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Back The Favorite Daughter Save as PDF
Chapters (57)
  1. Cover
  2. Back Cover Text
  3. Booklist
  4. Dedication
  5. Quote
  6. SUNDAY
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. MONDAY
  10. 3
  11. 4
  12. 5
  13. 6
  14. 7
  15. TUESDAY
  16. 8
  17. 9
  18. 10
  19. 11
  20. 12
  21. 13
  22. 14
  23. 15
  24. WEDNESDAY
  25. 16
  26. 17
  27. 18
  28. 19
  29. 20
  30. 21
  31. 22
  32. 23
  33. 24
  34. 25
  35. 26
  36. 27
  37. 28
  38. 29
  39. 30
  40. 31
  41. 32
  42. 33
  43. 34
  44. THURSDAY
  45. 35
  46. 36
  47. 37
  48. 38
  49. 39
  50. 40
  51. 41
  52. 42
  53. EPILOGUE
  54. DEAR READER LETTER
  55. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  56. READERS GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
  57. Best Day Ever

In the bedroom, David snores. That sound is really getting on my nerves.

9

9:00 a.m.

Brilliant sunshine floods my bed, the entire bedroom. The shades are wide open but my eyes squeeze shut, trying to block the spotlight.

The good news is I slept a thick, dreamless sleep. The bad news is I slept too long. I hurry to the bathroom and brush my teeth. I hustle into my closet, pull out my most recent online purchases: yoga pants, a tight cotton T-shirt with a smiling Buddha face on it and finish the look with a bright blue, fitted and zippered hoodie. I look almost normal for a mom around here. Mindful. Meditative. Wholesome. I’m a poster child for healthy living. I wash my face and comb my hair, pulling it into a low ponytail. Apply just the right amount of makeup for my daytime appearance.

I smile at my reflection. I’ll be seeing all of the moms at Volunteer Day. I don’t want Betsy to be embarrassed by me. She won’t be now. I look, dare I say it, young and hot. Anyone would be proud to have me as her mom. Betsy should consider herself lucky.

ASK BETSY.

I will. But I already know the answer.

I trot out to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee and, like a mirage, David and Betsy are at the table, eating together.

They both stop chewing and watch me walk into the room.

“Good morning!” What a wonderful development. I can’t wait to talk to them about my secret pen pal.

They look at me and then each other. They’re silent as I make myself a cup of coffee. What have they been talking about? David’s infidelity, perhaps? Or did they stick to their favorite topic: Crazy Jane? What did I do to upset them this time, I wonder? It doesn’t take much, not with either of them these days.

“Good morning. You look good, like you slept for once. No more vampire hours?” David’s voice is gravelly. He is no doubt hungover. But there’s something more. An edge.

Betsy nods. “Morning. You do look different.”

“Thanks, I guess.” I don’t know what different means, but I suppose it’s a devious daughter compliment. At least she notices things have changed. I’m back.

I join them at the table, slip into the chair across from David.

“Mom, where did you get this?” Betsy holds up the note, my note, from my purse.

“That’s mine.” I grab the paper and hold it close to my chest. “What are you doing with my note?” I don’t want them seeing this. I need to find out who wrote it first, and why. I am in control now. This note is now part of my plan.