Emma gaped. “Prison!”
Nora’s chin thrust forward. The refrigerator hummed in the silence. Pippy barked at the back door.
Suddenly Maddy remembered the credit card issue Nora’d had at the restaurant. She remembered her sister’s new frugal habits, her lack of calls home, and her reluctance to leave Seahaven. What exactly was going on here?
“Honey...” Maddy gave Nora a compassionate look. “Just tell us, whatever it is. Is Jonathan in trouble? Does he need help?”
Nora pressed her lips together.
Maddy came around the counter and took her sister’s hand. Nora’s fingers trembled. They were cold in spite of the sultry day and their recent physical exertion.
“Come on, come sit down,” Maddy said.
“No, I—I look a fright. I need a shower... We all do.”
“Never mind that. What’s going on? Why is Jonathan in prison?”
Nora pulled her hand away, but she didn’t go anywhere. She set her iced tea down on the counter. Her shoulders slumped, as if finally giving up the pretense that everything was peachy.
Nora’s gaze moved to Emma and Gram, then back to Maddy. “He’s been in prison for weeks. He was convicted of fraud.”
Gram’s breath whooshed out. “Oh, good heavens.”
Nora closed her eyes, as if the weight of the burden was just too much. “He’s robbed people—friends, even—of their hard-earned money. And he’s not even remorseful. Just mad he got caught. We’ve lost everything, including the house.”
“Oh, honey.” Maddy pulled her into her arms, and Nora collapsed against her. It all made sense now. Of course Nora wouldn’t have wanted to admit something so horrible, especially with Emma here to potentially rub her nose in it. No, Emma would never be that cruel.
“How long has all this been going on?” Gram asked.
“Months,” Nora said. “He said he was innocent, and I believed him at first. Then he was convicted. They had so much evidence.”
Maddy drew back. “You should’ve said something. You shouldn’t be carrying around this load all by yourself. It’s not healthy—especially for the baby.” Maddy’s fingers covered her mouth. She had not meant for that to slip. She gave Nora a pained look.
The wind howled outside and whistled through the shutters. Over by the fridge, Emma and Gram had gone still.
Nora only looked confused. “Baby? What baby?”
Maddy tilted her head sympathetically. She regretted bringing it up, with all Nora’s other worries and everything that had come out last night. But maybe it was time to get everything on the table. How else could they properly help her? With Jonathan gone away, she needed their support more than ever.
“I’m sorry. It just slipped out,” Maddy said. “But I know you’re pregnant. I found the test in the trash. And I heard you throwing up this morning.”
Nora huffed a soft laugh. “Maddy, I don’t know what you’re going on about, but I am not pregnant. For heaven’s sake, I’m forty-three years old.”
Maddy frowned at her sister. Was Nora losing it, with all the strife she had going on? Who could blame her? Maybe she was simply not ready to admit the truth.
Maddy shook her head. Unless...
“It’s not Nora,” Emma blurted, drawing everyone’s attention. “It’s me.” With eyes wide and windblown hair, Emma looked wild and distraught. “The test was mine.I’mpregnant.”
“What?” Maddy said. “But I thought you and Ethan...”
“Right.” Emma nodded. “We are separated, but—”
“Separated?” Nora said. “Since when?”
“Oh, honey,” Gram said. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
Emma’s eyes swung to Nora, looking at her bleakly. “Since just after Christmas.”
