Page 51 of Paco
Chapter Sixteen
Telling Paco aboutthe kidnapping had been the best thing she’d ever done. She’d kept all the details of her harrowing ordeal in the recesses of her mind for so long, and now that she’d shared it with him, she felt an enormous albatross had been lifted from her.
Bringing her fingers to her lips, she touched them, remembering their kiss.I’m crazy about him. He’s been so good to me.She was beginning to trust him, and she hoped he was beginning to trust her and let her into his life. Since she’d read the letter Cassie had written to him while he’d been deployed, she understood why he put up such a tough exterior with women.He’s afraid of getting hurt again. Just like me. But he’s showing me that I can trust him. How do I show him he can do the same with me?Sharing her life with him had been a gigantic step for her; she hoped he understood that and realized what it meant to her to do that.
Slowly she padded over to the dresser and grabbed the box he’d given her the night before. Taking the phone out, she clicked on the power button. With shaking fingers, she tapped in her old phone number. She waited with bated breath, her heart skipping a beat at each ring.
“Hello?”
Mom. After all these years, it’s Mom.The lump in her throat pulsed.
“Hello? Is somebody there?”
“Mom,” she croaked.
Dead silence.
“Chelsea? My God! Chelsea, is that you?” Her mother’s voice rose in pitch and tears laced it.
“It’s me, Mom. I’m finally free. I missed you so much. I thought about you every day. And Kate. How’s Kate? Is she in college? Oh, Mommy, how I’ve missed you.” Self-control crumbled and all the heartache, the longing, the fear came tumbling out like a dam breaking and releasing a tsunami of water. Her knees gave out and she sank to the floor.
“I love you, sweetheart. I always knew in my heart that you were alive. I never stopped searching for you,” her mother sobbed.
In the background, Chelsea heard her stepfather ask, “What’s the matter, Linda?”
“Nothing. It’s all wonderful. Beautiful. Chelsea is alive. She’s here on the phone. She’s coming home. Where are you, honey? We’ll come pick you up.”
Before she could answer, her stepfather came on the phone. “Chelsea? Where are you?”
Past feelings and dislikes reared up. “Put Mom back on the phone.”
“She’s crying too much right now. Where are you?”
“I’m safe. Let me talk to Mom.”
“Why won’t you tell us where you are? Is this really Chelsea?”
“It’s me. Give me Mom.”
“Not until you tell us where you are.”
“For God’s sake, Peter. Leave her alone.” Some slight noise in the background. “Sweetie, it’s Mom. Are you safe?”
“I am. I’m with a friend. He’s going to bring me home. I’ll call you when I’m on my way.”
“When are you coming? I can’t wait to hug you. My baby.”
“Soon. I’ll call you again, Mom.”
“Did she call the police?” she heard Peter yell.
“Tell him no. Mom, the kidnappers told me they’d hurt you and Kate. Please be safe. I’m scared they’ll come after you. I’d die if that happened.”
“I’ll call the police and tell them.”
“Don’t call them until I get there, okay? Just watch out for anything suspicious, and if you see anyone around who’s acting strange, call 911. Promise me, okay, Mom?”
“I will.”
