The Neighbor's Secret(27)
“It’s creepy,” Abe said. “It looks like a horror movie.”
Colin considered the outside of the double-wide as if seeing it for the first time. “It totally does. There’s nothing scary inside, though. I promise. You know we do customized curriculums, like that video game could be part of your homework.”
“Video games as a class,” Abe said suspiciously. “Is there a decent Wi-Fi connection?”
“Come check it out.”
Before Jen had gotten out of the car, Abe was following Colin up the steps.
“I’ll get Nan,” Colin promised Jen, as he opened the door. “Abe, follow me, there might be snacks in the back if you’re hungry. Emma, she’s the other teaching assistant, usually bakes something over the weekend.”
Inside, the schoolroom looked small and spare: a few desks, a small kitchenette, mostly bare-walled but for a world map taped to the wall and some quotations stenciled in a flowery cursive.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Psalm 32:8.
“Jen?”
Jen looked up from reading and was face-to-face with a tiny woman, swaddled in a gigantic olive cardigan. She had short bushy gray hair, vampiric pallor, and stern brown eyes.
Colin hovered closely behind her, like a cautious grandson who’d been tasked to watch that grandma didn’t fall and rebreak her hip.
“Hello,” the woman said. “I’m Nan.”
Their handshake felt dry and delicate, like a tight squeeze from Jen might break Nan’s thin bones.
“Abe made himself at home,” Colin said with a half laugh. “He’s back there trying to boost the internet connection.”
“Computers are his passion,” Jen said.
“Nice.”
Jen broke the awkward silence. “Nan, is there any more information you need from us?”
Medical records, Dr. Shapiro’s report, transcript from Foothills? Anything?
“No,” Nan said. “Let’s just see how he feels being here.”
Jen decided that if Nan wasn’t going to ask, she had no obligation to share Abe’s diagnosis, at least not at this early stage. First, give them a chance to get to know Abe, minus any labels. After all, Jen still hadn’t decided if the diagnosis truly fit.
Nan nodded solemnly. “‘My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation.’”
It was just unexpected enough that Jen panicked. She looked desperately at the ceiling, then the floor, then Colin. It was almost indiscernible, his teensy nostril flare, the way he widened his eyes at Jen as if to say, Better get used to it.
What stopped Jen from a torrent of giggles was the sobering realization that she was leaving her son under the responsibility of a woman who seemed—all due respect—not entirely there.
“Don’t worry,” Colin said, as if reading Jen’s mind. “We’ll take excellent care of Abe, I promise.”
NOVEMBER
To: “The Best Book Club in the World”
From: [email protected]
The book: This month’s pick, THE GIRL IN THE WOODS, promises to be quite controversial!*
When Fiona wakes up to find herself in a remote alpine forest with no idea how she got there, can she piece together what happened in time to save her son? And is it just a coincidence that her ex-husband has recently bought a log cabin in the very same remote woods where she is found?
Reviews have called it “a taut psychological thriller” and “the literary page turner of the year!”
The place: Our lovely Jen Chun-Pagano is saving our bacon by hosting this one last minute (mwah, mwah Jen!!!! Forever grateful!) and she has asked for a start time of seven o’clock sharp.
PSA: The Thankfulness Turkey is looking a little bare!!! Please, everyone, remember to take your kiddos to tape on their “Thankfulness Feathers”!!!!!! (Red, yellow, or orange construction paper only, please and black markers work the best. You can’t miss it—It’s the Giant Wooden Turkey right by the Cottonwood Welcome Sign!)
Katie will be selling BRACELETS at FALL FEST to raise money for her MOCK TRIAL TEAM’S trip to SUNNY CALIFORNIA! WE APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT!
And speaking of THANKFULNESS, as always, I remain thankful for YOU, my wonderful book club family! xoxoxoxoxo
*True story: two members of my sister-in-law’s book club almost came to blows when they discussed this!
Although my SIL swears the tensions had been brewing before
And I know from firsthand observation that they are not as refined as are we, the classy ladies of Cottonwood
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Annie used her fingernail to scrape off the last stubborn spot of marinara sauce caked onto the lasagna pan. She set it on the drying rack.
The house was so quiet.
It was only seven thirty on Friday night. Mike was at work. Laurel was sleeping at Sierra’s house, and Hank had just gone to bed to be well-rested for his Fall Fest performance.
Annie stretched out on the couch and picked up the book club book. She couldn’t get into this one, had spent ten minutes rereading a single paragraph describing the gnarled tree branches in the deep dark forest. When her phone binged, she eagerly grabbed it from the side table.