The first thing Margaret brought back to Eleanor's house was a suitcase.
She had spent the days before the fire preparing her colleagues for her departure without ever announcing that she was leaving. She had complained about rent, mentioned that her landlord was becoming impatient, and let conversations drift toward the rising cost of living and the money she no longer had. She had done it often enough that, by the time she submitted her resignation, the people around her had already formed an explanation.
She was struggling financially.
She needed to cut expenses.
Moving back into her late adoptive mother's house was the sensible thing to do.
Nobody found it particularly strange when she finally said she was leaving. A few colleagues offered sympathy. One joked that she would probably be back before the month ended. Another told her to take care of herself.
