Page 65 of Sweet Home
“If she’s who I’m afraid she is, she’s long gone,” West said.
“And if she’s who youhopeshe is?” Dad asked.
“Then I know exactly where to find her,” West admitted.
Dad didn’t reply, but the corner of his mouth tucked up a little and he renewed his focus on the road, keeping his speed up in spite of the snow that was falling harder.
He taught me how to drive in this very truck,West thought to himself.We always warmed it up, and we never went a single mile over the speed limit.
Maybe West wasn’t the only one hoping against all odds that there could be some reasonable explanation for Dulcie’s very unreasonable behavior.
Before long, the wild countryside gave way to houses hung with Christmas lights, and then to the closer construction of the town. At last, they turned onto Maple, slowing down a little as they passed the park.
It was dark and snowy, but soft lights illuminated the pavilion, the town Christmas tree, and the windows of the shops and the apartments above.
I’ve never asked for a Christmas miracle before…
As they approached the intersection with Moose Avenue, West’s breath caught in his throat.
His truck was parked right outside his office.
“Is she there?” Dad asked doubtfully. The office was obviously darkened and West kept it carefully secured to protect his patient records.
“No,” West said. “But I think I know where she is. Drop me off here?”
Dad pulled over immediately and West had his seatbelt off and was leaping out into the snow before the truck even came to a complete stop.
“Call me if you need me,” he heard Dadcall after him.
“Thanks,” he yelled back, turning to give him a thumbs-up before he sprinted into the snowy night.
Please don’t let me be too late…
21
DULCIE
Dulcie paced the snowy sidewalk beside Little Bear Lake. She had no idea when the next bus would leave Sugarville Grove for Burlington, but she hoped it would be soon, before anyone realized she had gone.
The wind picked up off the lake, sliding icy fingers into her thin jacket. She couldn’t help thinking longingly about the warm coat West had bought her. But it was folded neatly on his guest room bed, along with the other clothing and the pay he had given her. She had even replaced the amount she spent on the princess doll.
Elizabeth’s Christmas gift…
She had known it would be wrong to take a single thing he had given her—not the clothing, and not the pay either. But she could never give back the love she felt for the man and his family.
This whole time, she had been fooling herself that the truth wouldn’t come out, but it always did. And a good man like West deserved to know the truth. Now thathe did, she knew better than to imagine that he would want her around. She’d heard his reaction when he found out over the phone.
Kidnapping.
His voice had gone low with disbelief around the word. It would echo in her mind forever.
As much as she’d tried to ignore it, part of her had always known that if he ever learned the truth she would lose the safe, sweet home she had longed for. Dulcie was heartbroken, just like she knew she would be.
But she hadn’t really thought about what it would do to West. The man was practically a saint. Had she hardened his heart when she broke his trust? If so, then she hadn’t just done him a disservice, she had muddied the waters for any worthy person in need who crossed his path after her.
He’ll never trust again…
Another blast of icy wind swirled up off the lake and she nuzzled her face into the shimmeryprincessscarf that was the one thing she couldn’t bear to leave behind—a reminder of the little girl who had stolen her heart.
