“Let me make the tea.” She turned off the kettle and pulled cups from the cabinets. It seemed a strange time to notice the mess in her kitchen. The day’s events had distracted her from her normal routine of cleaning the kitchen after each meal.
Brenda’s BLT sandwich, along with a half finished can of diet Dr. Pepper, sat on the counter. She picked up the plate and stopped. Her heart squeezed in her chest. Maybe Brenda knew something about the girls.
“What is it?”
“Brenda.” Zoe sat the sandwich back on the counter. “The girls’ aunt was visiting from St.
Louis.”
“Do you think she might have an idea where they are?”
“It may not be important. I just don’t know.” She bit her thumbnail in worry. “I don’t know, but the police officer said if I remembered anything to contact him.” She reached into her pocket to pull out his card. “Maybe I should call him.”
“This Brenda woman might’ve seen them leave the house, know what direction they went.” Amelia’s eyes flashed, her mouth thinned. “Though letting three little girls wander around in a blizzard is insane.”
“You don’t know Brenda. She lives in her own world where’s she’s the queen and everyone else follows her rules. I don’t know if it would even occur to her to bring the girls back inside, even if she saw them leave the house.”
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“Make your call.”
Zoe put the officer’s card on the counter and tried to thumb in the numbers. Her trembling hands refused to work. She let out a small cry of frustration and tried again. Still, her fingers fumbled on the keys.
A gentle touch of Amelia’s hand on hers forced her to stop. “Let me do that. You sit down.” Amelia took the phone and made the call. “Officer Eldon?
This is Amelia King, the children’s grandmother. I’m going to give the phone to my, to Zoe Bennett. She remembers something, she’s not sure how important it is, but I told her to call anyway.” Amelia handed her the phone with a supportive nod of her head.
Her belly shook, filled with snakes of worry, but Zoe pulled in a deep breath and took the phone.
“Hello.”
“You say you thought of something?”
“Yes, my sister-in-law, Brenda Bennett was here this afternoon. She left a little after one. We had an argument.” Zoe ran her free hand through her hair, blinking back the burning sensation in her eyes. She wouldn’t cry anymore. Once the kids were home, tucked in their beds, she’d howl like a banshee, but until then, she had to hold it together. “Ah, I thought I heard the door open a little after that. I don’t know if she saw anything.”
“Does she have a cell phone?”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t think of that.” She felt like an idiot. Why hadn’t she called Brenda instead?
“Give me the number. I’ll contact her.”
“Hold on.” Zoe raced towards the hallway where she kept her purse. “I can’t retrieve it without ending the call, but I have it in my purse.” She had Brenda’s number inside the pretty purple wallet James bought for her birthday a couple of years ago.
Zoe frowned at the sight of her purse on the floor in front of the hall table. She knew she hadn’t put it 289
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back inside the cabinet, but she’d left it on top of the gray and white marble top. Maybe it had fallen over in the all the confusion. She picked it up and fished out her wallet. Strange. She normally made sure to close the flap on her wallet. The hardware on the wallet wouldn’t come undone without effort. Zoe looked inside.
Her credit cards were gone. All of them.
“Officer Eldon?”
“Yes, I’m here.”
“My credit cards are missing.” They were the least of her worries. However, it added fuel to Zoe’s short fuse. “I think Brenda came back in the house and stole them.”
“If nothing else, that gives us reasonable cause to pull her over. I’ll have state troopers keep an eye out for her or her car.”
Zoe told Officer Eldon all she could remember about Brenda’s car. After thanking him, she went into the kitchen where Amelia had a pot of tea steeping.
“Sit down,” Amelia ordered in a soft, calming voice. She sat at the table, pouring the fragrant jasmine blend into the cups Zoe had put out earlier.
“Well? What did he say?”
“Brenda stole my credit cards.”
“What?” Amelia’s shocked expression echoed Zoe’s feelings.
“She asked me for money. I suppose, she thought she’d help herself to my bank account after I refused to hand her twenty thousand dollars.”
Zoe sank down into the chair next to Amelia’s and took a sip of the tea, not caring whether she wanted it or not. She had to do something with her hands. “I should’ve locked the door behind her, but Alex showed up.” She rested her forehead in hands.
“I always lock the door.”
“Okay, you can’t keep blaming yourself. It won’t 290
A Perfect Bride for Christmas bring the girls back.” She dropped into the chair next to Zoe. “I’ve got to sit down.”
Zoe peered up at Amelia. She sat back in her chair, drinking tea as if nothing were wrong. “What am I supposed to do?” Anger tinged her words.
“Think. And think hard. You said the girls wanted to see Santa. Did they say where? Do they have a favorite store?”
A pinpoint of hope broke through the darkness swallowing her whole.
“Yes, yes.” She jumped up and kissed Amelia on the cheek. “Oh, oh, I need to call Alex.” For once, her fingers worked as she hit the speed-dial.
****
The near whiteout conditions made driving on the slick streets a stone bitch. Alex’s fingers opened and closed on the steering wheel, the black leather of his gloves creaking, while he rolled his head on his shoulders to release the tension. How was he supposed to see three little girls, in the dark, during a blizzard? He tamped down the fear that tied his guts into knots. The police had yet to contact him with any news of his children.
He craned his neck to look at the storefronts on now empty streets. The only vehicles out in this weather were snowplows and a few crazies. One car honked and passed him at the normal speed limit despite the snowy mess. The backend of the idiot’s car fishtailed, forcing Alex to put on his brakes. He pulled into the parking lot of one of the local business and slammed the heels of his hand against the steering wheel. He had to curb the desire to chase down the driver and beat the holy crap out of him. Didn’t the asshole know three children were missing? What if they tried to cross the street? Alex rested his forehead against the steering wheel to 291
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draw in a calming breath. His cell phone rang. He hit the hands free calling in the Hummer. “King here.”
“Alex, it’s Zoe. I think I might know where the girls are.”
He didn’t want to get his hopes up, but the exhilaration in Zoe’s voice was contagious. “Where, babe? Tell me where, and I’ll check it out.”
“Remember, they wanted to see Santa at ToyTown? It’s the new store at the mall on Ashview.
You can see it from the highway.”
“I know where it is.” He paused, trying to hide his skepticism. “It’s over five miles from here, sweetheart.” Alex didn’t want to be an alarmist, but he had to be the voice of reason. “What makes you think they’re there? I mean, how would they even get that far in this weather?”
“I called Officer Eldon earlier to tell him where I thought they might be. That’s not all. Brenda came back in the house while we were in the kitchen. She stole my credit cards.”
“So, you were right; someone was in the house.
But, Zoe how does that make you think the girls are at the toy store?”
“They hounded me all morning long.” Her impatience was palpable. “I think Brenda might have taken them there. To tell you the truth, I’m not sure of anything, but it’s the only
lead we have.
Officer Eldon instructed some of the searchers to look along the route to the mall.” He heard the unspent tears in her desparate words. “Please, just go to the mall and check it out. The police are sending a car to meet you at the store entrance.”
“Okay. Hang in there, babe. Just hang in there for me.” Alex hung up, started the Hummer’s engine, and pulled out of the parking lot.
What should’ve only taken fifteen minutes turned into forty-five. He cursed each second that 292
A Perfect Bride for Christmas passed and swore. Brenda Bennett’s life would be a miserable hell if she had taken the girls, if anything happened to his children. He pulled into the mall, making a beeline for the flashing lights in front of ToyTown. Outside, an angry man waved his arms, gesticulating to a big bear of a cop standing by the police car.
“Mr. King?” The officer loped over to him, trying to shout over the increasing wind. “Alex King?”
Alex held out his hand. “Yes, I’m the triplets’
father.”
The officer shook his hand and motioned him toward the store. “Officer Eldon called earlier, said you would meet me and the owner here. I’m Officer Rockwell. This is Mr. Jenkins.”
“I hope you didn’t bring me out here on a wild goose chase.” Mr. Jenkins face screwed up in a ball of displeasure as he hunched into his coat and pulled his collar higher. “My wife and I were sitting down to eat supper and watch a movie.”
Alex balled his hands into fists and slowly released them. “Mr. Jenkins, there are three lost children. If they’re here, you’re a hero. If not, you’ll still get some great publicity for braving the storm.
Let’s not stand out here in a pissing contest.”
The police officer stood between them, directing the beam of his flashlight on the door’s lock. “If you don’t mind.” It wasn’t a request. The light flickered over the man’s face.
Jenkins cast Officer Rockwell a nervous look.
“Okay, okay.” He unlocked the door, pushed it open, and turned on the lights.
Alex shouldered past both Jenkins and Officer Rockwell. “Mac, Mike, Mee-Mee,” he shouted out as he ran to where the large Santa throne ruled the back of the store. “I’m here. Don’t be scared. It’s Daddy.”
“Daddy?” A wavering cry came from behind the 293
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chair. Macy peeked out, along with Michaela.
Alex’s knees buckled at the sight of his daughters. He knelt on the floor, arms opened wide..
“It’s okay,” he called out. “It’s okay.”
They ran into his arms, both of them sobbing.
“I’m here.” He searched around for Mia, his heart beating hard and fast with worry. “Where’s Mee-Mee?”
The girls sobbed, their words tumbling over each other. “She won’t come out.”
Officer Rockwell looked like he would to burst into tears any second. “I gotta call this in. Call off the search,” he said, his voice husky with emotion.
He turned away to speak into his radio.
“Mee-Mee? Come on out.” He peered over his girls’ head and felt an avalanche of relief when Mia sidled from behind the chair. Fat tears rained down her small cheeks. Her shoulders shook.
Alex stood and patted his other daughters’
shoulders. “Stay here girls.”
His steps were slow and deliberate. Mia’s cries tore at his heart.
“What’s wrong, baby?”
“I’m not a baby, I’m a big girl.” Her sobs shook her tiny body. “I’m a big girl.”
“Mia peed her pants,” Macy piped up.
He glanced over at the other two girls. Both seemed worried.
“She didn’t mean to. It was dark, and we couldn’t find the bathroom.” Michaela frowned at Macy. “And scary too.”
Macy nodded in agreement. “Really scary.”
Alex turned to Jenkins. “I noticed you have a small selection of holiday clothes near the registers.”
He crouched next to Mia and took her in his arms.
“It will be okay, Mee-Mee. Mr. Jenkins will get you something clean to change into, won’t you, Mr.
Jenkins?”
294
A Perfect Bride for Christmas Officer Rockwell nodded and crossed his arms over his massive chest. Jenkins bobbed his head.
“Sure, no problem. What size?”
“Daddy knows you’re a big girl. Sometimes accidents happen.” He peered inside the label of her yellow flowered sweatshirt for the size. “It says four.
Do you have anything that size?”
Jenkins swiped his hand over his balding head.
“Yeah, yeah. Glad to see the kids are okay.” He ran over ran to the front of the store, and in the eerie quiet, the sound of hangers scraped along a clothing rack.
“Don’t worry.” Alex smoothed down Mia’s hair as she leaned into him. He didn’t mind the wetness; he reveled in the feel of her warm little body against his chest.
“Wait.” He pulled back from Mia. “We need to call Mommy to let her know you’re okay.” He hit speed dial, thankful he didn’t have to try to remember anything, even Zoe’s number. Her phone range once.
“Alex—”
“We found them.”
He couldn’t tell if Zoe laughed or cried. Maybe both, but it broke his heart in two.
“Let me speak to them,” she pleaded.
“Mommy wants to talk to you.” He held out his phone and hit the speakerphone button. All three gathered round, talking at once.
“Mommy loves you.” Zoe’s voice shook, but she held it together. “I was scared.”
Soon the story about the accident came out , and Alex asked, “What do I do? The owner is looking for something for her to wear.”
“Take them to the restroom. You have to learn sometime.” Her laugh made him smile. “Mia will have to go without her panties, but that’s okay. Just put her soiled clothes in a plastic bag. Alex, there’s a 295
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horde of reporters at the door.”
“Just go out, give them a statement that the children were found at ToyTown. Be sure to thank the police department, Mr. Jenkins, the owner of the store, and everyone who helped in the search.”
“Okay. Bring them home safe.”
“I will.”
“Alex?”
“What?”
“I love you.” Her words made his heart tumble in free fall. She loved him. Zoe had said she loved him when they made love the first time, but it was there, really there, in her voice. Those three little words salved the open wound of his soul.
“I love you too.” He sighed, reluctant to disconnect the call, like some silly teenage boy, but his children peered up at him with questioning eyes.
“I have a soggy kid to see to, and then I’ll call my brothers and Keeley.”
“I have to go too.” Sobbing broke out in the background. “I think your mother is having a nervous breakdown.”
He should be concerned, but if he knew his mother, she’d held it together until she knew her family was safe. “Tell her I love her too. Oh, call Bill to come by to pick her and Keeley up. Mom needs her beauty sleep. Bye, love.”
“Bye.”
Mr. Jenkins came over to them with three sets of sweats and matching red holiday hoodies in his arms. “Here you go, on the house. Merry Christmas.”
He gave each triplet sweat suit. “No hard feelings, Mr. King.”
Alex nodded his thanks and headed toward the restrooms. He felt funny going into the men’s room so he went to the ladies’ room instead. The less he had to explain about urinals the better. He didn’t know anything about taking care of a little girl’s 296
A Perfect Bride for Christmas needs. It made him uneasy, until he realized Mia had shucked off her damp clothes and stood waiting.
He yanked out a paper towel, wet it, and wiped her down in record time.
“Here you go, a brand new outfit.” He rip
ped off the tags and held it out to Mia. “Do you need help?”
Mia shook her head.
He didn’t know if Zoe or his mother contacted his brother. He pulled out his phone and called Clint. “It’s Alex.”
“Yeah?”
“They’re here. I found them. They were looking for Santa.” Alex wiped his hand over his face, the emotions of the last couple of hours finally catching up with him.
“Okay. We’ll be there in a bit.”
“No need.” Alex paused, trying to keep his voice steady. “Actually, don’t. I’d like to be alone with them for a while. Bill is coming to get Mom and Keeley.”
“Sounds good. Give them a hug for us. I’ll let Heath know. You probably have your hands full.”
“Yeah, I’m on bathroom duty right now. Do me a favor, let Keeley know?”
“Sure thing. Talk to you later.”
He hung up and looked over at Macy and Michaela. “I’ll bet you two need to use the bathroom.
Go on.”
Soon they were ready to leave with Officer Rockwell running interference with the gauntlet of reporters awaiting them the minute they stepped out the door.
Alex made a brief statement and left Jenkins in the blast of the camera lights. The man bloomed in the attention, coming across like a hybrid of Santa Claus and Mother Theresa
Let him have his fifteen minutes of fame. Alex wanted to see Zoe. To hold her. He was going home.
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Chapter Twenty-Seven
Zoe paced in front of the window, biting her thumbnail, her nerves a spinning top of emotions.
The fear something would happen before she could hold her children close warred with her eagerness to see them.
“Sit down,” Amelia requested as she blew into a tissue. “It’s not fair that you can wear a hole in the carpet, and I’m stuck on crutches.”
“I can’t help it.” She stopped by the window and peered out into the night. Her worried face stared back from the reflection in the windowpane.
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