Such a Beautiful Family: A Thriller(47)

Nora knew, way deep down, that he might be right. She didn’t have any concrete evidence to prove to anyone at all that Jane was anything but a kind and lonely person who was trying way too hard to get her family to like her. Yes, Jane had made some bad decisions when it came to Nora’s kids. And Jane should have told Nora about her plan to ask David to the award ceremony. But none of that mattered because Nora had made up her mind. “I called the high school in Whispering Pines, and there’s plenty of room for both kids next year. The administrative office told me they would be happy to set up a tour for all of us this weekend. Hailey and Trevor are going to love it.”

David said nothing.

“As far as the lake house goes, you can use the room with the view as your office. I’ll take the extra room connected to the main bedroom. I need to get away from here, but I also need you on board. Can’t we at least give it a shot?” Nora reached out and touched his arm. “If after a few months, everyone is miserable, we can move somewhere else, wherever you want to go.”

He shook his head. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Nora. You would never move far from your parents. We both know that.”

It was true. She was betting on Whispering Pines, hoping it would solve most, if not all, of their problems. But in the back of her mind, she knew there was a possibility her plan could backfire, and she could lose everything she was fighting so hard to keep. His silence worried her. What if he told her he wanted to keep the house and stay in Sacramento . . . what would she do?

“I guess we’re moving, then,” David said.

Her brows arched. “Seriously?”

“Yes. If it’s really what you want.”

It was. She wanted to get as far away from Jane as possible. And she wanted her family back. She closed the distance between them and curled her arms around his waist. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”



Hours later, Nora called her family to dinner. She had set the dining room table using the good dishes and cloth napkins. At the center of the table was Hailey’s favorite arugula and watermelon salad, baked potatoes, and filet mignon. Her son’s face lit up when he saw the steak and potatoes. Nora happily watched him dig in.

“What are we celebrating?” Trevor asked, seemingly delighted by the turn of events, since they hardly ever sat down together as a family anymore.

“She’s trying to outdo Jane,” Hailey said, reaching for the salad.

Nora ignored her. “Trevor is right. This is a celebration feast. Any guesses?”

Hailey filled her plate with salad and a baked potato. “You got a raise, and you and Dad are going to buy me a car, since I’ll be driving soon.”

“Afraid not,” Nora said.

Trevor brightened. “We’re all going to Disneyland, and we’re leaving first thing in the morning. After we eat, we need to go to our rooms and pack.”

Nora laughed.

“What would you do in Disneyland,” Hailey asked her brother, “without all your high-tech games and digital technology?”

“Disneyland is one of the happiest places on earth, which is why you have no desire to go there.” Trevor looked at Nora. “Is that it? Are we going to Disneyland?”

“No. Sorry.”

Trevor’s head fell back in exaggerated disappointment so that he was staring up at the ceiling. He uttered a long groan for good measure.

“Stop being so dramatic,” Hailey scolded.

Trevor lifted his head, and they all stared at David, waiting for him to take a guess.

“I’m going to let your mom tell you.”

“Well, I’m not going to take another guess,” Hailey said, “so what’s going on?”

Nora felt suddenly as if she were trying to convince a roomful of board members to give her plan the go-ahead instead of her kids. “Since taking on a new job, I’ve realized I haven’t had much time to hang out with all of you, and it’s unacceptable.” Nora glanced at her husband. “Dad and I used to enjoy a date night every week, and yet I can’t remember the last time we got dressed up and went to dinner alone. Trevor and I never have time for long walks with Tank. And”—her gaze fell on Hailey—“when was the last time we made bowls of buttered popcorn and watched movies on a Friday night?”

Hailey shrugged. “All of us are busy, Mom. It’s not just you. And we’re all doing just fine.”

“I like Mom being home more,” Trevor said.

Hailey rolled her eyes. “Because you’re lazy and don’t want to make your own sandwich when you get home from school.”

“Let your mom finish,” David cut in.

“Thank you,” Nora said. “We’re celebrating tonight because today I gave Jane my two-week notice.”

Hailey dropped her fork on her plate. “You quit your job?”

“Yes. And that’s not all,” Nora said. “We’re going to sell the house and move to Whispering Pines so I can help Grandma take care of Grandpa.”

“What about school?” Hailey wanted to know.

Nora anchored a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ll be free to drive you two back and forth for the remainder of the school year. I thought you’d be happy, since you’ve been begging to be transferred to a different high school since your freshman year. I believe you said your classmates were mean and your teachers didn’t challenge you enough.”