Such a Beautiful Family: A Thriller(11)

“Absolutely!” Jane chewed on her bottom lip. “But do you think Hailey would mind?”

“I’ll ask her, but I’m sure she would be fine with it.”

“Thank you.”

Nora chuckled. “For allowing you to pick up my child after school?”

Jane nodded. “I’ve always wanted kids, but my doctor told me it will never happen.”

“I’m sorry.” Nora felt bad for Jane. Conceiving had been easy for Nora, but she’d since learned that she was one of the lucky ones. It was a complex process, especially for women over thirty-five.

Jane’s expression was somber, but then Nora noticed a small tic in her jaw and a cold darkness take over before she quickly pulled herself together, looked past her, and said, “You’re very lucky to have such a beautiful family.”

Nora followed her gaze to the picture on the bookshelf behind her of David, Nora, Hailey, and Trevor, taken in Maui, each of them with a parrot on their shoulder, the ocean glistening in the distance.

“Where did you and David meet?”

Since working at IMPACT, Nora and Jane had been going to lunch two or three times a week. Sometimes Jane invited people from the office to join them, and they would chat about business—projects they were excited about implementing. Mostly, though, it was just the two of them—two women getting to know one another. Nora considered herself to be a good listener, but Jane was guarded when it came to her personal life, which was why Nora usually ended up doing most of the talking.

But maybe Jane had begun to trust Nora, since she’d just told her about her inability to have children. Jane’s endless questions about Nora’s children and family life sort of made sense now that Nora knew she couldn’t have children of her own.

“David and I met in college—California State University, Sacramento—almost twenty years ago.” Nora wrinkled her nose. “He was a nerd. Big-time nerd.”

“Really? I can’t picture that. In what way?”

Nora smiled. “I shouldn’t label him or anyone as a nerd, but I was young, and I guess I always thought he had some of the stereotypical traits. Introverted. Not very athletic. The guy who always had his nose buried in a book and who couldn’t go out on Friday night because he needed to study for exams.” Nora chuckled. “He had a great sense of humor, was highly intelligent—still is—and very clever. He wasn’t like those cocky quarterbacks or smooth-talking guys who liked to flex their biceps. He was . . . well, he was just David. Skilled at many things and always confident with who he was as a person.”

“Sounds like someone is madly in love.”

Nora blushed. “We’ve been married for seventeen years, and I do still feel like a newlywed.”

Jane’s gaze remained fixated on the photo. “That’s what I want someday.”

Nora had assumed Jane was single because she wanted to be. “You’re smart, talented, and gorgeous,” Nora said. “You must have men lining up at your door.”

“No,” Jane said before perking up a bit, “but I have met someone.”

It was easy to forget she was talking to her boss. Despite Jane’s beauty, intellect, and talent for business, she was clearly lonely. Nora got the feeling that Jane needed someone to talk to, which was why Nora tried not to worry about the fact that Jane was her boss. Jane had the power to fire her, which made it difficult to form a true friendship based on equal power. If Jane texted her off hours, she might feel obligated to text her back right away because she was her boss. And that could lead to resentment. For now, though, Nora decided to let it go. “That’s wonderful,” Nora said. “Have you brought him to the office?”

“Not yet. The thing is”—Jane wriggled in her seat—“I’m fearful of getting too close to someone and losing my independence.” She played with the gold bangles on her wrist. “I don’t have many friends . . .” She chuckled. “Who am I kidding? I don’t have any friends.” She met Nora’s gaze. “True intimacy frightens me.”

Nora remained quiet. Her instincts told her not to press for more information or try too hard to fill the uncomfortable silence that followed Jane’s disclosure.

“My therapist calls what I suffer from fearful-avoidant attachment,” Jane said. “It’s a disorder caused by trauma that occurred during my childhood. There was an incident that ended with me living with my aunt and uncle. They had no children of their own. I won’t bore you with details, but they were neglectful, to say the least.”

Nora swallowed. “I can’t begin to understand what you must have gone through, but I do know that you’re probably stronger for it.”

Jane reached across the desk for Nora’s hand and cocooned it in her own. “Thank you.”

It broke Nora’s heart to think of Jane suffering through life, alone and afraid. Nora had been lucky to have two parents who supported and encouraged her in every way possible. Her parents still doted on her. They were in their seventies and lived in Whispering Pines, a small town an hour and a half away. They meant the world to Nora. Whatever Jane had been through, it was affecting her relationships. Nora wondered if it could have anything to do with her inability to have children. “If there is ever anything I can do to help, please let me know. I’m here for you.”