Such a Beautiful Family: A Thriller(18)

Nora didn’t like having to burst Hailey’s bubble, but she looked at some of the price tags and knew she couldn’t allow her daughter to accept thousands of dollars’ worth of clothes. She couldn’t help but feel annoyed that Jane had put her in this position. But she had no choice. Nora knew she needed to set boundaries as far as Jane was concerned right from the get-go. “I’m sorry, Hailey, but you’re going to have to give it all back.”

“You can’t be serious?”

“I am.”

“Mom. You don’t get it. I told Jane it was too much, but she insisted. She knew I got good grades at school and that I worked hard, and she told me I deserved to have a brand-new wardrobe.”

“You do work hard, and it’s true, you deserve the best of everything, but I don’t need to tell you again”—Nora gestured around the room—“that this is way too much and returning it is the right thing to do.”

Hailey’s chin dropped.

Nora walked to the bed and began folding the clothes and packing them all neatly into the bags.

“Can I at least keep one outfit?”

She wanted to let Hailey keep it all, but she couldn’t allow it, not even one item, not if she wanted to be clear when she talked to Jane.





CHAPTER EIGHT

Nora was sitting at her desk at the office in Midtown when a light tap sounded outside her door before it swung open. Jane entered holding the receipt Nora had left with her administrative assistant after using her lunch break to return the clothes Jane had bought for Hailey.

“What’s this?” Jane asked, wagging the receipt in the air.

“I returned the items you bought Hailey. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but I try not to spoil the kids. I hope you understand.”

Jane sat in one of the cushioned chairs in front of Nora’s desk and let out a long sigh. “I messed up again, didn’t I?”

“No, you didn’t mess up.” Nora sighed. “You just got a little carried away, that’s all.”

“I hope Hailey wasn’t too disappointed.”

“I’m probably not her favorite person right now, but she understood that returning the purchases was the right thing to do.”

“What about birthdays and holidays? Can I make a fuss and bring them a gift on their special day?”

“Sure,” Nora said. “Of course.” She found herself pondering what Trevor had said about Jane trying too hard to get to know them. To Nora, it seemed like she was trying too hard to be a part of their family.

“Wonderful.” Jane smiled. “I have a surprise for you.”

Nora shook her head. “No more spa days or shopping sprees.” She gestured at all the papers littered across her desk. “I have a lot of work here that needs my attention.”

“Don’t worry. It’s work-related.”

Nora waited.

“Last year, Heather and I attended a software trade show in Australia. It was spectacular. This year it’s being held in Paris, and I was hoping you and I could attend together. These trade shows provide a great opportunity to showcase our product and find new clients, while also giving us a chance to see what other businesses are doing. Technology is fast-changing, and we need to do our best to keep up.”

Nora’s heart rate spiked. As a sales and marketing manager, her job was to manage marketing campaigns to raise awareness and generate demand for their product. Jane had assured her that there would be little to no traveling involved if she took the job.

“I can’t possibly go. I’m sorry. What about Heather?” Heather Mahoney had been with IMPACT from day one. She oversaw business development, and Nora saw no reason to unnecessarily step on any toes.

“Of course you can go.” Jane leaned closer and proceeded to use a softer, almost conspiratorial voice. “Heather isn’t ready to tell everyone yet, and we need to keep what I’m about to tell you between us, but Heather is pregnant.”

“How nice. I won’t say anything until she makes an announcement.” Nora paused to think for a moment before saying, “I’d love to go with you, but—”

“No buts. It’s only for a week.”

Nora thought of David and how they used to talk about going to Paris together someday. “I’m still getting a feel for the company and its needs. I think it would be best if you asked someone else to go.”

“I won’t take no for an answer. The trade show isn’t for another two weeks. That gives you plenty of time to get a few projects off your list. The entire event only lasts a week. We’ll fly first-class! We’ll be there and back in the blink of an eye.”

Nora glanced at her calendar. “That’s Thanksgiving week.”

“Maybe it would be good for your parents to spend the holiday with your children. Who knows how many more years your dad will be around?”

“What?”

Jane put a hand to her heart. “I’m sorry. That didn’t come out right. It’s just that when I met him at your house before leaving for San Francisco, he seemed lost . . . unfocused. Is he ill?”

“He was recently diagnosed with dementia.”

“I am so sorry.” Jane exhaled. “I seem to be saying that a lot these days.”