“He is, yeah. Of course, I can ask him if he knows anything yet, but like legally and what not, I’m not sure how much he’ll actually be able to tell me,” Casey offers an apologetic smile, sincerely wishing there was more she could do to help Nora and her family. What she does know is it’s not like how it is on TV. Evidence, clues, or whatever else doesn’t simply fall into one’s lap. Witnesses don’t always come out of the woodworks with damning information, especially in cases like this. It’s a much slower process, which goes without saying. Besides, her best friend wasn’t born yesterday. She’s sure she knows, but still, it is unfortunate.
Casey’s bright laughter fills the kitchen as the memories from the weekends Nora mentions floods her mind. Truth be told, those were some of her favorite moments in college, when Nora or Tate would come visit her up in Boulder. Having her best friends from home there with the little family she’d created for herself in college always made her heart sing. “Well naturally I had to lay out the red carpet whenever you came, so,” She teases with a big smile. “And that was mild in comparison. Imagine if I was a sorority girl or something,” She says. The thought is incredibly laughable. She wouldn’t have made it pass rush, much less indoctrination into cult like sisterhood. “Oh, music education! It would only take two years, but that’s a lot of time and a lot of money, like almost $60,000, to get a pretty degree just so I can keep teaching little kids songs. Like if I wanted to go on and teach at a higher level like college or something, then maybe, but I don’t think that’s for me. I love my kiddos,” Casey shrugs, picking off a corner of her banana bread and tossing it into her mouth.
“Thank you! I did, yeah! I’m so glad you noticed,” She says, and she means it. Small details getting noticed is a love language of hers, not that she’d ever do anything to point them out or that she waits expectantly for people to notice things. It’s just nice when they’re noticed. “Um, just like –” Casey sighs at the thought of the Millie incident, once again thinking of how to best put it. “I don’t really know how to describe it honestly. Tate wasn’t there, or at least I don’t think so. I was going up to the house, and she wouldn’t let me in? Then she came outside, but it was obvious she was trying to keep me from thinking something was wrong even though something was obviously wrong?”
Nora nods with a sigh, “of course. I just figure, you know, it’s worth asking...” Who knew...maybe the sheriff would feel some sympathy, though Nora doubts it. “I wouldn’t want him getting in trouble for something like this either. I think we’ll just have to be patient.” said even though she doesn’t mean it. Patience is a virtue that the Jones family isn’t exactly known for. She just hates having to sit by without an answer or way to help. But her frown is replaced by a small smile as she thinks of those college nights. She never got to experience her own but felt incredibly average going to Casey’s...and she loved it. “Well, I appreciated it then and I’m happy for the memories now,” Nora winks before coughing at the thought of Case as a sorority sister. “Literally can’t even picture it. You’d probably would’ve had to do those outfit things like where people talk about what they’re wearing every day.” Somehow she’d ended up on a wrong side of social media algorithms. “And it’s kinda shitty to make people compete for pre-made friendship spots...you would’ve hated it.” And Nora’s sure that she and Tate would’ve ragged on her for it (with love).
“Oh...shit. that is a lot. Never mind. You could just save that money for, you know, life.” It’s one of the reason Nora didn’t really consider college in the first place. Her dad had enough to worry about and her siblings were just fine without college. she would be too. Nora takes another bite, giving Casey an expression that said well, duh I noticed. She takes a piece in her hand, pausing at her friend’s recollection of events. “Oh...that’s super weird. Did she say anything that made you think it was bad?” She furrows her brows, considering it all as she pops the piece of bread in her mouth and chewing before speaking. “Did you tell your dad? I know not everything is a problem for him but...he’s friends with Tate’s mom, right? I dunno,” she shrugs, uncertain. “I say trust your gut on these things but I also wasn’t there so it’s impossible for me to say.”