It felt like she was on the edge of the ditch. If she moved around too much there was the chance they’d slide in completely. She glanced back at Hope who gave her a gummy grin, exposing the two tiny teeth on the bottom row.

She couldn’t take any risks that they’d slide into the ditch because they’d land on Hope’s side of the car. She could be pinned or even crushed.

A hysterical sob bubbled up from her throat. She clamped a hand over her mouth to keep from making a sound. It wouldn’t help anything for Hope to pick up on her distress. Right now the baby didn’t seem to realize anything was wrong.

Kay pulled a hairpin out of her bun and straightened it. Leaning carefully, she poked the bottom button on her phone. There were two beeps and then she said, “Call Elliott.”

“I do not understand,” the automated voice responded.

Kay hung her head. Her movement must have shifted the car again because there was another creak and she sucked in a terrified breath. If she couldn’t get the phone to work, she’d have to reach for it. If she reached for it, the car could tip over.

She took a deep breath, poked the button with the hair pin again, and then yelled, “CALL ELLIOTT!”

*   *   *   *   *

ELI PEERED THROUGH the windshield, scanning the side of the road and looking for Kay’s car. There weren’t that many people out driving since the local news had predicted that the storm would bring a heavy snowfall. Most New Haven residents were probably tucked into their homes safe and sound.

It had occurred to him that perhaps the GPS tracker on her car was malfunctioning. He’d had an image of her at home, completely unaware that they thought she was missing. So he’d driven by her apartment building. Her car wasn’t in the parking lot.

She was somewhere out in the storm.

He couldn’t even imagine what had possessed Kay to go out in this kind of weather. She was a practical, down-to-earth kind of girl. There must have been a good reason for her to drive in this weather, especially when she was supposed to be spending the holidays with her parents.

His cell phone rang, vibrating through the puffy layers of his coat. At the next available opportunity, he pulled over. The previous day’s snow had hardened overnight to form nearly invisible patches of ice on the roads. He’d passed several accidents already. It was hard enough to drive carefully in all this mess, he wasn’t going to attempt to do it while on the phone.

A car whizzed by, sending a spray of snow and ice onto the side of his truck. If people didn’t slow down and drive more carefully, there would be even more accidents.

When he pulled out his cell phone, his heartbeat quickened when he saw Kay’s picture on the screen.

“Kay, where are you?” He answered without preamble.

“Hello? Can you hear me?” Her voice sounded small. There were several shuffling sounds then he didn’t hear anything else.

“Kay! What’s happening?”

It was quiet, then he heard, “Eli, can you hear me?” A second later, she gasped and said, “Oh my god!”

“Kay, where are you?” he yelled. His hands clenched around his phone. If she was in trouble, he had to find out where she was. What if he couldn’t get to her in time?

“I’m on Magnolia Avenue. I’m in a ditch. I’m not sure how far I was before we started sliding.”

“Okay, Kay, I need you to listen to me. Are you hurt? What about the baby?”

The moments she was silent were some of the longest of Eli’s life. He was on the verge of yelling into the phone again when she finally answered with “We’re both okay. I don’t think she knows anything happened.”

Relief surged through Eli. His eyes drifted closed as he realized just how close to insane he’d been worrying about her. A girl that he hadn’t seen in months should not affect him so strongly. But that was a thought for him to examine at another time.

After he’d gotten her to safety.

He straightened up and put his truck back in gear. Magnolia Avenue was just two streets over and didn’t usually see a lot of traffic. Hopefully he could get over to her in five minutes or less. God help anyone who got in his way.

“I’m not that far from you, so I should be there in a few minutes. I’m on my way. Just hold on.”

CHAPTER THREE

THE NEXT FIVE minutes were the longest of her life.

Kay sat completely still and focused on her breathing. In. Out. In. Out. If she thought about things for too long, she’d start to freak out. She was trapped in her car with her daughter. On the edge of a ditch.

“Eli, I hope you’re almost here.”

Kay chanced a look into the back seat. Hope was staring out the window, two fingers in her mouth. She let out a breath. Everything was going to be fine. Eli would get them out.

It was completely irrational, but she always felt like nothing too bad could ever happen when Eli was near. He was strong and confident. Without a word, he could walk into a room and take charge of it. Just talking to him on the phone had made her feel better. All she had to do was follow his instructions and he’d get her out of this mess. Kay put a hand to her lips, not surprised to find that she was smiling.

I am so ridiculous.

She was stuck in her car on the edge of a ditch, but she was smiling because it meant she’d get to see Eli. There was really no reason for her to be happy. It wasn’t as if Eli was going to be happy to see her.

Her smile faded.