Christmas at Timberwoods - Fern Michaels [60]
Angela followed Amy down the hall into the bathroom. “See these little net bags of herbs? Take one, tie it under the faucet, and let the water run through it. When the tub is full, untie it and let it float in the water. After you’ve soaked for a while you’ll feel like a new person. I grow the herbs on my windowsill in the kitchen. I have scented soap and Ivory. Which would you like?”
“Ivory will be fine, Mrs. Summers.”
“Here are the towels,” Amy said, opening the cabinet under the sink. “Bath powder and shampoo are in the medicine cabinet. I just might have something from the old days that would fit you. I didn’t always dress in tents.” She laughed.
She was back in a few minutes, her arms full of clothes. “You take your time now. Soak as long as you like.”
As soon as Amy Summers closed the door into the hall, Angela dashed into the bedroom to use the telephone. She had no idea how long Eric Summers planned on keeping her here, but she didn’t want Charlie worrying about her or thinking she’d run out on him. If there was one thing she’d learned about Charlie in the short time she’d known him, it was that he could jump to conclusions. She wasn’t sure what she was going to say to him when she got hold of him, but something would come to her. She hated the thought of lying to someone who’d given her shelter, no questions asked, but she had no choice. If she told him the truth about herself he might not like her anymore.
She felt a twinge of guilt at using the phone without asking, but she hadn’t brought her cell and it wasn’t as though anyone had asked her to come here. She’d been forced. Practically kidnapped.
She had memorized Charlie’s number, which was the same prefix as her own. She counted the rings—two, three, four, six. He wasn’t home, and without an answering machine she couldn’t leave a message. Maybe she could try again after her bath.
When Amy settled herself in the living room the young police officer was gone. She stared at her husband with wide eyes.
“I don’t want you to interfere, Amy. There will be other people here shortly, and I want you to stay in the kitchen or bedroom. Do you understand ?”
“I understand you,” Amy said quietly.
“But you have no intention of doing what I ask, is that it?”
Amy nodded.
“This is a tricky situation, Amy. She has information we desperately need.”
“The girl is scared half to death, Eric. Where are her parents? Why was she brought here in handcuffs?”
“Look, Amy, believe me, it’s better you don’t know. You’re going to have to trust me. You have my word that nothing is going to happen to her. All we want to do is talk to her. Talk, Amy, that’s all. Why don’t you let me make you a cup of tea? You look tired.”
“I don’t want any tea and I’m not tired. Why are you trying to sidetrack me? How long are you going to keep her here?”
“She can leave any time she wants after she talks to us.”
“All right, Eric, I’ll go into the kitchen, but I want to see that girl before she leaves here. Promise me,” Amy said firmly.
“I promise,” Eric said shortly.
“I’m going to clean up the kitchen and then I’m going to bake a cake.”
“Fine, fine. Why don’t you make two cakes,” Eric said absently.
“Great idea and I’ll frost them with arsenic. How would you like that?”
“Whatever you say. You know I like cake,” Eric replied, his mind on other things.
The doorbell chimed. Eric opened it to admit Noel, Lex, and Harold.
“You really found her?” Lex asked, amazed. “Where is she?”
“Taking a bath,” Eric said disgustedly. “An herb bath, no less. Amy decided to do a little advance mothering. Angela has to scrub off a lot of mud and wash her hair, and then God only knows what else. She’s been in there a long time; she should be out soon. How about a drink while we’re waiting?”
“That sounds good to me.” Harold beamed. Noel and Lex nodded in agreement and watched Eric