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Authors: Barbara Kaylor
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Ellen pushed Dolly to her favorite dress shop. The owner and sales associates dropped everything to welcome Dolly as she came through the door.
Dolly returned the greetings, but got right down to business. True to Rand’s words, Ellen was treated cordially and discreetly. Ellen forgot her worries and had fun, selecting flattering outfits, but it all changed at their third stop.
Ellen noticed a woman around her age, staring at her. The scrutiny made Ellen nervous. The woman acted as if she recognized Ellen, but wasn’t sure from where. When Ellen took a handful of items to the fitting room, the woman followed closely and chose the stall next to hers. Ellen waited long enough for the woman to be in the midst of changing then hurried out and asked Dolly if they could come back later.
“I think we should have lunch,” Ellen answered Dolly’s befuddled expression.
Instead of going to the food court, Dolly suggested a pricey restaurant away from the high traffic areas.
“The broccoli-cheese soup is delicious,” Dolly said as Ellen pushed the chair along with her head down. No one else seemed particularly interested in her, but Ellen remained on high alert.
“Would you like a window table?” The hostess asked when they entered the posh eatery.
“No,” Ellen answered quickly. “The back would be nice.”
“What’s the matter, Ellen?” Dolly asked after they were seated. “You seem nervous.”
Ellen mentioned the lady in the last dress shop.
“Maybe she was just checking out your flattering hairstyle.” Dolly attempted to soothe Ellen.
“I don’t think so, Dolly.” Ellen turned pale. The woman had followed them into the restaurant and was sitting alone at a nearby table. “She’s here. Don’t turn around. I don’t want her to know I’ve spotted her.”
They took their time, hoping the woman would leave before them, but she seemed to be pacing her movements with theirs. Ellen’s appetite had dissipated, but she ate the soup to please Dolly.
“I’m sorry the day has been ruined,” Dolly said.
“It hasn’t been, Dolly.” Ellen forced a lift in her spirits. “This may all be a coincidence. I’m just being overly suspicious.” Ellen told Dolly about the newspaper article that morning. Dolly whipped out her phone and called Edward. She told him where to pick them up.
“We’ll go somewhere else to shop.” Dolly put her phone away. “I know a few out-of-the way places.”
“Thank you, Dolly.”
After paying, they made their way to the exit where Edward was to meet them. Ellen was moving quickly.
“Calm down, Ellen,” Dolly said. “You don’t know if that woman recognized you. Your imagination is playing tricks on you. I’m sure she was just curious and will forget the whole matter once the day’s over.”
Ellen knew Dolly was wrong. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the woman rounding a corner, heading toward them.
“We won’t have to wait. Edward’s here!” Dolly announced to Ellen’s relief. Ellen pushed the automatic door button then rolled Dolly outside. Edward had parked in a handicapped spot like before, and Ellen pushed the wheelchair over to it. A nonchalant glimpse over her shoulder confirmed what she had suspected. The strange woman had reached the doors and was watching their every move.
Ellen tossed her bags in the trunk while Edward helped Dolly into the car. As they drove off, Ellen slid a casual sideways glance toward the mall door. The woman was still there, and she had a scowl on her face.
Even though Dolly made sure the rest of the afternoon was pleasant, Ellen couldn’t shirk the feeling that something bad was about to happen to her.
Chapter 6
Ellen’s fears dissipated after three weeks passed and nothing out of the ordinary happened. Things had settled into such a routine, she barely gave the
Ellen pushed Dolly to her favorite dress shop. The owner and sales associates dropped everything to welcome Dolly as she came through the door.
Dolly returned the greetings, but got right down to business. True to Rand’s words, Ellen was treated cordially and discreetly. Ellen forgot her worries and had fun, selecting flattering outfits, but it all changed at their third stop.
Ellen noticed a woman around her age, staring at her. The scrutiny made Ellen nervous. The woman acted as if she recognized Ellen, but wasn’t sure from where. When Ellen took a handful of items to the fitting room, the woman followed closely and chose the stall next to hers. Ellen waited long enough for the woman to be in the midst of changing then hurried out and asked Dolly if they could come back later.
“I think we should have lunch,” Ellen answered Dolly’s befuddled expression.
Instead of going to the food court, Dolly suggested a pricey restaurant away from the high traffic areas.
“The broccoli-cheese soup is delicious,” Dolly said as Ellen pushed the chair along with her head down. No one else seemed particularly interested in her, but Ellen remained on high alert.
“Would you like a window table?” The hostess asked when they entered the posh eatery.
“No,” Ellen answered quickly. “The back would be nice.”
“What’s the matter, Ellen?” Dolly asked after they were seated. “You seem nervous.”
Ellen mentioned the lady in the last dress shop.
“Maybe she was just checking out your flattering hairstyle.” Dolly attempted to soothe Ellen.
“I don’t think so, Dolly.” Ellen turned pale. The woman had followed them into the restaurant and was sitting alone at a nearby table. “She’s here. Don’t turn around. I don’t want her to know I’ve spotted her.”
They took their time, hoping the woman would leave before them, but she seemed to be pacing her movements with theirs. Ellen’s appetite had dissipated, but she ate the soup to please Dolly.
“I’m sorry the day has been ruined,” Dolly said.
“It hasn’t been, Dolly.” Ellen forced a lift in her spirits. “This may all be a coincidence. I’m just being overly suspicious.” Ellen told Dolly about the newspaper article that morning. Dolly whipped out her phone and called Edward. She told him where to pick them up.
“We’ll go somewhere else to shop.” Dolly put her phone away. “I know a few out-of-the way places.”
“Thank you, Dolly.”
After paying, they made their way to the exit where Edward was to meet them. Ellen was moving quickly.
“Calm down, Ellen,” Dolly said. “You don’t know if that woman recognized you. Your imagination is playing tricks on you. I’m sure she was just curious and will forget the whole matter once the day’s over.”
Ellen knew Dolly was wrong. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the woman rounding a corner, heading toward them.
“We won’t have to wait. Edward’s here!” Dolly announced to Ellen’s relief. Ellen pushed the automatic door button then rolled Dolly outside. Edward had parked in a handicapped spot like before, and Ellen pushed the wheelchair over to it. A nonchalant glimpse over her shoulder confirmed what she had suspected. The strange woman had reached the doors and was watching their every move.
Ellen tossed her bags in the trunk while Edward helped Dolly into the car. As they drove off, Ellen slid a casual sideways glance toward the mall door. The woman was still there, and she had a scowl on her face.
Even though Dolly made sure the rest of the afternoon was pleasant, Ellen couldn’t shirk the feeling that something bad was about to happen to her.
Chapter 6
Ellen’s fears dissipated after three weeks passed and nothing out of the ordinary happened. Things had settled into such a routine, she barely gave the
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