Page 92 of Sycamore Circle

“No. I don’t want Courtney involved.”

“Why?”

“Because Courtney is technically your sister-in-law, not mine. Plus... I just don’t. I can handle this on my own.”

“You’re not making any sense.”

“Look, I’m tired of being needy. I don’t think this is anything to worry about. It’s getting taken care of.”

“Not really, since you’ve now got a new guy and a cop involved.”

“Please don’t tell Joel or Courtney. Or Mom and Dad.”

“Or Rand?” Alice added sarcastically. “If you want to keep this stalking thing a secret, you’re going to have to give me something more, Joy. Right now, I’m not feeling very reassured.”

“Fine.” She reached out and clutched her sister’s hand. “How do you think I feel? You and Rand are successful. You and Joel have got a great marriage and great kids.”

“You know Chloe is great.”

“Of course she is. She’s amazing. I’m just saying that compared to you guys, I’m a screw-up.”

“Where is this coming from? You’re great, Joy. You do a lot of good in the world. You tutor and volunteer and help people. You paint beautiful pictures. You’re doing such a good job with Chloe. She’s adorable.”

“I never finished college.”

“Yeah, because your jerk of a husband acted like he couldn’t survive if you didn’t quit school and marry him.” She scowled. “And then he showed his true colors.”

“I don’t want to rehash Tony. All I’m saying is that you, Rand, Mom, and Dad have all dropped everything in order to help me more than once. More than twice.”

“That’s what family is for.”

“Alice, you already help pay for Chloe’s dance lessons.” That was her big embarrassment. Chloe’s lessons were expensive and Tony’s solution when Joy had told him that he was going to need to help more with the tuition was for Chloe to simply stop dancing.

Less than a week after Joy had complained to Alice about Tony being a jerk, the dance academy had written Joy a note to tell her that Chloe’s dance lessons were paid in full. Alice still helped Joy with the tuition.

“Joy, Joel and I wanted to do it and we haven’t missed the money at all. You know I make plenty selling houses.”

“That’s what I’m talking about. And don’t even get me started on Rand, because he let Chloe and me live with him for two months.”

“You needed him, and he would’ve been upset if you hadn’t taken him up on the offer. Tony the jerk was acting stupid, acting like he could cheat on you and take your house at the same time.” She grinned. “I still think one of my proudest moments was telling him to move out because you were moving back in.”

Joy giggled. “I had almost forgotten about that. Anyway, you know what I’m saying. If things were reversed, you’d feel awkward and guilty too and don’t even act like you wouldn’t. You would.”

“Maybe,” she allowed.

“You would. I know it. Just give me a chance to figure things out with Bo and this, um, stalker. If they get worse, then I’ll let you know.”

“What about Mom and Dad? Are you going to tell them?”

“No way.”

“Come on. Be reasonable.”

“Alice, you don’t have the easiest job in the world. Or the safest, right? What would you think if everyone jumped in and gave you advice every time it looked like you couldn’t handle something?”

“But I can.”

“I want to one day be able to say the same thing. One day I want to say I can handle something—and know that you think I can, too. Give me two weeks. Please?”

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