Read Online Behind Closed Doors by Debbi Rawlins - Free Book Online

usually such a grouch. It’s been a really bad day. Bad week. And it just started.” She straightened. “Except for you. You were terrific yesterday.” Grinning, she said, “I bet you’re still terrific today, too.”
    Nathan barked a short laugh. “You setting me up?”
    “For?”
    “I don’t know. I’ve got the feeling you want to talk me out of something else.”
    “Um...” His jeans maybe, she thought, and felt heat flood her face. “No,” she murmured, more to herself. “No, I’m going to let that one go.”
    “Yeah.” He quietly cleared his throat, and then she heard someone muttering in the background. “Sorry,” he said. “They need me outside.”
    “Is this the best number to call?” she asked quickly. It was his landline, and she was hoping for his cell number. “You know, in case I think of something.”
    “To talk me out of?”
    “Maybe.”
    “Hold on a second.” It sounded as if he’d pulled the phone away from his mouth when he said, “I’ll meet you outside in a minute, Woody.” More muttering. “I’m back. Let me give you my cell number. Do you have something to write with?”
    “I have a good memory.”
    “I’ll keep that in mind,” he said, and recited the number. “The one I have...is that your cell?”
    “It is. Sorry I kept you.” She saw the school bus pull away from the stop two blocks down but couldn’t see Liberty.
    “No problem.” He hesitated. “I’ll call later.”
    A shiver of pure pleasure slipped down Beth’s spine. “I look forward to it,” she murmured, then disconnected before her excitement tripped her up.
    She spotted the trio of older girls who always got off the bus with Liberty and watched them disappear into the variety store. With them out of the way, there was still no sign of her niece. Beth pushed off the tree and craned her neck. Maybe Liberty had already ducked into the store for a soda.
    “Hey, Beth...”
    She glanced at Larry, who was poking his shaggy brown head out the front door. For a young man barely out of his teens, he’d really impressed her with his carpentry skills.
    “I need to show you something,” he said. “A problem with the rear wall.”
    Sighing, she nodded. Problems seemed to be in no short supply lately. And naturally he was working on the room that would end up being her living quarters.
    She hurried up the steps, taking a final glance down Main Street. Still no Liberty in sight. Beth hoped she hadn’t been kept after school for causing trouble. No, she’d show up in a minute. And if not, Beth would stop overreacting and call her. Simple.
    * * *
    “ L IBERTY, IT’S ME AGAIN .” Beth stopped pacing the small kitchen and looked at the round clock hanging on the wall behind the microwave. “It’s six-forty. I’m at home now, so don’t go to the boardinghouse. Please call me. I’m very worried.”
    She dropped her cell on the table. This was the fourth message she’d left, so she wouldn’t hold her breath. Except she was so tense that was exactly what she’d been doing. She exhaled slowly, pressing a hand to her chest, not surprised that her lungs actually ached. As soon as she made sure Liberty was all right, Beth was going to strangle her.
    The kitchen was too small for her to burn off some adrenaline. The faux-wood microwave stand, its lower shelves crammed with pots and mismatched lids, kept getting in her way. She tried to steer clear of it but failed, ramming her foot against the corner.
    “Ouch.” She went still, then, balancing on one leg, brought up her foot. “Dammit.” The flimsy boot hadn’t protected her big toe. She hopped to the chair, sat down and pulled off the boot.
    Candace was gone. She’d left a note that she’d picked up an extra shift at the bar in Kalispell where she waited tables part-time. When Beth had called about Liberty, Candace’s lack of concern for her missing daughter had pushed every one of Beth’s buttons. She was still angry, more so than she’d been