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“Probably not.” Norma Rose stood and picked up the tray of food sitting on the floor. “You know, it wasn’t me.”
“You?” Twyla asked, lost.
“I wasn’t the one locking you girls upstairs. Father was afraid Galen would try to kidnap one of you.” Norma Rose indicated the tray in her hand. “Are you going to eat this, or should I take it back to the kitchen?”
“Thank you, but take it back to the kitchen,” Twyla said, feeling a deep understanding for her sister. “I’ll eat after I take a long bath. I ache from head to toe and a tub of hot water will feel good.”
“You had quite the harrowing day.”
“Forrest must have told you all about it.”
“He told Ty, who told me.”
“You and Ty don’t have any secrets, do you?”
“No, we don’t.” Norma Rose headed for the door. “I’ll go start a bath for you.”
“Thank you,” Twyla said, while noting the red dress Norma Rose wore. She’d worn black for years, but that, too, had changed since Ty had arrived. Love had changed her sister, and Ginger, too. Love was the reason Ginger had run away with Brock.
Norma Rose pulled open the door. “I’ll start your bath before taking this downstairs, so hurry up or it’ll overflow.”
Twyla nodded, but a bath was no longer her focus. Resting her head on the pillow, she whispered, “I’m in love, too.” Glancing at the door Norma Rose had closed, she added, “I’m just not loved in return.”
She and Forrest could read each other’s minds, like Norma Rose had said her and Ty could—Tuesday had shown that, but Tuesday also proved that Forrest didn’t tell her everything. He’d never once mentioned he’d flown to Duluth so Scooter could get Josie out of jail. As a matter of fact, he’d said he had no intention of telling her anything.
Twyla threw back the covers and gritted her teeth at the pain crawling out of bed caused. She’d expected Forrest to leave again. Had told herself she’d go right on living when he did. No broken heart for her this time.
Pushing up off the bed, she wobbled. Nothing would be the same this time. She’d make sure of it.
The bath helped, and while soaking in it, Twyla confirmed in her mind that things wouldn’t be the same. Phone lines went clear to California.
After getting dressed and eating, she obtained a phone number for Karen Reynolds in Los Angeles. Her numerous calls that afternoon went unanswered. Norma Rose kindly pointed out that the Standard Time Act of seven years ago put California two hours behind Minnesota, meaning Forrest could still be conversing with law enforcement officials, or, Norma Rose also suggested, he might not even be there yet, depending on how many times he’d had to stop to refuel his airplane.
Twyla accepted her sister’s knowledge and started to question if she’d learned anything during all her years of schooling. Evidently, not much. Not as much as Forrest had known about money or Norma Rose about time.
While still contemplating that, Twyla chose to visit Josie, who from what Norma Rose said had sequestered herself in her bedroom, leaving only to visit the bathroom. The door wasn’t locked, so after knocking, Twyla let herself into Josie’s room. Her sister was sitting on the built-in bench in front of her window, knees drawn up to her chest, and only acknowledged Twyla’s entrance with a brief glance.
“Want to talk about it?” Twyla asked, shutting the door. There was no sense in hiding the reason she was here, and as she well knew, Josie rarely offered anything unless asked.
“No,” Josie answered.
“All right, want to hear about my adventure?”
Josie grinned slightly. “I already have. The entire resort is buzzing with it.”
Twyla sat down on the floor and leaned her back against Josie’s cushioned bench. “I thought I wanted adventure, Josie, but that was too much for me.”
“That wasn’t adventure,” Josie said. “That was danger.”
Twyla sighed. “The only time I was scared—really, really scared—was when I jumped in the water. The suction of the car sinking was pulling me down and for a minute I thought my life was over. But then Forrest grabbed my hand, and I was no longer scared.”
“I’m sorry he had to fly Scooter to Duluth,” Josie said. “If that hadn’t happened, Forrest wouldn’t have been at the hangar and you two wouldn’t have been kidnapped.”
Glancing up at her sister, Twyla said, “But if that hadn’t happened, Forrest and I would never have found those printing plates. They were what Ludwig was after. That’s the only reason he tried kidnapping us. He never got a chance. Forrest hit him over the head with a rim tool—that’s what you use to take off tires—before he could actually kidnap us. Then we stole his car, and the chase was on.”
