AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No. I’ve already had some eggs. I’m good for now.”
“Okay.” Ella turned around and climbed the stairs, heart thumping with every step, hand trembling from too much adrenaline, making the cup wobble in her hand.
Baird MacLauren was still too handsome, too fascinating, and too physically appealing. Suddenly that mad passionate kiss last August didn’t seem so long ago.
*
Cara was notin the best mood when Ella entered the bedroom. The blue velvet curtains were only partially opened and Cara was sitting in a chair, not in bed, a tea pot next to her, the cozy still on the pot, the teacup empty.
“What’s wrong?” Ella asked Cara, noting that the scones on Cara’s plate hadn’t been touched, either.
“Alec’s not answering my calls.”
“Maybe he’s just busy.”
“No. He always calls me back and it’s been hours.”
“When was the last time you talked to him?”
“Yesterday, early afternoon. It was just a brief call. He said he’d call me before bed. He always calls me before bed, but he didn’t last night, and he hasn’t called this morning.” Cara glanced at her watch. “It’s almost ten. We usually talk around seven. It’s our routine.”
“Do you think he’s sick? Could he have a bug?”
“He’d still call or text me. He’d say he felt terrible, or something. But there’s been no communication at all. It’s not normal.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I keep wondering if I did something to make him angry—”
“I’m sure you haven’t,” Ella interrupted, kneeling in front of Cara’s chair. “Maybe he’s just so busy getting ready to come home for the holidays that he’s lost track of time.”
“Impossible. That would never happen, not with Alec He’d never be so irresponsible.”
“So, what do you think has happened?”
“I don’t know.” Cara’s voice broke. “What if he’s… hurt. Or…” She reached up to wipe away a tear that was falling. “Or worse.”
“I’m sure nothing has happened to him. Someone would have alerted you. The police, or a hospital.” Ella took Cara’s hand. “Have you asked Baird? Perhaps he’s heard something.”
“I did. Baird said he spoke to Alec yesterday, just before dinner, but he hasn’t heard anything today.”
Ella was silent, processing. Maybe something had happened to Alec. Maybe there had been an accident. “Why don’t we ask Baird to call Alec this morning, and if Alec doesn’t answer, you or Baird or someone could call the office and check on Alec.” Ella paused. “Maybe there has been some kind of stock market thing, maybe the market has crashed, or maybe there’s something else demanding Alec’s focus. Let’s stay calm and let Baird help figure this out. Next to you, he’s the one who knows Alec best. He can get us the answers we need.”
“Go talk to him then. I need to know.”
“You don’t want breakfast? Some eggs or oatmeal?”
Cara shook her head. “I’m too upset to eat.”
Ella walked quickly back to the cottage where she found Baird at the simple dining table, computer out, papers spread around him.
“That was fast,” he said, sitting back in his chair.
“She didn’t want breakfast, couldn’t eat. She’s a mess.” Ella pulled out a chair and sat down at the table. “Cara said she hasn’t talked to Alec since early afternoon yesterday. She said they always talk every night, before they go to bed, but he didn’t call her last night, and he didn’t answer when she called him. She phoned again this morning and nothing.” Ella looked at Baird. “Have you talked to him today?”
“Just briefly.”
“So, he’s alive?”
“Yes.”
“Not bloodied and lying in a ditch somewhere.”
