Such a Beautiful Family: A Thriller(21)

“I get it. It makes no sense she would blurt out something like that when nothing has been confirmed.” She shook it off. “The truth is, when Jane mentioned Paris, I was thinking the same thing . . . about the two of us touring France together someday. My mind is made up. I’m not going.”

He rested his hands on her shoulders. “I think we should talk again before you make a final decision.”

Nora shook her head. “I haven’t had a chance to look at the kids’ schedules, but I think it’s all too much. I’ve only been with IMPACT for a few months, and I’m beginning to feel overwhelmed. Jane means well. I enjoy her company, but sometimes I wonder if I made the right decision. I’m forty-one, and I’m not as career-driven as I once was. Hailey and Trevor are growing so fast and, well, I guess I don’t want to miss anything.”

David pulled her into his arms and nuzzled his lips against her neck. “We’ll figure this out. Everything will be okay.”

Holding him close, Nora wished they were alone. Her new job was supposed to have given her more time to be with her family, but she and David had hardly spent any quality time alone since she started working for IMPACT.

David kissed her on the lips, lingered for a moment before pulling away. “I miss you.”

“I miss you, too.”

“But we better get back to our guests. I’ll check my calls later.” David walked back to the sliding door that led to the backyard, where Nora could see Stacy passing around the tray of brownies while Jane played Simon Says with the kids.

David stood at the door for a moment, looking out, unmoving.

If Nora didn’t know better, she would swear his gaze was fixated on Jane. But who was she kidding? Even she had a difficult time looking anywhere else—Jane’s wide, easy smile and confident nature were magnetizing. “Do you think I made a mistake?” The question slipped out without Nora meaning it to.

“As far as taking the job?” David asked without turning back to her.

“Yes.”

“No,” he said as he slid the door open, “absolutely not.”

Nora felt uneasy as she watched him. “I’m going to check on the girls upstairs,” she told him.

He nodded and shut the door.

Nora bumped into Bridget on her way up. She looked upset. “Is everything okay?”

“Sure. I just thought I would give the two lovebirds some time alone.”

“Is Josh here?” Nora asked.

“No. I wish.” Bridget blushed. “Hailey would kill me if she knew I said that.”

“We didn’t even see each other,” Nora told her, hoping to relieve any worry she might be having, since Bridget was clearly uncomfortable. Nora gestured downstairs. “There’s lots to eat if you’re hungry.”

“Thanks.”

Nora wasn’t happy about her daughter inviting someone over without asking first. If it wasn’t Josh, who could it be? She didn’t bother knocking before opening the door to Hailey’s bedroom. Hailey and a boy she’d never seen before, a boy with facial hair and a tattoo on his neck, were sitting on the bed. Hailey jerked back, away from the boy, when the door came open. She scowled at Nora.

Nora held her daughter’s gaze. “What are you doing?”

“Nothing. This is my friend Alex. Can we please have some privacy, Mom?”

Alex looked surprised. “I thought you were related to Jane,” he said to Hailey.

“Nope. Jane’s my mom’s boss.”

“Ahhh.”

Nora could see his mind working overtime, hopefully telling him to stop while he was behind. “Who are you?” Nora asked.

Alex pointed a finger at his chest. “Me?”

“Yes. You.”

“I—um—I’m Alex.”

“I got that part. How do you know Hailey?”

Hailey rolled her eyes. “We go to the same school.”

“How old are you?”

Alex’s smile appeared mischievous. “Seventeen.”

She was tempted to ask for his ID. He wore a light-colored hoodie beneath a dark jacket along with dark jeans and black-and-white canvas high-top sneakers. She was about to ask him where he lived when Hailey stopped her.

“Really, Mom?” Hailey asked. “We’re going to do the whole interrogation thing? Aren’t you hosting a party?”

Nora fought the urge to ground her daughter for being mouthy. “Hailey,” she said in a carefully controlled voice, “if Alex wants to stay, you’re both going to have to join the party.”

“You’re serious?”

“Perfectly. Don’t push me.” Nora made sure to leave the door wide open before she headed back to the party. The tension in her neck and shoulders made every muscle tight and achy. Hailey had said they were friends, and she hoped that was true, because she wasn’t ready for Hailey to bring home boys, especially boys with facial hair, tattoos, and mischievous smiles that said they’d been there, done that.





CHAPTER TEN

Nora sat in the driver’s seat of her Jeep Wagoneer. Tank was asleep in the back, and Trevor sat quietly in the passenger seat next to her. It was the day after the barbecue, and Nora thought it would be a good time to visit her parents. Yesterday’s get-together should have been a fun, relaxing day, but it had been exhausting. Nora hadn’t had a chance to talk to Hailey about her new friend Alex, since Hailey had been asleep when they left this morning. She didn’t believe the whole friend thing, and Alex didn’t seem like Hailey’s type. Once again, David had told Nora to relax. Hailey would be sixteen soon; starting to get interested in dating was part of the deal.