Harlequin Love Inspired December 2016, Box Set 2 of 2 by Deb Kastner

Author:Deb Kastner
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488027178
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Hannah texted Ethan at five o’clock. When he didn’t answer, she tried again at five thirty and at a quarter of six.

Then she began to worry.

The past three hours had been hectic and tense. Frantic family members poured into the hospital and milled around the waiting room and hallway, desperately waiting for news about the three accident victims still in the Aspen Creek ER and those who had been airlifted.

Now that it was all over, Hannah zipped her coat and hurried to her SUV. After turning the key she waited a few minutes for it to warm up.

It had been almost three hours since the kids had gotten out of school, but there’d been no word from Ethan beyond a brief text telling her he’d successfully picked them up. Had he taken them to her house?

The other possibility made her stomach clench.

What if he’d taken off with them for Texas, and planned to petition the court with his urgent need to take over their custody?

She could call the sheriff, report them missing, but were they, really? With the SUV’s ubiquitous Minnesota plates and not knowing the license plate number, finding that vehicle in the Wisconsin-Minnesota area would be like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack.

Her pulse pounding, she pressed her gloved fingertips against her temples, willing away the beginnings of a headache. Please, Lord, let them all be here in town. Please.

She shifted into Drive and headed slowly toward Main Street, searching the parked cars on either side of the street near the cafés and restaurants. Nothing. Not even near the malt shop, or the busy town square, where she could see a colorful crowd gliding on the ice rink or…

She blinked. Circled the square again. Then began checking the dimly lit side-street parking surrounding the square while trying to call Ethan’s phone.

Her breath caught. There it was. A silver SUV, Minnesota plates. She veered to the side of the street, double parked and hurried to the vehicle. Sure enough, Molly and Cole’s backpacks were inside.

Relief made her knees weaken, followed by a surge of anger at Ethan’s thoughtlessness. He should have responded to her texts. She was the children’s guardian and he had no right to…

Be thankful, a still, small voice whispered. They’re here, and they are safe.

She took a steadying breath. Parked her SUV in the first empty spot she found and then strode toward the ice rink.

Safe or not, Ethan had definitely illustrated that he was still careless and irresponsible, no better than he’d been thirteen years ago. And once again she would learn her lesson well.

* * *

“Uh, oh.” Wobbling on his skates, Cole tugged on Ethan’s sleeve. “Are we in trouble? Hannah’s coming and she looks mad.”

Ethan held Cole’s other hand and steadied him. It took just a second to find Hannah in the crowd. Her long blond hair swung with each purposeful stride as she approached the four-foot-high wooden wall surrounding the ice rink. And yes, indeed—she definitely didn’t look happy.

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