“Unfortunately, I do not. But I would have a dozen if I could.”
Nora wondered why Jane didn’t adopt. Despite how close they had gotten in such a short time, there was still so much she didn’t know about her.
Laura joined the group in time to hear what Jane said about wanting children. “You can have mine if you want.” Laura looked at her husband, Dennis, with exasperation. “I can’t handle them today. They won’t stop fighting.”
Jane pushed herself from the lounge chair. Everyone watched her as she made her way to the shallow end of the pool where the smaller kids floated around in the water, their feet touching the bottom. She clapped her hands, loud enough to get the children’s attention. There were five under the age of nine. “Come on, kids, let’s play a game.” Jane pointed at the grassy area of the backyard. As she walked that way, she spotted Trevor coming outside. “Hey, Trevor! Mind helping me out for a minute?”
“Sure,” Trevor said without hesitating. He’d always been Nora’s big helper. Two of the kids scrambled out of the pool and quickly dried off. The others were already on Jane’s heels.
Stacy crossed her arms. “Does she talk to animals, too?”
Nora didn’t mention that she’d taken Tank to the groomers today so Jane wouldn’t be bothered.
Laura’s brow furrowed when she saw her kids smiling and listening intently to Jane as she explained what game they were going to play.
“Does she babysit?” Laura said in a manner that told Nora she was only half joking. “I’ll pay double.”
David glanced at Nora. “I need to check on something inside. I’ll be right back.”
“So, Richard,” Stacy said, “how did you and Jane meet?”
“She came to my office with a toothache and left without any pain.”
“That makes sense,” Stacy said. “You worked your magic on her, and she was putty in your hands by the time you were finished.”
“That’s right,” Richard said. “You’re lucky I never put a spell on you.”
“Next time I come in for a cleaning, maybe the new guy you hired could fill a few cavities.”
They all laughed.
As her neighbors chatted, Nora told everyone she would be right back. She hurried to catch up to David and followed him into the house. They had been married long enough for her to know that something was up. “David,” she said once they were both inside, out of earshot. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing. I’m expecting a call from a client.”
His body was rigid. He rarely got upset, but clearly something was going on inside that head of his. “You’re angry with me. What did I do?”
“Jane told me, along with everyone else, that you were going to Paris and that you would be gone during Thanksgiving. I had no idea, and I was so embarrassed. It would have been nice if you had talked to me about it. If the tables were turned, I know you wouldn’t have appreciated being caught off guard.”
Nora’s stomach dropped. Why would Jane bring it up in front of people she’s only just met? “I never told her I was going to Paris. She was in my office when she mentioned a software trade show being held in Paris at the end of the month. When I realized it was during the holiday, I told her no. In her usual fashion, she kept pressing, so I told her I would look at the kids’ schedules and get back to her.” Nora drew in a breath. “Now that I think about it, Jane did say we could talk more at the barbecue, but we’ve been so busy that it slipped my mind completely. I’m sorry. I should have mentioned it.” Nora reached for his hand. “If there is ever any mention of any trips in the future, I’ll tell you first thing. I promise.”
“It’s fine,” he said, although she could tell he was still disappointed. “Just caught me off guard. I guess I always imagined the two of us spending time in Europe after the kids go off to college . . . hearing her talk about the two of you going to Paris and seeing all the sights threw me off, that’s all.”
“I get it. It makes no sense she would blurt out something like that when nothing has been confirmed.” She shook it off. “The truth is, when Jane mentioned Paris, I was thinking the same thing . . . about the two of us touring France together someday. My mind is made up. I’m not going.”
He rested his hands on her shoulders. “I think we should talk again before you make a final decision.”
Nora shook her head. “I haven’t had a chance to look at the kids’ schedules, but I think it’s all too much. I’ve only been with IMPACT for a few months, and I’m beginning to feel overwhelmed. Jane means well. I enjoy her company, but sometimes I wonder if I made the right decision. I’m forty-one, and I’m not as career-driven as I once was. Hailey and Trevor are growing so fast and, well, I guess I don’t want to miss anything.”
David pulled her into his arms and nuzzled his lips against her neck. “We’ll figure this out. Everything will be okay.”
Holding him close, Nora wished they were alone. Her new job was supposed to have given her more time to be with her family, but she and David had hardly spent any quality time alone since she started working for IMPACT.
David kissed her on the lips, lingered for a moment before pulling away. “I miss you.”
“I miss you, too.”
“But we better get back to our guests. I’ll check my calls later.” David walked back to the sliding door that led to the backyard, where Nora could see Stacy passing around the tray of brownies while Jane played Simon Says with the kids.
David stood at the door for a moment, looking out, unmoving.
If Nora didn’t know better, she would swear his gaze was fixated on Jane. But who was she kidding? Even she had a difficult time looking anywhere else—Jane’s wide, easy smile and confident nature were magnetizing. “Do you think I made a mistake?” The question slipped out without Nora meaning it to.
“As far as taking the job?” David asked without turning back to her.
“Yes.”
“No,” he said as he slid the door open, “absolutely not.”
Nora felt uneasy as she watched him. “I’m going to check on the girls upstairs,” she told him.
He nodded and shut the door.
Nora bumped into Bridget on her way up. She looked upset. “Is everything okay?”
“Sure. I just thought I would give the two lovebirds some time alone.”
“Is Josh here?” Nora asked.
“No. I wish.” Bridget blushed. “Hailey would kill me if she knew I said that.”
“We didn’t even see each other,” Nora told her, hoping to relieve any worry she might be having, since Bridget was clearly uncomfortable. Nora gestured downstairs. “There’s lots to eat if you’re hungry.”
“Thanks.”
Nora wasn’t happy about her daughter inviting someone over without asking first. If it wasn’t Josh, who could it be? She didn’t bother knocking before opening the door to Hailey’s bedroom. Hailey and a boy she’d never seen before, a boy with facial hair and a tattoo on his neck, were sitting on the bed. Hailey jerked back, away from the boy, when the door came open. She scowled at Nora.