whatever river was overflowing inside her lover and causing her to act so out-of-character. “We agreed. We had a deal. You love the school. You need the school. This is your life.”

Magdalene just kept looking at her, and now the eyes were warm, full of affection and something deeper, bigger, and just a touch scarier for how much determination they contained.

“I do love the school. I love you more.” There was a roar in Sam’s ears, which she didn’t think was in any way associated with her concussion. Was this how it felt when you finally received the one thing you wanted more than anything else in the world? Was this how other children had felt on Christmas mornings? Magdalene must’ve sensed Sam’s tumult, for she leaned in and gave her a sweet peck on her nose before continuing.

“When I watched the banister collapse on top of you and then dug to reach you, all I thought was that I had not said it back. You know, you told me on the cliffs as you were drawing those ridiculous chalk hearts, and I felt it was unfair of me to say it right then and there when we couldn’t be together in the open. So I didn’t tell you, and I thought we had all the time in the world. And then you go and save my cat and get hit in the head by a chunk of centennial oak… I love you. Yes, this school is my life. You are also my life. I am not having some sort of romance-novel-crisis precipitated by my lover having a near-death experience. I am simply saying that I love you. And I will fight for you and for the school and maybe—since you followed me into fire—you will fight by my side.”

And then, after making Sam the happiest person in the world with a handful of words and another tender application of lips to the temple where bandages held swollen torn skin, Magdalene opened her arms and held Sam to her chest, threading pieces of Sam’s heart together and holding it tightly. Wanted, loved, needed. Cherished. Sam breathed in and inhaled the fall air with just a hint of jasmine as the sun rose majestically over the ocean.

22

Of Changed Circumstances & Major Revelations

“When you said circumstances have changed yesterday, what did you mean exactly?”

Sitting on the examination table in Franz’s small clinic, getting the blasted penlight in her eyes again, Sam tried to distract herself as best she could. With Magdalene hovering a foot away and glowering at Franz every time Sam as much as made a pained peep, it was easier to attempt to divert both of their nervous energy in another direction.

“Are you finished here, Doctor Franz?” Magdalene gave the doctor a scathing look.

“Ms. Nox, this is technically my clinic—” A perfectly manicured auburn eyebrow rose elegantly, and the doctor scurried away.

“Huh. He is one of the most irreverent men I know. Hates everyone, listens to no one. What the hell happened while I was out cold? He is legit scared of you.” Sam reached out and intertwined their fingers.

“He should be. I made him do his job.” At Sam’s uncomprehending stare, she sighed. “I pretty much told him to document all your injuries and be ready to make a statement to the police to their extent. He’s the island’s official medical examiner, though I suspect the last time he performed his duties was when he certified the death of the elderly Mrs. Hatchins three years ago. He’s honestly not a bad doctor and the stitches on your temple say as much. He did an acceptable job, but he is an irredeemable asshole when it comes to everything else.”

“Wait. Police?” The fingers around Sam’s tightened, and the already tense face turned to stone.

“Sam, you were locked in the attic and it was set on fire. You think I won’t get the police, the FBI, the fucking National Guard involved?” The grip turned painful for a second before Magdalene relaxed her fingers. However, her shoulders were rigid, and her jaw muscles worked as she ground her teeth. Before the repercussions of what had just been revealed to Sam could hit her, Magdalene’s beauty did instead. As always it reached its target with deadly precision, and as always it took Sam’s breath away. Idiot, Sam thought. I’m a complete idiot for her.

“The National Guard isn’t an investigating body.”

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