“I surely hope so,” Maddy said. “I can’t help but think she’ll come walking through the door any minute.”
“Me too.”
“She’s been after me to come for a visit. She wanted help cleaning out the house, but I’ve been so busy with work...”
“If it’s any consolation, I’ve put her off too. I haven’t been here in years. The last time was when Chloe was in middle school. She was bored silly with no other children around—and she never was a good traveler. She always gets motion sickness.”
“I’m sorry you came all this way,” Maddy said. “I should’ve answered my calls and saved you the trip.”
“I couldn’t sit at home with Gram missing. Besides, with Chloe away at school, there’s nothing keeping me home anymore.”
Nora had been a devoted stay-at-home mom, but these days she kept busy chairing committees and serving on charity boards.
“It’s hard to believe she’s old enough to be in college. How’s Jonathan? His business still doing well?”
Nora straightened the afghan on the armchair. “Oh, he’s just fine. The booming economy has been very kind to businesses. Would you like some tea? I’m sure Gram still keeps an assortment.”
“No, thanks.” She could really do with some Oreos, though.
Maddy watched Nora slip into the kitchen. She envied the ease with which her sister had settled into a family and found her place in the world.
Years ago Jonathan and his best friend had opened a mortgage company together. It had been profitable enough to boost them into the upper echelons of Boston’s high society. They’d sent Chloe to the best private schools and posted pictures of their European vacations on Facebook. They were the perfect all-American family.
Whereas Emma... It just didn’t seem fair.
Maddy pulled out her phone. Emma had texted her when she’d landed, but Maddy had been in the middle of the sheriff’s questions at the time. It’s too bad her sisters had come all this way. Maddy could’ve handled this on her own. With her sisters came unnecessary tension, and it was already a stressful situation.
Nora returned to the living room a few minutes later, cupping a mug of steaming tea. She sat in the armchair in the corner and dunked her tea bag in a careful, repetitive motion.
“I feel like there’s something we should be doing,” she said. “Gram’s out there somewhere, and here we sit.”
“It’s late. We’ll get a fresh start in the morning.” Night had descended and with it a vague feeling of unrest and hopelessness. They still had a major battle ahead this evening, and Maddy was running out of time.
“Nora...,” she started, dread wedging up next to her heart. “There’s something I have to tell you.”
Her sister’s hand stilled, and she gave an awkward chuckle. “That sounds rather ominous.”
“It’s Emma—she’s on her way.”
Nora’s shoulders stiffened. “Here? Now?”
“Connor called her too. Her plane landed thirty minutes ago.”
Nora set her tea aside, the teacup clattering on the saucer. “You should have told me, Maddy.”
“I didn’t know you were coming. I was expecting Emma, but Connor didn’t mention—”
“I never called him back. When I got his message I just got in my car and... Maybe I should go.”
“You just got here.” Maybe she could bring herself to play peacekeeper one more time. “Nora... maybe it’s finally time the two of you put aside your differences.”
The ticking of the grandfather clock filled the long silent gap.
Nora folded her perfectly manicured hands in her lap, only a slight tremble giving away her nerves. “Does Emma know I’m here?”
“Not yet.” Her reaction would be worse than Nora’s. Maddy drew in a deep breath, trying to brace herself for the coming altercation.
Nora suddenly stood and paced across the room. “This is a terrible idea. I should just go. She’s not going to want to find me here.”
