Second Chances in New Port Stephen - Chapter 70

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Second Chances in New Port Stephen - Chapter 70

Nick screwed up his face in confusion. “What are you talking about?” Where was this coming
from? Was Kay getting so paranoid that she was just making things up wholesale? He turned to
Laurie, only to find her glaring daggers at her mother. “Laur? What’s she talking about?”
“You may as well tell him,” Kay said. “Tell him how this will be the last Christmas you and Zoe
are going to spend here.”
Nick’s stomach, already heavy with potatoes and bread rolls, plummeted.
“What?” Zoe was looking around the table for answers. Nick was in the same boat and trying
not to show it.
Laurie mustered up a smile for her. “Hey, honey, why don’t you take a few of your cool new toys
and go play in the fun room?” That was what they called the guest bedroom that Kay kept for
Zoe whenever she stayed the night. It was clearly a misnomer, but it had been an attempt to get
Zoe more excited for her visits with Grammy.
Nick took a shuddering breath. His entire life was being upended in front of his eyes, but that
didn’t mean he couldn’t keep up the facade of a united coparenting team. “Yeah, sweetheart,
go ahead. Make sure those skates of yours fit, okay?”
Zoe looked around the table with deep suspicion, especially at Kay, who was downing her wine.
“Okay,” she said, and shuffled off.
Laurie stood as soon as she disappeared down the hall. “Thanks for airing all my dirty laundry,
Mom. If you’ll excuse us, Nick and I have some things to discuss.”
“Well, what was I supposed to do?” Kay cried. “Let you get away with it?”
Nick stood as well, throwing his napkin beside his plate. He couldn’t look at his ex-mother-in-law
a second longer. If he did, he was going to end up flipping the table—all on his own, this time.

-- 173 of 228 --

For someone who had just been complaining about being abandoned, Kay looked exceptionally
pleased with herself as Nick and Laurie left the room. She
was the lone figure presiding over a mediocre feast, smirking into her wine.
Nick and Laurie ended up outside on the screen porch next to Kay’s kidneyshaped swimming
pool. The hum of the pool pump and the sharp smell of chlorine permeated the air.
He turned to Laurie. She was looking down into the pool, worrying her necklace. “What the hell
is going on? You and Zoe are moving away?”
“No! Maybe?” She scrunched her face up. “I don’t know. I’m looking into some possibilities. It’s
only an idea at this point.”
Nick’s brain was still whirling. “Where?”
“Arizona.” She still wasn’t looking up. “There’s a small clinic out there that’s hiring. A nurse I
used to work with is on staff. She basically said the job is mine if I want it. I’m still thinking it
over, though.”