She phoned Ginny and Susanna to update them on all that had happened. Both friends offered to come to the hospital for moral support, but Nina assured them she was fine on her own.
There was another matter weighing on her, one Nina could not discuss with Simon, or her friends: Hugh Dolan had reached out to her again. In his message, which had come to her via text earlier in the day, he had offered more information on Simon, including files containing his personal research into Emma’s death, along with a promise that there’d be no fee attached. Hugh claimed to like Nina, said that he’d appreciated her kindness, and wanted to clear his conscience that he’d done everything in his power to keep her safe.
Hugh’s sudden altruism was not entirely convincing. Of course, Nina wanted to see those files of his, scour them for something the police might have missed, but she doubted he had anything for her apart from plans for another shakedown. Besides, Simon had once again shown himself to be a loving, supportive, and concerned partner, everything she could have hoped for in a moment of crisis.
The next call Nina made was to her parents, who were understandably distraught to hear the news. Nina assured them as best she could that Maggie was going to be okay, and described Simon’s heroics in detail.
“It’s good to know there are still good men out there.” Her father’s jab was obviously directed at Glen, and it was the first indication he was warming to Simon. Nina took it as a good sign, but doubted it would be enough to convince Simon to put aside his issues with Maggie and come to Nebraska with them for Thanksgiving. Perhaps Maggie would be grateful to Simon, though, and would come around all on her own.
Since they’d arrived at the hospital separately, Nina and Simon had to get home separately. Simon drove his truck while Nina followed in her car. Maggie, her voice a bit weaker, complexion paler than normal, talked about Laura Abel, specifically the kindness she’d shown.
“Nothing like a near-death experience to make you realize that stupid things are stupid, I guess,” her daughter said.
Maggie’s observation brought Hugh to mind again. Maybe she should reach out to him, check out those files he’d offered. Maybe it wasn’t another attempt at extortion. Maybe there was good in him, too, because there really was some good in most everyone, including Laura Abel.
Nina thought grimly of Hugh’s words of warning, concluding that really nothing was safe. Marriages, new relationships, life itself, it was all incredibly fragile, it could all come undone with a single bite of food, one picture of a waitress, one warning from an ex-brother-in-law. The best Nina could do was to listen to her heart, trust her instincts, and those told her that Simon was good. More than good—throughout today’s horrifying ordeal, he had been a godsend. He had helped save her daughter’s precious life, and for that, she would be forever grateful.
Simon unloaded the car while Nina got the kids settled. Connor had stayed at home with Daisy, but the stress of the day worked as a sleeping potion. Both children were out as soon as their heads touched the pillow.
Nina returned to the kitchen, where she scoured the ingredients she had used for Maggie’s lunch, including the ones in those brownies.
“I’ve used that brownie mix before,” she said, sounding perplexed, looking through the trash for the box the mix had come in. “I don’t get it.”
“It’s probably some cross-contamination, like the doctor said,” Simon suggested. “Let me check the recycling bin.”
Simon went to the garage, and moments later he returned with a flattened box of brownie mix that made Nina do a double take.
“That’s not the brand I buy,” she said, taking the box from Simon. She went to the pantry where she kept other boxed mixes. “Here,” she said, showing Simon the mix she always bought. The packaging looked similar, but the box in Simon’s hand was a brand Nina had never purchased before. Using her phone, Nina checked an allergy website she turned to whenever a food item gave her any questions. Their motto—If You Can’t Read It, Don’t Eat It!—were words Nina lived by.
“This product isn’t safe,” Nina said, as she scanned the clear warning on the website indicating that this particular brownie mix was manufactured on equipment that also processed tree nuts and peanuts. “I wouldn’t have bought this.” Nina’s voice shook with anger