BooksBarbecue
Back The Mother Next Door
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

Yes, it had been exactly like that. But I wasn’t spilling that secret.

“Greg and I just go way back,” I told Kendra. “And I did him a favor once, so he owes me.”

“Damn, girl,” Kendra said, winking. “I underestimated you. Nice job.” She set down her wineglass. “I’ve got something for you. I’ll be right back.”

She left the room, and I checked my messages again. Adam had texted.

Enjoy! Love you, my love. See you tonight.

All the air went out of my sails seeing those words. I’d said too much.

I’d called Greg when the Woodard position opened up because I wanted what was best for our family. Adam hadn’t been happy in his old job, had ambitions to move up to principal. But I didn’t want us to land in a school district in the middle of nowhere, with no opportunities for Lily. Woodard was the perfect chance for Adam—and for us. So what if I had to nudge it along? Competition was intense, and if you’re going to win, you’ve got to play the game. My mother’s words had echoed in my head. You think I’m scrubbing these toilets for fun, missy?

“This is for you.”

Kendra had come back in black lounge pants and a soft-looking sweater, hair pulled up into a clip. She handed me a small, deep blue velvet jewelry box.

I held it in my palms. It had a tiny gold clasp on the side. “Kendra,” I said. “You can’t tell anyone. About Adam and the job. He doesn’t know. He’d kill me if he found out.”

“Oh, Theresa. Please don’t worry,” she said, sitting back down on the couch. “I’m not going to tell a soul.”

“I just wanted what’s best for Lily. And for us.”

No matter how many favors I had to call in. No matter how many lies I had to tell.

“Stop worrying! You can trust me.” She gestured toward the box. “Now open it.”

I removed the top. Inside, a satin cushion, and then: a green leaf pin.

Ivy.

“We all have them,” Kendra said, picking up her wineglass again. “I got them for everyone for Christmas years ago. I thought you might like it.”

My mind flashed to Georgeann Wilkins. Maggie Lewis. Beth Posniak. The way their eyes glittered when they talked about my neighbors. The Ivy Five.

“I love it so much. Thank you.” I held the pin up to my fleece jacket, but it looked too fancy in contrast, so I set it back in the box.

“Of course.” She smiled. “Like I said, we mothers need to stick together. I’m a Scorpio. Fiercely loyal to my friends. To a fault.”

I rubbed the velvet of the box in my hand.