To Claim Her Read Free Page B

answered. 
    Silence.  
    She glanced at the window.  Were the police still outside?  She glanced at the phone and then sat it quietly on the base.  Maybe she was too late.  Or maybe someone was listening on the other end of the call. 
    She turned to check the window, and the ringing clanged out behind her again.  She flinched and picked up again but remained silent, clutching her towel around her.  Was she giving someone pleasure by being afraid of the unknown?  The thought irritated her. 
    “Hello?”  The voice warbled unmistakably. 
    She sighed with a smile. “Nora?” 
    “Yes, Gretchen.  I tried to call but no one answered a moment ago.  I hope I didn’t wake you.”  The nurse practitioner was her boss and sometimes pushy friend. 
              “I’m up.  I was just getting ready for work.”
    “Wonderful.  That’s why I was calling.  There’s no reason to hide out at home.  Come in today.  You should get back into the swing of things if you’re able.”
    No nonsense Nora. 
    “I need to run by to check on Sebastian, and then I’ll be in.  You have lots of work stacked up for me?”  Gretchen imagined her desk buried under mounds of paperwork and the computer database full of visits that needed filing with insurance companies.  It was a never ending job, thankfully, that helped keep a safe place for them to live. 
    “Good.  I wanted to talk to you about that, too.  Maybe it’s not the best idea for you to continue assisting Sebastian.”
    She hoped Nora wasn’t planning on assigning someone else to the task.  Of course, Sebastian Broussard would have the final say, but she didn’t want him to even consider replacing her.  It might be a little uncomfortable with Mark back in the house, but Sebastian was the closest thing she’d ever had to a father.  He was an important part of her day, every day, and she didn’t want to give that up until he had no need for her anymore.  It also kept an important link for Eddie.
    “I hope you’re not suggesting that I stop.”
    “That’s exactly what I’m doing.  It is obviously not safe for you to drive out to that place alone.”
    Gretchen pursed her lips.  Was it unsafe?  It certainly hadn’t seemed that way before she was snatched.  “I’ll give it some thought.  I’ll see you this afternoon.”
    “We’ll talk more then, Gretchen.  Take care.”
    As she hung up the phone, Gretchen wondered what ‘taking care’ involved.  How could she protect herself from a threat she couldn’t even identify?
     
    Sebastian watched as Gretchen moved stiffly through the living room.  “I don’t want you doing anything but the absolute necessities these next few days.  You need to heal up.”
    She smiled back at the older man who sat in his recliner. 
    “Come sit over here and talk to me.” 
    She did.  “I’m doing okay.  Just a little tender from some scratches.”
    His mouth settled into a grim line.  “I can’t understand how this happened.  How someone could take a feisty girl like you without a trace.  Or why.”
    “I’m not coming up with many answers myself.”  She shook her head.  “I guess my hope is that it was just being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
    “I’m thankful Eddie wasn’t with you.”  His weathered hand covered hers. 
    She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.  The thought had occurred to her more than once since she had regained consciousness in the hospital. 
    She turned her face toward the squeak of hinges at the back door.  Mark strolled in and dropped onto the couch across from her.  His took in her teary eyes and his dad’s hand holding hers. 
    “Any news?”
    She shook her head as Sebastian spoke.  “Not yet.  Just telling our girl to take it easy the next few days.”
    He nodded and stretched his arms across the back of the couch, settling in.  Owning the whole space. 
    “We’re hoping it was just bad timing.”
    “I hope so too, but