Such a Beautiful Family: A Thriller(42)

“Yes. And guess where Jane was all week while I was away?” Nora didn’t wait for an answer. “At my house. Not only did she cook dinner for David and the kids, she did it all in my kitchen and ate with them every night.”

Mom said nothing.

“I shouldn’t be going on about me when poor Dad is on the way to the hospital.”

“It’s okay. Anything to keep my mind from worrying before we talk to the doctor.”

It felt so good to have someone to talk to . . . and who better than Mom? “The truth is,” Nora said, “I don’t trust Jane. There have been moments where I thought maybe Jane and I could be friends, but now I’m not so sure.”

“Did something happen . . . you know . . . other than what you’ve just told me?”

“It’s not one thing but a lot of different things, mostly minor. Sometimes I think I’m being paranoid . . .”

“But?”

“But I have the strangest feeling she’s trying to steal my family.”

For a second or two, Mom appeared lost in thought before she asked, “How well do you know Jane?”

“Why?”

“Just curious. Does she have any siblings?”

“No. She keeps to herself, although she has alluded to having a difficult childhood.”

Silence stretched on before Nora glanced at her mom. “What is it? You’re worried about Dad, aren’t you?” Nora released a breath. “He’s going to be okay. I know he is.”

“I’m worried about you, Nora. You need to listen to your instincts.”

Goose bumps crawled up Nora’s spine. Mom was right. Nora had hoped money and success would bring her family closer—they could buy a bigger house, take longer vacations, and spend more quality time together. But she didn’t see how that would ever be possible if she were too busy to enjoy the fruits of her labor. Her drive to succeed and gain the approval of those around her, especially Jane, could cost her everything if she didn’t put on the brakes. Not only were her children growing fast and becoming more independent by the minute, if she kept up this crazy schedule, working late hours and flying around the globe, she could very well jeopardize everything that mattered in life. “The kids are growing up without me,” Nora said.

“Have you and David talked about how you’re feeling?”

Nora thought about it. “Not really. Mostly, I’ve been grumbling about Jane. We may have talked about needing to find a way to spend more time together, but I think I’ve been in denial about how quickly things seem to be going downhill. I certainly never considered leaving my job until now.” She glanced at Mom before fixing her gaze back on the road. “You know what’s weird about it?”

“What?”

“Just the thought of quitting and moving to Whispering Pines makes me feel giddy inside. I’d be self-employed. My own boss. There’s so much I have learned and that I could pass on to new businesses.”

Mom gave her leg a pat. “You’ll be great at whatever you decide to do.”

“Thanks, Mom. Do you remember when I used to talk about starting my own business, so I could work from home like David does?”

“I do,” Mom replied. “Once you took this newest position, I guess I figured you had traded one dream for another.”

“All the money in the world isn’t worth seeing so little of my family.”

“No matter what you decide, you guys will be fine. The love and respect you all have for one another is something not many families have.”

Respect. Did her daughter still respect her?

By the time Nora pulled into the hospital parking lot, she knew it was time to make her family her priority. Quitting her job and moving everyone to Whispering Pines could be just what the Harmon family needed.





CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

That evening, long after the doctor had assured Nora and her mom that Dad had not suffered a stroke and that a urinary tract infection was the reason for his sudden confusion, they picked up Dad’s antibiotic at the pharmacy and headed home. Nora fixed dinner for her parents, promising to return in a few days to help Mom begin the process of moving into the cottage.

It had been a relief to see Dad looking well. Although he had no idea why he’d been brought to the hospital, he knew Nora was his daughter and Mom was his wife, and he wanted to go home.

As Nora drew closer to her own home, she found herself pondering her conversation with Mom and the possibility of living at the lake house, starting a new business, and reconnecting with her family. She felt rejuvenated, excited to talk to David about her idea. She also questioned her decision to take the job at IMPACT in the first place. Unfortunately, she knew the answer to her question. Jane had been relentless. She’d said all the right things and reeled her in like a fish.

As she pulled into the driveway, she was struck by déjà vu.

Jane’s car was there. But why? Showing up whenever she wanted to needed to stop. Nora did her best to rein in her annoyance as she pulled up behind Jane’s car and turned off the engine. She took three calming breaths, then absentmindedly looked into the rearview mirror and didn’t like what she saw staring back at her. She’d hardly had time to brush her hair before running out of the house this morning. Strands of hair framing her face looked like spiderwebs, and dark circles framed her eyes. She looked like death.