Chapter 24 - Nora Turns Sixty
My sixtieth birthday fell on a Thursday.
Paige insisted Saturday.
I said Thursday.
“My birthday.”
She surrendered.
Guests:
Paige.
Emma.
Evelyn.
Susan Keating.
Two old Whitmore colleagues.
Three friends from outside business.
My sister Claire. Wait we didn't establish sibling. Avoid.
A neighbor.
Twelve people.
No Lorraine.
She was gone.
No Arthur.
Gone.
Daniel not invited.
Not hostility.
He had his own life.
I did not need ex-husband at birthday for closure.
He sent card.
Front:
HAPPY 60.
Inside:
I hope you cook exactly zero dishes you don’t want.
I laughed.
Then:
Arthur would be proud. Mom would complain about portions.
Happy birthday, Nora.
Daniel.
I kept card on counter for evening.
Then dinner.
Six dishes.
Roast chicken.
Potatoes.
Green beans.
Salad.
Bread.
Lorraine’s lemon cake.
Paige noticed.
“You used her recipe.”
“It’s a good cake.”
Evelyn laughed.
Then:
“Arthur would call this efficient.”
Susan said:
“Arthur thought three forks was efficient.”
We ate.
Everyone carried their own plate to kitchen afterward.
Some loaded dishwasher.
I leaned against counter.
No one ordered.
No one knelt.
No one shouted.
There was no throne shaped cake.
Then Paige spotted metal box on sideboard.
“Is that it?”
“Yes.”
“The box?”
“Yes.”
“Open.”
I rolled eyes.
“Why?”
“Birthday story.”
I took brass key.
Turned.
Click.
Inside:
Recipes.
Nothing else.
Evelyn smiled.
Paige began crying.
“Stop.”
“I’m emotional.”
“You’re fifty something.”
“Exactly.”
Then Emma looked.
“That box held evidence?”
“Yes.”
“And now recipes?”
“Yes.”
“That’s weird.”
“Correct.”
Then she asked:
“What was on key?”
“Nothing.”
“No engraving?”
“No.”
“Just key?”
“Just key.”
She seemed disappointed.
Good.
Not everything needs prophecy.
Then I removed recipes.
Held box.
“What are you doing?” Paige asked.
“Deciding.”
I took key outside.
Walked to garden.
Not river.
No drama.
There was a small metal recycling collection I used for household hardware? Brass key can be recycled. Maybe I didn't need symbolic destruction. I could put into drawer. Hmm final chapter should complete.
I returned.
Still holding.
“Couldn’t do it?”
“No.”
Then:
“I realized throwing away because story says I should is still story deciding.”
Evelyn laughed loudly.
“What will you do?”
“Use it.”
“For?”
I looked at box.
“Lock recipes.”
Everyone groaned.
I smiled.
That night ended after ten.
No police.
No hidden account.
No new twist.
Perfect.
But there was one thing I still needed to do.
The next morning, I drove to Arthur’s grave.
Not to thank him for saving me.
He hadn’t.
He gave evidence.
Others acted.
I left.
Investigators worked.
Courts ruled.
I rebuilt.
I stood beside marker.
“Sixty.”
Wind.
Then:
“Six dishes.”
Nothing.
Then:
“Daniel changed.”
Nothing.
“Lorraine too.”
I smiled.
“Your company survived all of us.”
That would have pleased him.
Then I said:
“I’m done answering you.”
The sentence surprised me.
Not angry.
Done.
I left.
The key was in my pocket.
May you like
Not as protection.
Just key.
