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Back The Mother Next Door Save as PDF
Chapters (84)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. Dedication
  4. About the Author
  5. HALLOWEEN
  6. Seven Weeks Before Halloween
  7. ONE
  8. TWO
  9. THREE
  10. HALLOWEEN
  11. Six Weeks Before Halloween
  12. FOUR
  13. FIVE
  14. SIX
  15. HALLOWEEN
  16. Five Weeks Before Halloween
  17. SEVEN
  18. EIGHT
  19. HALLOWEEN
  20. NINE
  21. TEN
  22. HALLOWEEN
  23. ELEVEN
  24. TWELVE
  25. Twenty-Five Days Until Halloween
  26. THIRTEEN
  27. FOURTEEN
  28. HALLOWEEN
  29. FIFTEEN
  30. SIXTEEN
  31. SEVENTEEN
  32. EIGHTEEN
  33. NINETEEN
  34. TWENTY
  35. HALLOWEEN
  36. Eighteen Days Until Halloween
  37. TWENTY-ONE
  38. TWENTY-TWO
  39. HALLOWEEN
  40. TWENTY-THREE
  41. TWENTY-FOUR
  42. Eleven Days Until Halloween
  43. TWENTY-FIVE
  44. TWENTY-SIX
  45. Eight Days Until Halloween
  46. TWENTY-SEVEN
  47. TWENTY-EIGHT
  48. TWENTY-NINE
  49. HALLOWEEN
  50. THIRTY
  51. Four Days Until Halloween
  52. THIRTY-ONE
  53. HALLOWEEN
  54. THIRTY-TWO
  55. Two Days Until Halloween
  56. THIRTY-THREE
  57. The Night Before Halloween
  58. THIRTY-FOUR
  59. HALLOWEEN
  60. THIRTY-FIVE
  61. Halloween, Present Day
  62. THIRTY-SIX
  63. THIRTY-SEVEN
  64. HALLOWEEN
  65. THIRTY-EIGHT
  66. HALLOWEEN
  67. THIRTY-NINE
  68. HALLOWEEN
  69. FORTY
  70. HALLOWEEN
  71. FORTY-ONE
  72. FORTY-TWO
  73. FORTY-THREE
  74. FORTY-FOUR
  75. HALLOWEEN... NOW
  76. FORTY-FIVE
  77. Seven Months Later
  78. FORTY-SIX
  79. FORTY-SEVEN
  80. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  81. ALICE SWANSON’S
  82. Reader's Guide
  83. Questions for Discussion
  84. Booklist

A week ago, Adam had found the hole in the side of the porch, a pile of dirt behind it. He’d tried to cover it back up, but each morning it was dug out again.

He closed the closet door. “I think we have to figure out how to deal with them.”

I wrapped my arms around him, pressing my cheek to his chest. Trying to absorb some of his positive energy, his strength. “I really like the foxes.”

“You won’t like them when they destroy our house,” he said. “Mess with the foundation. Once they settle in there, it’ll be very hard to get rid of them.” He pulled away, opened his briefcase, and drew out some folders. “Oh here. I found this in the mailbox.”

“I already got the mail,” I said, taking the yellow envelope from him.

He shrugged. “It was the only thing in there. You must’ve missed it.” Whistling, Adam went into the kitchen.

The envelope was addressed to me, no return address or stamp. Inside was a baby shower invitation. On the front, a smiling baby in a diaper grabbing at her feet. Someone had written LILY? and drawn an arrow to the baby’s head.

I opened the card and read the message.

“Theresa?” Adam had returned, a bottle of beer in hand. He tilted it at the card. “What is it?”

“Nothing,” I said quickly. I felt a dull roar between my ears.

No no no no no.

“Nothing? You look like someone just died.”

“It’s just a baby shower invitation for someone down the street.” I heard the lie leave my mouth. “I don’t even know if I know them. I probably won’t go.”

I stuck the card in the back pocket of my jeans.

Adam took a swig of beer, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Maybe you should. Good opportunity to meet more people, right?”

I nodded. “Sure. I’ll think about it. That beer looks tasty. I think I’ll get myself one. Meet you in the living room.”

In the kitchen, I rested my palms against the counter, inhaling deeply. Closed my eyes. When I could, I drew out the card again, read the message that had already burned its way into my brain.

Who knows the truth about Lily, Theresa?

Are you going to tell her? Or should I?

HALLOWEEN

Some women cannot handle jealousy. It ensnares, wraps its tentacles around them, and squeezes.

Until they pop!

Queen Kendra. Our leader. Her party is a success, but it’s not enough. It’s never quite enough.

Daphne Brown, the babysitter for so many of the kiddos on the street, is playing tag with the children. She laughs, gathers the skirt of her wedding dress, and runs, chasing them as best she can.