Dead Woman Crossing J.R. Adler (early reader chapter books txt) 📖

“She didn’t seem like one tonight…” Nicole took a sip of wine.

“That was only because I woke her up early this morning and played with her all day until we had to leave for the airport.” Kimberley chewed on a piece of steak.

There was no way she was going to burden her mother with Jessica, especially after witnessing her not eat anything at dinner or seeing how frail and tired she was.

“Oh, alright.” Nicole flicked her hand. “But if you change your mind.”

“She said no, Nicole. Plus, you have a house to take care of,” David argued.

Nicole gave a slight nod.

“I can help around the house,” Kimberley said, jutting her chin up at David.

Who was he to tell her mother what she could and could not do?

“That is expected, but I appreciate you offering,” David said, setting down his now empty bottle of beer. “Well, I’ve gotta get up early, so I’m going to head to bed. Good night, you two.”

He rose from his chair, leaving his empty plate and beer bottle on the table, and walked down the hallway toward their bedroom.

“Good night,” Nicole and Kimberley called out.

His footsteps were heavy and loud throughout the small house.

“Is he alright?” Kimberley asked.

Nicole nodded. “He just doesn’t like change. Don’t worry. He’ll get used to it.”

Kimberley searched her mother’s face again, but it remained neutral.

“Do you need help cleaning up?” she offered.

“No, of course not. You’ve had a long day. Please go to bed,” her mother said, standing from her chair and picking up her full plate of food and David’s empty plate. She stacked them on top of each other.

Kimberley slowly rose from her seat.

“Are you sure?”

Nicole hesitated for a moment. “How about you help me finish off another bottle of wine instead?” she said with a smile.

Her mother prided herself on taking care of her family in every way she could, which to her was cleaning and cooking. Growing up, it seemed to be the one thing Nicole could do that wouldn’t infuriate Kimberley’s father, so she put all of her energy into having a spotless home and preparing the best meals she could, despite only being able to afford the cheapest of ingredients. Her father worked in a factory and her mother was a secretary and, with only one child, they should have been financially stable at worst. However, her father’s drinking consumed a large portion of their income, dropping them from middle class to just scraping by.

“Deal,” Kimberley said, smiling back.

“I figured that was an offer you couldn’t resist,” Nicole said over her shoulder as she left the dining room carrying the plates, silverware, and empty bottles. She returned only a moment later with a bottle of red wine and a corkscrew.

“You know I can help with more than just drinking the wine?” Kimberley teased.

“I know. That’s why I brought the corkscrew. Open and pour. I’ll just be a moment,” Nicole said with a laugh, disappearing back into the kitchen again.

Kimberley shook her head and smiled. She missed moments like this. Her and her mom hadn’t had nearly enough of them. From the kitchen, she heard water splashing and pans banging, while she uncorked the bottle. Nicole was clearly rushing to get back to her daughter. Just as she finished pouring the two glasses of wine, her mother emerged into the dining room, slightly out of breath. A couple of beads of sweat clung to her hairline.

“See, I told you it would only be a moment,” Nicole said, taking a seat.

Her mother raised her glass. “To having my babies home.” She smiled, but a glossiness formed in her eyes.

“To being home,” Kimberley added. They clinked their glasses together and drank.

“I was really sad to hear about Aaron.” Nicole set her glass down. “When I met him, it seemed like you two made a good team.”

It had been a couple of days before Kimberley’s due date when Nicole had met Aaron in person.

“Wow, I can see where Kimberley gets her good looks from,” Aaron had said, smothering her mother with charm. He had won Kimberley over the same way. Her mother blushed and hugged Aaron, officially welcoming him into the family despite the fact that he and Kimberley weren’t engaged and he had only recently decided to step up as a father.

Her mother had stayed with her for ten days, helping with last-minute preparations for Jessica, being there for the birth, and then helping care for a newborn baby. During that time, Aaron had been on his best behavior, attentive in every sense of the word. Feeding and changing Jessica, waking up with her, rocking her until she stopped crying. He even gave nightly foot rubs to Kimberley and prepared her and Nicole nutritious and hearty dinners. So, did Kimberley and Aaron make a good team? It sure seemed that way.

“Looks can be deceiving.” Kimberley shrugged away the memory, taking another sip of her wine, careful to swallow it completely. Aaron was like a gag reflex. Just thinking about him made her want to throw up.

“What do you mean, sweetie?” Nicole’s eyebrows drew together with concern.

Kimberley looked around the dining room, then back at her mother. She’d never uttered the words aloud, never told anyone how awful or selfish Aaron really was.

“Aaron walked out on Jessica and me well before she was born.” Kimberley still couldn’t say it. Her words faltered. She was embarrassed she had picked a partner that had been so selfish, so like her own father—minus the addiction. It was true, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree, and it was why she had never told her mother.

Nicole tilted her head in confusion.

“He pushed me for an abortion when I told him I was pregnant. He pushed for it all the way up until I was twenty-four weeks.”

Nicole gasped. Reaching her hand out for her daughter’s, she held it. “I wish you would have told me this before.”

“I know. I didn’t want to tell anyone,