The Mother-in-Law
Page 21
“It’s not your fault, Loren,” Jack told me. “It’s Coralee’s fault. It’s all Coralee’s fault.” He held me some more, rocking me back and forth.
“What day is it?” I asked. My head was so heavy, it felt like I’d been sleeping for years.
“It’s the thirteenth.” He told me the date, rather than the day of the week, and because of that, my eyes widened.
“I’ve been asleep for…a week?”
“Around that, yeah. Not the entire time. You had to go to the hospital…they sedated you. You were too upset. You’ve been…sleepy ever since.”
“What about Coralee? She was…”
“She’s dead, Lor.” His words gave me more relief than I thought possible. A tiny gasp escaped my throat as I blinked, trying to process the information. “She was dead when we found her. They said she’d died a few hours before, probably around the time we got off the phone. She wanted us to…to find her there, I think. To find out her secrets.” He nodded. “They found Meredith’s phone in Coralee’s bedroom. She’d been the one texting you. Just enough to keep you believing Meredith was alive. She didn’t want you looking into her disappearance.”
“I—I don’t, um—” None of my thoughts made sense.
“I’m sorry, Loren. I’m the one who told her about Meredith disappearing on you. I mentioned it after you told me on our first date. I should’ve never said anything. She used it against you. She—”
“It’s not your fault,” I told him, though I didn’t know if that were true. “I should’ve questioned more. I should’ve looked into it.” I broke off my words in a sob, the reality of it hitting me. I’d never see Meredith again, never hear her laugh, never see her grand reveal of a new purse design. And who was going to tell Dora? She’d be devastated. I was devastated. The world seemed a darker place without my best friend.
I was crying without realizing it, tears streaming down my face while my mind was tormented by thoughts. “It’s okay,” Jack told me, holding me tight. “None of this is your fault, Lor. No matter what. It’s all going to be okay.”
But how was that possible? Meredith was gone. Nothing would ever be okay again. “Rynlee?”
“Rynlee’s at school. She’s fine.”
“Does she…um, does she know?” I blinked rapidly, clearing my throat.
“No,” he said, his head hung in shame. “I couldn’t tell her. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I will. I can.” I squeezed his hand, my only source of comfort. “Jack, I don’t want the house.”
He nodded as if he expected me to say it. “I know.”
“Since Coralee died, it’ll go to you. To us. I don’t want it. I want to sell it, burn it, whatever. I don’t want to ever see it again.” Panic rose in my throat, making it hard to breathe, at the thought of ever owning that place again.
“It’s still being used in the investigation right now. They haven’t identified the other body. But as soon as they’re done, we’ll list it. We never have to step foot anywhere near it again.”
I nodded. I wanted the decision to give me peace, but it didn't. I wondered if I’d ever feel at peace again. What had she done to us?
“Is there anything I can get you?” he asked. “Something to drink, maybe?”
“I just want to sit for now, I think,” I said, though my throat was incredibly dry.
“Loren?”
“Yeah?”
“There’s one more thing.”
“Okay.” I braced myself for the worst.
“You don’t have to open it if you don’t want to, but it should be yours. It was found next to Coralee’s bed.” He opened up the drawer beside me and pulled out a faded envelope.
“What is it?” He placed it in my hands.
“A letter, I think. It was found in Coralee’s nightstand. It’s addressed to Laurel. Your mother, right?”
I nodded.
“That’s what I thought. I…I don’t know what to expect. I…never opened it.”
He was too afraid of what it would say, just like me. Still, I opened the letter with shaking hands, dreading whatever was inside, but unable to deny my curiosity.
The paper that fell out was small, the words scratchy and nearly illegible. I gasped as I read them, the ramblings of a madwoman who believed she was in another time.
Laurel,
Game, set, match, dear cousin.
You married my son and stole my house, so I ruined your life.
The house and all its secrets will always belong to me.
I won.
If I ever see you again, you’ll end up in the wall too.
You’ll end up in the wall.
You’ll end up in the wall.
You’ll end up in the wall.
In the wall.
In the wall.
In the wall.
Wall.
Wall.
Wall.
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Acknowledgments
To my husband, Michael, and our daughter, CB, thank you for all you do to support and love me through the crazy experience of living with a writer. My books may not always have happy endings, but you two are mine.
To my family—Mom, Dad, Kaitie, Kortnee, Kyleigh, Granny, Papa, Nan, Pop, and so many aunts, uncles, and cousins—thank you for encouraging me from the very beginning and giving me just enough disfunction to create these crazy stories.
To my beta reader, Emerald, thank you for reading this book at its earliest stage and helping me clear away the rubble. I’m forever grateful we crossed paths.
To my editor, Sarah West, thank you for your amazing insights and for understanding my characters. Thank you for asking the hard questions and making this story what it is.
To my proofreading team at My Brother’s Editor, thank you for being the final set of eyes on this book and really making it shine.
To my fans, especially the members of my Twisted Readers fan group, thank you for always being my biggest cheerleaders. Thank you for supporting every idea I have and for always being excited about my next release. You guys are a dream come true.
And finally, to you. Thank you for purchasing this book and supporting my dream. Once upon a time, I wished for you.
About the Author
Kiersten Modglin is a suspense author who enjoys dabbling in all the sub-genres. A Netflix addict, Shonda Rhimes super-fan, psychology fanatic, and indoor enthusiast, Kiersten enjoys rainy days spent with her nose in a book. More than anything, she loves reading & creating life-changing stories.
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Also by Kiersten Modglin
STANDALONE NOVELS
Becoming Mrs. Abbott
The List
The Missing Piece
Playing Jenna
The Beginning After
The Better Choice
The Good Neighbors
The Lucky Ones
I Said Yes
The Dream Job
THE MESSES SERIES
The Cleaner (The Messes, #1)
The Healer (The Messes, #2)
The Liar (The Messes, #3)
The Prisoner (The Messes, #4)
NOVELLAS
The Long Route: A Lover’s Landing Novella
The Stranger in the Woods: A Crimson Falls Novella
THE LOCKE INDUSTRIES SERIES
The Nanny’s Secret