Such a Beautiful Family: A Thriller(67)

Hailey came to her feet, too. They hugged. It was a real hug, and Nora never wanted to let go. Patience, understanding, and communication were so important, Nora realized. One hug wouldn’t resolve their issues, but it was a start. For the first time in months, Nora felt close to her daughter. “I love you,” Nora said.

“I love you, too.”

When Nora finally did release her, Hailey scratched the side of her head. “Alex might come by later to bring me a Christmas present. Is that okay?”

“That’s fine.” When she got to the door, Hailey asked, “What should I do with this money?”

“Keep it. Maybe save it for that car you’ve been wanting.”

Hailey smiled.

Nora made her way down the hallway to Trevor’s room. The second she walked through the door, he jerked around, his eyes round and fearful.

“Oh,” he said, his shoulders slumping forward. “I thought it was Jane.”

“She’s gone.”

“Really? Like, gone gone?”

“Yes.” It made Nora’s heart break to think he’d been so frightened of her. “She really did scare you, didn’t she?”

“She’s evil, Mom. I don’t understand why everyone else can’t see that.”

Nora noticed some photos of Mr. and Mrs. Lewitt on the screen. “It’s time for us to put all of this behind us. It’s over.”

Trevor shook his head. “But, Mom, wait. I bought a database. A good one that professionals use. I discovered something big.”

Nora walked to his side. “What did you find?”

“Jane’s birth name was Jane Schaefer. Her aunt and uncle, Greg and Barbara Lewitt, adopted her, and her name became Jane Lewitt.”

Nora felt the room tilt, the earth crumbling beneath her feet. “Schaefer? Are you sure?”

Nora had thought Jane’s birth name was Bell, assuming Barbara’s sister married into the Bell family, then was changed to Lewitt after Greg and Barbara Lewitt adopted her as their own. “But if her surname was Schaefer, why would she change her name to Jane Bell?” Nora put her fingers through her hair.

“But there’s more. Jane Schaefer had a younger brother named Lucas.”

Nora felt the blood drain from her face.

Trevor clicked on another tab. A black-and-white photo popped up and filled the screen. It was Greg and Barbara Lewitt at the wharf, along with a couple and two children.

The caption read: Greg and Barbara Lewitt at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. Also pictured are Barbara Lewitt’s sister and brother-in-law and their two children, two weeks before Bill and Dorothy Schaefer and their son, Lucas, were killed in a head-on collision.

“Look at him. He has Jane’s eyes. It must be Jane’s brother.” Trevor looked up at Nora. “His name was Lucas. The same name Grandpa called me when he was at our house in Sacramento.”

Nora recognized the name Schaefer. Lucas Schaefer and his parents had been killed in the accident she was involved in. But no one ever told her that Lucas had an older sister. Did Mom and Dad know? Sadly, she was certain she knew the answer. A wave of icy coldness swept over her. How could they keep something like that from her?

“Hey, buddy! Time to get going.”

It was David. He stood at the door, ready to go. Hat and gloves clasped in his hands. “Grandma and Grandpa are waiting. Let’s go. You need to get away from that computer screen and get some fresh air. Meet me downstairs in five.”

David walked away.

Trevor looked at Nora. “I’m not ready to get in that pontoon.”

Her insides quivered. She needed to think. “I know,” she said to Trevor. “But the walk to the cottage will do you and Tank good. Go get some fresh air. After Dad fixes the garbage disposal, if you still don’t want to get on the boat, just say so. Nobody is going to make you do something you don’t want to.”

“Okay,” he said. “I guess.”

She smiled at him, tried to appear unaffected by what he’d discovered. But the truth was, it was all beginning to make sense. When Nora hit that car head-on, she had killed Jane’s parents and her brother, Lucas. Her mind spun with speculation. All this time she’d thought Jane was lonely and wanted to be part of her family. But it was more than that. How much more was the question.

“Are you okay, Mom?”

“I’m fine,” she lied. She wasn’t fine at all. Keeping all those thoughts and emotions about the accident tamped down had done more harm than good. After all these years, it was all coming to a head . . . stirring up the anguish and guilt she’d spent her life trying to reconcile. “I’m going to ride to town for a few things, but first I think I’ll walk with you and Dad to the cottage so I can say hi to Mom and Dad.” And get everything out in the open once and for all.





CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

When they arrived at the cottage, Nora ushered her mom outside so they could talk in private while Trevor and David chatted with Grandpa inside. Mom slid on her boots, then grabbed her jacket from the coat hanger by the door on her way out.

The morning air was chilly. Nora put her hands in her pockets, wishing she’d put on gloves and worn a thicker coat. “Why didn’t you and Dad tell me that Lucas had an older sister?”