Harlequin Heartwarming May 2016 Box Set (42 page)

“Grace, you are an adult,” he said calmly. “You just have to take a stand and stop backing down.”

She insisted, “I don't want to lose my father.”

“You're not losing anything. If anyone is losing, it's him...intentionally, through his own doing.”

Grace stared at the man who had made her think about a future with him. If Caleb truly cared about her, he would find a way to help her work through this. Instead, he was criticizing her for being reluctant to put a rift between her and her dad.

“It doesn't matter who is at fault,” she said. “The result is the same.”

“So you're going to buckle down to your father's will because otherwise he'll kick you out of his company?” He gestured with his fork. “You could work for someone else. Or start your own company.”

“Making such a drastic change without a significant amount of forethought and planning is not that easy.” She stared at her pizza, which was growing cold on her plate. “Maybe there's another way I could have handled it.
Could
handle it.” The fact she couldn't come up with a solution really troubled her.

“Your father has to realize that you're an adult with dreams of your own. If you don't tell him, how is he supposed to understand what you want?”

He finally got to her. “You know, Caleb, I'm tired of you just giving me directives, as if you know the way everything should be handled.”

His eyes widened in surprise. “You've been asking my opinion.”

“And you've been giving me that opinion even when I
don't
ask for it.”

“I didn't mean to put you in a bad mood.”

“Being threatened with losing the relationship that means the most to a person tends to do that.”

“Your relationship with your father means the most to you? What about a relationship with someone else, someone you can share the rest of your life with?” He glanced down at his phone again when it rang. “Nope, not Angela.”

She couldn't believe it. Why couldn't he listen to her rather than tell her to ignore her father's orders, as if it were easy, while giving her yet more orders? Angela seemed to be the center of Caleb's world and business was the center of her father's. Where did she, Grace, fit in?

Disgusted, she threw her unused napkin on the table and rose. “I've heard enough for today. I only wish life were as simple as you seem to think it should be.”

“Grace?”

Ignoring him, she headed for the door. “I'm making tonight simple. I'm leaving.”

“What? Wait a minute, please!”

Which was all she heard before stalking out to her car. Pulling away, she saw Caleb standing in the doorway of the restaurant, but she just stomped harder on the accelerator.

* * *

G
RACE
DROVE
AND
DROVE
, not even thinking about where she was going. The highway unfurled before her, a wide silver path leading somewhere, anywhere. Finally, noticing a large road sign, she realized that she was headed for Milwaukee. That was okay. She had an apartment there and could rest up, think about what she wanted to do next. She wouldn't let her father know and would lie low. She had to take care of herself, since nobody else seemed interested in the job.

The phone in her purse rang yet again. And she ignored it yet again. It was probably Caleb and she had no desire to talk to him.

Disappointment made her stomach whirl and her throat tighten. Caleb might be a responsible parent and a generally good man, but was he the one for her? Right now, overwhelmed by the day, she couldn't say for sure.

Once in the city, she barely had to pay attention to where she was going. Taking the correct exit, she made her way down familiar streets until they ended at the shores of Lake Michigan. There she entered the garage for the large condo building perched beside the lake, and parked. Then she took the elevator upstairs.

When she opened the door to her quiet abode, she immediately went to the French doors in the living room, opening them wide to the terrace outside. She took a deep breath, enjoying the fresh lake air, then threw herself down on a chaise lounge. Below, she could hear the gentle lapping of waves and, in the distance, the gentle hum of night traffic. A moon glowed overhead. She would simply shut the phones off entirely and relax. Tomorrow and thoughts of the future—both professional and personal—would come soon enough. About to turn off her cell, she realized she'd left her purse with her phone in the car.

Well, it could just stay there. As soon as she felt like moving from where she sat, she'd also tear out the jack for the apartment phone. There was no one she wanted to talk to tonight.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“S
HE
HAS
TO
be somewhere nearby, Caleb,” his mother said. “I don't think she's in physical danger.”

“We can't be sure about that.”

It had been hours since Angela had been due at her grandmother's. Caleb and his mother had driven all over town looking for the girl but hadn't caught a glimpse of her. Now they were taking a break in Caleb's kitchen for some coffee, since they seemed to be headed for an all-nighter.

“She could be up to her old ways,” said Mom.

“Why? There's no reason. She hasn't been so angry lately. She has an idea, a good one, for the mural at Green Meadows.” Which made him think of Grace with a pang. “She's almost done with school. She's been meeting with Lily.”

“And, unfortunately, we don't know what has been said in those meetings.” Mom frowned. “I wish we could trust that woman, but she isn't even answering her phone now.”

“Should we go to the police? Report her as being missing?”

“That would be a good idea.”

Which scared him. When Mom encouraged him to take the most extreme step in a situation, he knew she thought it was serious.

“Did you phone Grace?” his mother asked.

“Yes. Though she doesn't have anything to do with this.”

And wasn't reachable anyhow. They'd had a fight and then she'd just walked out on him before he'd even had a chance to smooth things over. If he could talk to her, he would apologize for upsetting her, but he couldn't help feeling hurt and angry himself that she hadn't stayed and talked it through.

“I think Grace might make you feel better.”

“She would.”

Caleb had grown used to having Grace's support and understanding. He really would appreciate her presence right now. His daughter was gone. And his woman was gone, too. He'd thought he was being supportive with Grace, but he'd simply managed to drive her away. It seemed as if he was doomed to have almost all the females he loved desert him.

Wait.
Did he
love
her?

Caleb was considering the idea that he was in love with Grace Huber when the doorbell rang.

Glancing at the kitchen clock, which announced two minutes past midnight, Caleb strode toward the front door. Outside, her wild hair sticking out in all directions, stood Kiki.

“Mr. Blackthorne?” she asked, sounding a little uncertain.

He immediately asked, “Do you know where Angela is?”

“That's why I'm here. I saw her get into an old pickup with her mother.”

His heart plummeted. “When?”

“About four. They drove off but I have no idea where they were going.” Kiki looked genuinely worried. “I've tried to text and call Angela over and over, but nothing. Not answering isn't her style.”

Mom came up behind him. “Let the poor girl in, Caleb.”

He obligingly moved aside.

“Are you hungry, dear?” Mom asked Kiki. “How about some cookies and milk?”

Caleb couldn't believe his mother was offering the girl food at a time like this. He said, “If neither Angela nor Lily is answering their phones still, this could be a kidnapping.”

“True.” Mom sat Kiki down and poured her a big glass of milk, then set a plate of cookies in front of the girl. “We'll have to let the police know.” She looked at her son. “Cookies for you?”

“The last thing I want is food right now,” he said gruffly. “I have to find Angela!” He looked down at Kiki. “Thank you for coming to tell us you saw her with her mother. We appreciate your help.”

Then, with Mom saying she'd stay at the house, in case Angela showed up or tried to call, Caleb left Kiki with her and headed for his truck. He drove straight to the police station to see Alex Novak. If the man was at work, that is. If he wasn't awake, he soon would be. Caleb wouldn't rest until a search was under way.

Parking in the station's lot, he made one last try to phone Grace. As he feared, it went to voice mail. He said, “Angela's missing. There's a chance she's been kidnapped, Grace. I really miss you. I need you. I'm sorry that I upset you. I didn't mean to, honestly. If you can find it in your heart to call me, please do. Anytime, night or day.”

* * *

“T
HIS
TRUCK
IS
going to run out of gas,” Angela muttered under her breath when Lily turned down another dark country road lined with trees. They'd been driving for hours without stopping.

“We'll make it a little farther.”

What in the world was her mother's plan? Angela wondered. Her suspicions had been growing since the woman had thrown the cell phone out of the car.

“We aren't going to see that artist at all, are we?” she asked.

“Not today.”

“Then why are you bringing me here?”

“What is wrong with a mother and daughter spending some time together?”

“Out in the woods? In the middle of the night? And if everything's cool, then why can't I tell my dad where I am?”

Should she be afraid? Was her mother willing to do something desperate to get whatever it was she wanted? Angela was really getting jittery now.

Lily said, “I know of a cabin around here.”

“You still didn't answer my question. Why are you doing this?”

Lily simply asked a return question. “Think your dad will be worried? If so, I've accomplished my goal.”

“You're doing this to worry my dad? Unbelievable.” Angela was beginning to think she was lucky her mother had abandoned her all those years ago.

The country road turned into mere tire tracks through the grass. The pickup bumped along, the springs squeaking and complaining.

“You're a kidnapper,” stated Angela.

“I'm your mother. I can't kidnap you.”

“You don't know the law then. A parent can kidnap a child.”

“I don't think your dad will want to go there. He'll just pay up.”

So that was it? Her mother had taken her to get money out of her father?

“I hope he doesn't give you a penny,” said Angela bitterly. “You don't deserve it. And there's no way I would ever want to live with you.”

“I'm pretty sure I can get custody, at least partial custody anyway.”

“A judge wouldn't be that stupid.”

In the feeble light of the old dashboard, Angela saw Lily turn to look at her. “You are not a very nice girl at times, Angela. I'm your mother and I love you. I will do what I have to in order to be with you.”

“I think the child support money is more appealing to you than having me in your life.”

It was only a short while longer until Lily brought the old pickup to a stop under a big oak tree. Nearby, in the moonlight, Angela could make out the dark shape of a building.

Lily turned off the ignition with a roar and several chugging backfires. Finally, the truck gave a last wheeze and Lily removed the keys. “Let's go inside and see what we can pull together as far as sleeping and eating. I came up here a few weeks ago and left some canned goods and blankets.”

“I'm not getting out.”

“Yes, you are.”

“I want to go home!” Angela demanded.

“We'll go home in the morning. Right now, I'm tired.”

“Will this thing start in the morning?”

“Of course it will.”

“I bet it won't. You don't even know if you have enough gas.” Lily had said the gauge was broken.

“It will start,” said Lily, pushing the keys back in and turning.

The truck merely groaned once, then became silent.

“See, I told you it wouldn't start,” Angela said.

“Well, let it cool off. We'll try again tomorrow. Meanwhile, we have nothing else to do, so let's go inside.”

Angela needed to stretch her legs so she followed her mother into what seemed to be an old fishing cabin. Lily lit a kerosene lantern, which illuminated the sparse furnishings, a couple of cots, a table and an old rocking chair. Several fishing poles hung on one wall and there was a large glass jar full of hooks on the table.

“Can I have a drink of water?” Angela asked.

“Use the pump over there,” Lily told her, nodding to a makeshift sink. “There's a cistern.”

There was also an outhouse. The place had no running water.

The women opened a can of tuna from a box of groceries that Lily had left on an earlier visit and spread it on some crackers.

After eating, Lily lay back on one of the cots. “I'm tired. Why don't you go to sleep? There's nothing else to do until morning.”

Angela could think of a few things she could do. Even in the dark. First, she went outside to gaze at the stars to get her bearings.

And then she planned her escape.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

T
HE
NIGHT
FLEW
by once Caleb talked to Alex Novak, who, in turn, notified the county sheriff and the state police. An Amber Alert went out on Angela's whereabouts. Despite having been seen in a vehicle, Angela could still be hiding nearby, so police went through the required procedure of searching Caleb's house, the grounds and the rez. They questioned the friend who'd given Lily shelter, but she didn't know anything. His mother kept Kiki close and said the girl was helping her. The cops had no time to question what the teenager was doing there but they jotted down the information she gave them. Her description identified a decrepit vehicle that belonged to an elder on the rez. The old woman hadn't known the pickup was gone until the police came calling.

By dawn, an electronics expert placed the GPS of Angela's phone in a location north of Sparrow Lake. But when a state trooper checked on the site, she found only pieces of the device scattered along the interstate.

Caleb was running on adrenaline and caffeine but he still could not sit at home and wait. “Lily could have taken Angela to the big rez up north,” he told Alex. “The interstate runs by it. I could go up there and check things out.”

“Not a bad idea,” agreed the police chief. “Keep your phone handy. I'll advise you of what's going on.”

In the parking lot, Caleb checked to make sure he had a flashlight and a jacket and his wallet. The phone charger was plugged into the truck's lighter outlet. He made a mental note to pick up some bottled water and snacks when he filled the truck up with gas. No telling how long he would be gone.

Looking for Angela by himself.

No Grace to keep him sane.

Nearly ready to leave, Caleb glanced up to see a well-dressed older man approaching him from across the parking lot.

“Professor Blackthorne?”

Caleb nodded, thinking the man looked familiar.

“I'm Henry Huber.” He held out a hand for Caleb to shake.

“Grace's father, right?” They had the same bright blue eyes.

“Correct. Speaking of Grace, have you seen her?”

Caleb's gut knotted. “Have
you
?” knowing the man wouldn't be asking such a question if he was aware of Grace's whereabouts.

“I thought she might have contacted you,” said Huber. “She won't pick up her phone when she sees it's me calling.”

No wonder, after the argument they'd had. “She's not speaking to me either.”

Would she ever speak to him again? Or was he destined to make his way through his current mess of a life alone? Without the woman he realized he loved?

“Hmmph.” Huber stared at the state trooper squad car entering the lot. “Quite a bit of activity. I couldn't help notice as I was driving down Main Street. Is something the matter?”

“Nothing is wrong with Grace.” Caleb knew the man would be concerned about his own flesh and blood. “At least I hope not. But my daughter Angela's likely been kidnapped.”

Huber seemed taken aback. “Oh? That's terrible.”

“Her mother has her but we don't know where they went. Or whether they intend to come back.”

“Grace doesn't know about it?”

“She left before it happened.” Caleb added, “If she did know, she'd be here. She cares about Angela.” If not about him. In spite of all the grief his daughter had given her, Grace was on Angela's side. “You raised a very good human being, Mr. Huber. You should be proud of her.”

Now Huber sighed. “I am proud. I shouldn't be so hard on her.”

“Unfortunately dads are not always the best listeners.” Caleb recalled what his mother must have told him a million times. “Kids aren't clones who should do everything the way we would.”

“A hard lesson to learn.”

That remark sounded promising. But Caleb needed to look for Angela, with or without the woman he loved at his side. “Look, I have to go, Mr. Huber. I'm driving up north to see if my daughter might be there.”

“And I guess Grace will answer her phone when she's ready.”

“I guess so,” agreed Caleb. “I had a fight with her, too. Two in one day must have been too much for her.”

Huber didn't say anything for a moment, then looked straight at Caleb. “If I can do anything at all, let me know. Walworth Builders has a small plane, you know, if you need it for a search.”

“Thank you.”

Caleb climbed in his truck and left. When he stopped to fill up on gas before leaving town, he tried to reach Grace again. And left another message.

“I think your dad is sorry about the fight, Grace. Me, too...about ours, that is. Still miss you. Please give me a call.”

* * *

W
HEN
G
RACE
AWAKENED
, the sun was already up. She couldn't believe the light hadn't jogged her out of sleep earlier. She must have been really tired. She had certainly been stressed. As memories of the horrible day before came back to her, she slid her legs off the chaise and groaned. Having slept in her heels, she noticed her feet were swollen. Gingerly, she pulled the shoes off and padded stocking-footed to the kitchen.

“Oh, great,” she said, opening the cupboard to find that she hadn't restocked the coffee. She'd have to pick up a cup at a drive-through.

Staggering into the bedroom with its attached en suite, she took a shower and changed into a loose shirt, jeans and running shoes. After coffee, maybe she'd go for a stroll in the nearby park. Nature always made her feel better.

On her way out, she started to grab for her purse, which she usually left on a table in the foyer. It wasn't there. Oh, right, she'd forgotten it in the car.

Downstairs, in the garage, she found her purse lying on the seat when she opened the door. She took out the cell and glanced at her messages and calls. Four messages from Caleb, two calls without messages from her father, then two more messages from Caleb. Hesitating, wondering if she wanted to hear what Caleb had to say, she contacted voice mail.

“Angela's missing...been kidnapped...miss you...please call me...” shocked her to attention. Her heart sped up immediately.

Without thinking, Grace started the car and accelerated out of the garage, intending to return to Sparrow Lake as fast as she could.

* * *

T
HE
TRUCK
STOP
where Caleb agreed to meet Grace was a short turnoff near the interstate. Driving north, she found it easily, a service station with a huge sign advertising diesel fuel and an attached lot where truckers could stop and spend the night. There seemed to be about a hundred semitrucks parked or moving in and out of the establishment.

She spotted Caleb's vehicle and pulled in next to it. He was standing near the door of the café a few yards away. Despite their argument of the day before, she immediately gave him a hug. He hugged her back, his touch comforting her. It felt like something she needed. That she couldn't do without.

“I'm so sorry, Caleb. Is there any news?” He had told Grace about the official search when she called him that morning.

“Not yet. While waiting here I remembered an old fishing cabin Lily and I used to go to with other kids back in the day. It was a place where we could escape our elders.”

“Did you tell the police?”

“Not yet. I think we ought to go there ourselves. Let them know if we find anyone.”

“Let's do it.”

They got in his truck and left her car to be picked up later. On the road, he asked, “Where have you been anyway?”

“Milwaukee. At my condo.”

“Forget your phone?”

“Actually, I did. I left it in my car all night.”

They discussed what had happened the previous evening until Alex Novak called to say state troopers had not spotted the vehicle as yet. After telling Alex where they were going, Caleb turned the truck off the highway onto country roads.

Grace unfolded a map. “Where is this cabin exactly?”

“I can't say for certain. I know it's near a lake. I think Shale Lake.”

“I don't see it on the map.”

“It's there. It's just not very big. Don't worry, I know where I'm going.”

“You remember after all these years?”

“Some things stick with you. It was the place where Lily and I...uh, decided we loved each other.”

He didn't have to be embarrassed about it, she thought, if that's why he'd hesitated. Too bad they didn't have a place to claim as their own in the future. If they even had a future.

“So you think Lily remembers this place, too?” she asked.

“Probably. If no one has spotted them on the highways, it's likely she's hiding somewhere.”

In another hour or so, Caleb turned off the bumpy dirt road. He followed tire tracks leading through brush and weeds. Trees grew denser and Grace could see the glimmer of water ahead from time to time.

“Shale Lake?”

“Right.”

Rounding a copse of trees, they came to a weathered cabin with a beat-up blue pickup parked nearby.

“Bingo!” cried Caleb. “That's the vehicle.”

They got out and rushed into the cabin to find Lily nonchalantly sitting in an old rocking chair, acting as if she was waiting for them.

“Where's Angela?” Caleb demanded immediately.

Lily shrugged. “I have no idea.”

“I know you took off with her,” Caleb said.

Lily remained cool. “I brought her here. She left.”

Caleb stormed, “You had no right to do that.”

“I'm her mother.”

“No excuse,” said Caleb. “You don't have custody of her.”

“So you think I was going to demand a ransom or something?”

“Weren't you? Which direction did she go?”

Lily sniffed. “I told you I have no idea. We stopped here overnight. She was gone when I woke up in the morning.”

“Hiking?” asked Grace.

“Maybe.” Lily then addressed Caleb. “What's she doing here?”

“Grace is helping me,” Caleb said. “She cares about Angela.”

“Even though Angela hates her,” remarked Lily with a tight smile.

Grace felt the pang Lily intended.

“Angela might very well change her mind,” said Caleb. “Now, since you don't know where my daughter is, we're going to go looking for her.” He took out his phone. “I'm going to call the police to come pick you up.”

“Police?” Lily appeared startled.

“You
kidnapped
someone,” Caleb said, emphasizing the word. “You're going to answer for it.”

Lily rose, obviously beginning to feel upset. “I just wanted to be with my baby. Why is that so awful?”

Caleb made the call. “Hi, Alex? We found Lily in that old fishing cabin that I was looking for.” He gave the directions.

Lily glanced around, as if looking for escape. She slid off, heading for the door.

Caleb caught her by the arm. “No, you don't.”

Grace hoped she wasn't going to have to watch an actual battle between the pair. But Lily settled down as Caleb led her to a post in the middle of the small cabin.

“Can you look for some rope?” Caleb asked Grace, indicating an old dusty chest in one corner.

“You're going to tie me up?” asked Lily.

“I want to make sure you don't go anywhere.”

“The pickup doesn't start.”

“That won't stop you. You've got feet.”

But securing Lily wasn't necessary since a state trooper arrived a few minutes later. A squad car must have already been in the area. Lily was cuffed, sobbing and sniffling. It almost made Grace feel sorry for her.

Caleb appeared regretful as well, but he was all business. “Let's go, Grace. I want to see if there's still a trail by the side of the lake. Angela would have taken that first.”

“You two are going alone?” asked the trooper. “There's some rough country out there. If you wait for a bit, we can organize an official search.”

“They can catch up with us,” Caleb said. “I don't like to think of my daughter being by herself.”

Outside, Grace followed Caleb down a trail by the lake that had pretty much grown over. Some yards on, Caleb found a footprint of Angela's sneaker. He set off, motioning for Grace to come along.

“She went this way.”

Soon they had made their way into the woods surrounding the lake.

“Who knows where she might be,” said Grace. “Even if we're going the right direction, she had hours to have gotten way ahead. Why do you think she left anyway?”

“Why would she stay? She didn't know what her mother was going to do.”

“I'm glad I got your message in time to help you,” she said.

“I appreciate that.”

Farther on, the trail all but disappeared into a thicket of evergreens. Caleb circled the area and found another footprint. “Lucky it rained a couple of nights ago. Shady areas are still damp.”

Still.
“I bet a police helicopter would help.”

“Yeah, it would. It takes a while to get a police search organized, though.” He thought a moment. “Walworth Builders has a plane?”

“Yes, it does. A small one.” But how did he know? “Did I mention that?”

“I saw your father before I left Sparrow Lake. He told me if he could help, he would.”

“You looked him up?” That was curious.

“He found me. He noticed all the activity at the police station and wondered what was going on.”

“He stayed in town then.” And after the things he'd said to her. “I thought he was going to Chicago.”

“He'd been trying to get hold of you.”

Having checked her phone, Grace knew that.

“Did he say we could use the plane to search for Angela?”

“Something like that.”

Touched that her father had made the offer when he'd seemed so negative about her and Caleb, she was already calling the Milwaukee office.