Such a Beautiful Family: A Thriller(61)

The door came open. David and Trevor stepped inside, followed by Tank, along with a blast of cold air.

“Sorry to interrupt,” David said. “I need to clear a spot for the tree before we bring it in.”

Trevor rubbed his arms. “It’s freezing out there.”

Hailey entered next, shutting the door behind her. She was out of breath, but she rushed to Jane’s side. “Grandma told me what happened. Richard is an idiot. He doesn’t deserve you.”

Jane sniffled again, but Hailey’s pronouncement prompted a smile from Jane. “Thank you, Hailey.”

“What did Richard do?” Trevor asked.

“He called off the engagement,” Hailey said.

Tank didn’t like when humans cried. He also didn’t like Jane, but that didn’t stop him from prancing over to her and licking her hand.

She yanked her arm back as if she’d been bitten.

“Put Tank—”

“I know. I know,” Trevor said, cutting off Nora. “Come on, Tank. Let’s go upstairs.”

“How did you get here?” David asked. “I don’t see your car.”

“She took a taxi.”

“Tomorrow’s Christmas Eve,” Hailey said. “You should stay here and spend Christmas with us.”

Nora’s gaze fell on Trevor, who had stopped at the bottom of the stairs. He was looking right at Nora, subtly shaking his head. His eyes were wide, and she knew having Jane here would ruin his holiday and hers. “We’ll have some cocoa to warm up, and then I’ll drive Jane home,” Nora said to Hailey. “I’m sure Jane would rather sleep in her own bed tonight. And besides, she doesn’t have her overnight clothes or a toothbrush.”

“I don’t need much,” Jane said as she pulled a tissue from her purse and blew her nose. A dainty little noise.

“We have plenty of toothbrushes still in the plastic package in the bathroom,” Hailey said, “and Jane and I are the same size. She can wear my clothes and sleep in my room.”

“You are too kind,” Jane told Hailey. “But I can’t possibly put you out during the holidays. I know how important it is to Nora to spend time with her family without mopey Jane walking around ruining the Christmas spirit.”

Nora wasn’t falling for it—the poor-me story she’d heard too many times before. She was about to tell Jane she was right—she didn’t need or want to see Jane try to squeeze sympathy out of David every time her back was turned. Like Jane just said, she needed time alone with her family. Soon, her kids would be back in school.

“You wouldn’t be putting anyone out,” David said. “Of course you can stay here with us. The couch makes into a bed. I’m sure Hailey wouldn’t mind searching through a few boxes for sheets and blankets, whatever you might need to make your stay comfortable. If you decide to stay through Christmas, you’ll have the best view for spotting Santa when he comes down that chimney.”

Hailey smiled at Jane. “See? We are your family, and we want you to stay. Right, Mom?”

Nora forced a smile as she nodded.

Trevor headed up the stairs.

Nora gestured toward the kitchen. “I’ll be right back with hot cocoa.”

In the kitchen, with her coat still on, Nora went to the thermostat and turned up the heat. Then she moved to the cupboard where she’d put her pots and pans, grabbed one, and placed it on the stove. She worked robotically, searching for the cocoa and then pulling a carton of milk from the refrigerator, unable to make sense of what had just happened. The thought of having Jane stay overnight made her insides quiver.

She pulled her cell phone out of her coat pocket and scrolled through her contacts. She found Richard’s number. Don’t do it, Nora. She blinked. What harm would it do to call or text Richard and let him know Jane was fine? Maybe he was worried. Maybe he already had second thoughts about breaking up with her and would drive to Whispering Pines to pick her up. Yes. It was the right thing to do. She considered Richard to be a friend. She quickly composed a text message: Jane is staying with us at the house in Whispering Pines. Didn’t want you to worry. Nora.

She hit “Send.”

“Are you texting someone?” Jane asked.

Nora’s head snapped up. She was surprised to see Jane standing there, looking at her accusingly. Heat rushed to Nora’s face as she quickly shoved her phone into her pocket. “Just talking to my Realtor in Sacramento.” Nora busied herself with making hot chocolate. She poured the milk into the pan, then added the cocoa before stirring with a wooden spoon.

“During the holidays?”

Nora looked up. “What?”

“Your Realtor must be a real go-getter working so hard to sell your house only days before Christmas.”

Nora’s phone buzzed.

“Looks like she’s already gotten back to you.”

Nora gave Jane a tight smile.

“Aren’t you going to check your phone to see what she has to say?”

Nora felt rattled. How did she know her Realtor was a she and not a he? Had Jane met her? No. Nora was sure she’d never introduced them, let alone talked about her Realtor to Jane. Nora considered telling Jane to mind her own business but instead retrieved her phone from her pocket. She audibly exhaled when she saw that it happened to be a text from Karen Jorgenson, her Realtor: The house is painted and ready to go back on the market. Happy holidays!