“Maybe it would be good for your parents to spend the holiday with your children. Who knows how many more years your dad will be around?”
“What?”
Jane put a hand to her heart. “I’m sorry. That didn’t come out right. It’s just that when I met him at your house before leaving for San Francisco, he seemed lost . . . unfocused. Is he ill?”
“He was recently diagnosed with dementia.”
“I am so sorry.” Jane exhaled. “I seem to be saying that a lot these days.”
“It’s okay.”
“Please join me in Paris.”
“I don’t know. I’ve always thought of trade shows as a lot of work for little value.”
“Not true at all. The booth, the giveaways, all the marketing collateral like brochures will be taken care of by a company that specializes in design and setup,” Jane said. “All we need to do is wow potential clients, show them how our software can increase productivity and reduce human error. So many businesses are still living in the Dark Ages. They need to be shown that technology can do the heavy lifting so that their employees can focus on core business tasks and revenue-generating activities.”
“I can see why you’ve managed to do so well in such a short time.”
Jane smiled. “So that’s a yes?”
Nora tried to imagine how she would feel being away from her family on Thanksgiving. The notion made her sad. Who would cook the turkey? And what about Trevor’s favorite stuffing? “I’ll need to check the kids’ schedules. I’ll let you know in a few days.”
“Perfect. We can also talk more at the barbecue this weekend.”
“That’s right.” Nora had almost forgotten.
“What should I bring?”
“Nothing at all. It’ll be low-key. Casual.” Nora pulled up expected weather conditions for Sacramento on her laptop sitting in front of her. “Looks like we’re going to get a sunny day in November. Bring your swimsuit if you like to swim. I hope you like burgers and hot dogs.”
“I can’t remember the last time I ate a hot dog. It’ll be fun.”
CHAPTER NINE
Just as promised, the weather on the day of the barbecue proved to be sunny with temperatures hovering around seventy-nine degrees. A perfect day for an outdoor get-together.
Nora couldn’t keep her eyes off Jane. Nobody could. It was like having Christie Brinkley at your neighborhood barbecue wearing a bikini beneath a lacy cover-up. When Jane had eaten a burger earlier, the only thing Nora saw was one of those fast-food commercials running in slow motion as Jane brought the juicy burger to her naturally plump lips.
In the days leading up to today, Jane had come to Nora’s office to talk about nothing else, asking about the neighbors and what she should wear. Nora had felt bad for her because it genuinely felt as if she didn’t get out much. Sure, she ran her own company, held business meetings, and flew all over the world, but that was different. Like Jekyll and Hyde different. At work, Nora noticed how Jane walked with a straight back and head held high. Her professional persona in group meetings bordered on unapproachable. It wasn’t until Jane was in Nora’s office, or out to lunch, that another side of Jane appeared: softer around the edges, friendlier, with a desperation for a meaningful relationship that no one else saw, which was why Nora felt compelled to at least try to include her and show her that people, like her and David, could be trusted. Nora wanted Jane to know what it felt like to be accepted, supported, listened to. But watching her now, she wondered if bringing Jane into her familiar fold of friends might have been a bad idea—too much too soon. People were judging her; she could see it in the quick glances and worried frowns. It was as if Jane was too beautiful for her little neighborhood party. And that thought made Nora more determined than ever to help Jane fit in.
Stacy, one of the neighbors she’d invited, was forty and newly divorced. She stood next to Nora eating a fudge brownie that Jane had baked despite Nora telling her she didn’t need to bring anything.
“I’m glad I didn’t bring Brandon,” Stacy said.
“Why?” Nora asked. After Stacy’s husband had left her for his administrative assistant, she used a dating site to hook up with a guy named Brandon. “He’s all you’ve talked about for months. I was hoping to meet him.”
Stacy made a face. “He’s handsome, smart, and funny, and there is no ring on his finger. Your friend would have been too much competition.”
If he could be stolen from her that easily, Nora thought but didn’t say, he wasn’t worthy.
They both turned their attention to Jane, who was sitting on a lounge chair, talking and laughing with Richard, David, and Dennis, Laura’s husband. Laura was another neighbor. She and Dennis had four children between the ages of six and fifteen. At the moment, Laura was trying to get her eight-year-old to share a pool toy with her youngest child. Bridget, the eldest, had run straight to Hailey’s room, and the two teenage girls had yet to make an appearance.
With her gaze settled on Jane, Nora wondered what it would feel like to have a heart-shaped face, flawless skin, and a perfect body. A while back, Nora had watched a gorgeous female celebrity on television talk about beauty being a difficult trait to bear. The woman had said hot men had an easier time getting jobs, but equally blessed women did not; jealousy prevented them from getting the position. Nora recalled her saying how lonely it could be, since people tended to steer clear of her. There were studies done that showed people on the street keeping their distance. Nora had found it all to be cringeworthy and sad at the same time.
“Richard is my dentist,” Stacy said, breaking into her thoughts. “I didn’t know you used him.”
“I don’t. He and Jane are dating.”
Stacy’s jaw dropped. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“No. Why?”
“Look at him. Sure, from certain angles, he looks good—tall, dark hair speckled with silver—but he’s at least ten years older and sort of flabby in the middle. It’s like Gilligan or the Skipper of the S. S. Minnow dating Ginger, if you know what I mean?”
Nora hadn’t realized how judgmental Stacy could be until today. She had to do something. “Come meet her,” Nora suggested. “She’s sweet and kind. You can’t blame her for being born beautiful.”
“Yes I can,” Stacy said with a laugh. “I’m not going to change into my bathing suit, that’s for sure.”
“Come on,” Nora said again, prompting Stacy to follow her to where the others congregated near the pool. As they approached, Nora said, “Dessert is on the table. Wait until you try some of Jane’s delicious homemade brownies.” When no one broke away, Nora went ahead and made introductions. “Jane, I want you to meet Stacy. She lives directly across the street from us.” Nora proceeded to point out the two towheaded children running around. “Bobby and Samantha are hers.”
“They’re adorable,” Jane said, shielding her eyes from the sun as she looked up at Stacy. “Nice to meet you.”
“So do you have children?” Stacy asked.