he pulled up to her house, she realized
Brianna hadn’t gone home alone when she saw the police car in the
driveway. She looked to Ethan with fear in her eyes. He answered
before she had a chance to say anything. “Don’t worry. Just tell
them you got lost. You got confused and went the wrong direction by
mistake. The commotion at that accident along with the fog makes
that very believable. They will believe you, and they’ll be
relieved to see you.”
Feeling horribly guilty, Danielle realized
she had caused them a great deal of worry for over two hours. Ethan
had gotten out of the car and now held the door open for her. “I
hate to lie, and I’m a really bad liar. They’ll suspect me,” she
complained.
His Adam’s apple bobbed when he swallowed,
and he passed a nervous look toward the house. “I’ll stay by your
side,” he said, very slowly, like he really didn’t think that was a
good idea even though he was the one suggesting it. “You can’t keep
them worrying any longer.”
Knowing he was right, she took his hand as
they began toward the front door.
When they entered ten eyes turned in their
direction. Brianna screamed and ran to her, wrapping her arms
tightly around Danielle. “We thought you were in the crosswalk when
the accident happened. But no one could find your—” She couldn’t
say the last word, her lip was quivering, and she hiccupped. Her
face was red and tearstained from crying.
They all stared at her waiting for her
explanation. The policemen looked suspicious of Ethan who was now
avoiding eye contact with everyone in the room.
Danielle’s aunt had clearly been crying along
with Brianna, and her uncle looked incredibly confused and even
more distraught.
She gulped and glanced at Ethan for strength,
then began, “I—I got so confused in the commotion.” She sighed,
because she was trembling again and it could be heard in her voice.
Smiling weakly, she forced herself to go on, “You know how easily I
get lost, my directions get all mixed up, and I get disoriented …
I’m sorry, I tried to call Bri, but she didn’t answer.”
Again meeting their gazes she realized she
must not have been very coherent because they all continued to look
confused.
“I just happened to be at Gunther’s, a
bookstore near that intersection, and noticed Danielle,” Ethan
said, apparently stepping in to save her from herself “She told me
what happened and how she tried to find Brianna. She thought she’d
run toward her, but had actually gone the opposite direction.
People were screaming on both sides of the street, and when I met
up with her, she seemed to be in shock. I brought her here as soon
as I found her.”
Danielle found herself believing his story,
knowing it wasn’t true. Lights went on in the faces of the others.
It obviously made perfect sense to them. Ethan was a really good
liar, which was a bit daunting.
Charlotte responded first, “Thank you, Ethan,
thank you for bringing her home safely.”
“You’re welcome,” he said softly, while he
stared at a spot on the floor.
“Well, I guess we’re done here then,” one of
the policemen said. He turned to her. “Glad you made it home,
miss.”
“Thank you, sir,” she replied softly. Her
trembling continued and was getting worse.
“Danielle, are you cold?” Uncle Nick asked,
sounding concerned.
“Mm. I-I’m f-f-freezing. Could I please go
t-t-take a bath?” She seemed to be having a hypothermic flash
back.
“Of course!” answered Charlotte.
She turned to Ethan, who sort of looked at
her, and tossed her arms around his shoulders so she could whisper,
“Tomorrow,” then released him and made her way up the stairs to the
bathroom.
Chapter 7
Once Upon a Time
Danielle stretched her stiff muscles,
arched her back, and groaned as she awoke. It seemed her body was
still complaining about freezing. Colorado could get plenty cold in
the winter, still, she had never been that cold before. Ever.
The
Brianna hadn’t gone home alone when she saw the police car in the
driveway. She looked to Ethan with fear in her eyes. He answered
before she had a chance to say anything. “Don’t worry. Just tell
them you got lost. You got confused and went the wrong direction by
mistake. The commotion at that accident along with the fog makes
that very believable. They will believe you, and they’ll be
relieved to see you.”
Feeling horribly guilty, Danielle realized
she had caused them a great deal of worry for over two hours. Ethan
had gotten out of the car and now held the door open for her. “I
hate to lie, and I’m a really bad liar. They’ll suspect me,” she
complained.
His Adam’s apple bobbed when he swallowed,
and he passed a nervous look toward the house. “I’ll stay by your
side,” he said, very slowly, like he really didn’t think that was a
good idea even though he was the one suggesting it. “You can’t keep
them worrying any longer.”
Knowing he was right, she took his hand as
they began toward the front door.
When they entered ten eyes turned in their
direction. Brianna screamed and ran to her, wrapping her arms
tightly around Danielle. “We thought you were in the crosswalk when
the accident happened. But no one could find your—” She couldn’t
say the last word, her lip was quivering, and she hiccupped. Her
face was red and tearstained from crying.
They all stared at her waiting for her
explanation. The policemen looked suspicious of Ethan who was now
avoiding eye contact with everyone in the room.
Danielle’s aunt had clearly been crying along
with Brianna, and her uncle looked incredibly confused and even
more distraught.
She gulped and glanced at Ethan for strength,
then began, “I—I got so confused in the commotion.” She sighed,
because she was trembling again and it could be heard in her voice.
Smiling weakly, she forced herself to go on, “You know how easily I
get lost, my directions get all mixed up, and I get disoriented …
I’m sorry, I tried to call Bri, but she didn’t answer.”
Again meeting their gazes she realized she
must not have been very coherent because they all continued to look
confused.
“I just happened to be at Gunther’s, a
bookstore near that intersection, and noticed Danielle,” Ethan
said, apparently stepping in to save her from herself “She told me
what happened and how she tried to find Brianna. She thought she’d
run toward her, but had actually gone the opposite direction.
People were screaming on both sides of the street, and when I met
up with her, she seemed to be in shock. I brought her here as soon
as I found her.”
Danielle found herself believing his story,
knowing it wasn’t true. Lights went on in the faces of the others.
It obviously made perfect sense to them. Ethan was a really good
liar, which was a bit daunting.
Charlotte responded first, “Thank you, Ethan,
thank you for bringing her home safely.”
“You’re welcome,” he said softly, while he
stared at a spot on the floor.
“Well, I guess we’re done here then,” one of
the policemen said. He turned to her. “Glad you made it home,
miss.”
“Thank you, sir,” she replied softly. Her
trembling continued and was getting worse.
“Danielle, are you cold?” Uncle Nick asked,
sounding concerned.
“Mm. I-I’m f-f-freezing. Could I please go
t-t-take a bath?” She seemed to be having a hypothermic flash
back.
“Of course!” answered Charlotte.
She turned to Ethan, who sort of looked at
her, and tossed her arms around his shoulders so she could whisper,
“Tomorrow,” then released him and made her way up the stairs to the
bathroom.
Chapter 7
Once Upon a Time
Danielle stretched her stiff muscles,
arched her back, and groaned as she awoke. It seemed her body was
still complaining about freezing. Colorado could get plenty cold in
the winter, still, she had never been that cold before. Ever.
The
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