Honeymoon

Chapter 110

WE WALKED DOWN the hospital corridor to meet Nora’s mother, Olivia.

“One day I’m talking to Nora about the writer Jeffrey Walker, and the next I’m reading in the papers that he’s dead,” said Emily as we walked.

Susan and I just listened. “Of course, I didn’t think there was any connection. I didn’t even know Nora was in trouble until I saw it on TV.”

Emily stopped walking in the hall. There was obviously something she needed to tell us before we got to Olivia’s room. “A couple of weeks ago, I happened to read a note that Olivia had passed to Nora. In the note was a secret that blew all of our minds. But it also told us a lot about Olivia, and maybe Nora as well. You’ll see in a minute.”

Emily started to walk again. She continued past another few doorways, then she reached out for one of the handles. “This is Olivia’s room.”

The nurse opened the door and I could see a very old woman propped up in bed. She was reading a novel and she didn’t look up from it as the three of us entered her room.

“Hello, Olivia. These are the visitors I told you about,” said Emily in a clear, loud voice.

Finally, Olivia looked up. “Oh, hello,” she said. “I like to read.”

“Yes, Olivia likes to read.” Emily nodded, and then a smile pulled at the corner of her mouth. The nurse turned to face Susan and me.

“For a long time, Olivia fooled us about her actual condition. She used to play all kinds of tricks to make us believe she was a lot worse off than she actually is. One time, when Nora was here, she pretended to have a seizure because her daughter was going to reveal something she shouldn’t, and Olivia knew we tape all patient visits. Olivia is a very good actress. Isn’t that right, dear?”

Olivia was watching Susan and me, but she had listened to what the nurse had to say. “I suppose so.”

“Well, we’ve pretty much agreed to let Olivia stay here at Pine Woods anyway. But only if she agrees to help you.”

Olivia nodded, still staring at Susan and me.

“I’ll help,” she said in a whisper. “What choice do I have?” At which point, Olivia set down her novel and climbed out of bed.

As Olivia walked over to the closet, Emily spoke. “Every time Nora would visit, she’d bring a new novel for her mother to read, even though she didn’t believe Olivia actually read the books.”

Olivia was reaching into her closet and then pulled out a cardboard box. I could already see that it was filled with books and also some wrapping, some envelopes.

“Then Nora stopped visiting. But then a package arrived, addressed to Olivia. It was from Nora. There was even a note,” said Emily.

I started to get excited. A package. Surely, this was about tracing where it came from. Had Nora been foolish enough to include a return address? That would’ve been too good to be true.

And it was.

Emily explained that there was nothing on the package to reveal anything about Nora’s whereabouts.

“No return address. No foreign postage stamps or markings. Only a smudged, unreadable postmark.”

She turned to Olivia. “Please give Agent O’Hara the note you received.”

I took it, unfolded the paper, and read it aloud.

“‘Dear Mother, sorry I can’t be there to visit with you. Hope you enjoy the book. Always with much love. Your daughter, Nora.’”

I re-read the note, then shook my head. “What’s so special about this?”

Susan fielded this one. “Everything. As careful as Nora was, she wasn’t careful enough.”

She stared at Emily.

I stared at Emily.

Finally, Emily explained what she’d obviously already told Susan. “Look very closely at the piece of paper, Agent O’Hara. Hold it up to the light,” she said. “Do you see it? Lower right corner.”

I held the note to the window and then placed it close to my eyes.

Holy shit.

The stationery had a custom watermark.

I looked back at the others—and saw that Olivia had begun to cry. “She’s such a good daughter. Such a love.”