You Can't Hide by Theresa Sneed (uplifting novels TXT) 📕

tried to change the subject. “How have you guys been? How’s Sam?”

Elle twisted the ring around her finger. “Fabulous. He’s got another speaking engagement this morning.” They had arrived at the baggage claim and grabbed Nancy’s luggage off the circular track.

Nancy took the handle of her bag. She waited for Elle to continue, but then decided to forge ahead on a new topic—anything to veer away from the manuscript. She’d been thinking of getting her own place, that’d be a good diversion from the manuscript. “Hey, I need to talk to you.” They made their way to the exit. The car was parked nearby.

Elle looked at her. “Oh? About what?”

Nancy loaded her luggage in the back of the car. She got into the vehicle. “I’m not sure what you and Sam have decided, but wherever you go after the execution, I’m going to.”

Elle nodded. “That’s a given, Nancy.”

Nancy touched her arm. “Yes, of course it is, but I’d like to get my own place.” Seeing Elle’s surprised look, she continued, “not far away, within walking distance, so Sally can come and go.”

Elle pulled onto the road. “But, why?”

It seemed like Elle didn’t understand. Nancy sighed. “It’s a good thing, Elle. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I can live life and not just go about from day to day.”

“Wow. That is a good thing.”

Nancy grinned. “Yes, a very good thing.”

The rest of the way home, Elle talked about Sally. “And she has a new friend,” Elle said, as they pulled into the driveway.

The tone of her voice perplexed Nancy. “Who?”

Elle made a face. “I mean, he seems nice enough.”

“He?”

Elle opened the car door. “Uh-huh.”

“A boy?”

“Yep.”

Nancy was okay with Sally having a friend, of course, she was. It didn’t bother her at all that it was a boy. “What’s his name?”

“Breccan.”

Inside, Nancy went straight to Sally’s room. Finding her fast asleep, she opted to kiss her on the forehead and not wake her.

Back in the hallway, she ran into Elle. “She does feel a little warm.”

Elle grimaced. “Yes, poor thing. She just took some medicine. She’ll probably sleep for a while.” She followed Nancy into her room. “Can I have the manuscript? There’s a few things I thought of that I’d like to add.”

Nancy groaned. At least they got home first, that way, Elle couldn’t kick her out of the car. A deep sigh left her throat. She led Elle into the kitchen where her upcoming scream wouldn’t disturb Sally. “Sit down.” She pulled a chair out for Elle and then sat across the table from her. “It’s gone, Elle. I lost the manuscript.”

Twenty-Seven

Misplaced

Elle collapsed onto the table. “What?” She looked up at Nancy, sure she had heard her wrong. “You did what?”

Nancy tapped her fingers on the table top. “Well, your manuscript is not really lost, it’s just misplaced.”

Elle gave her an incredulous look. “How can something be misplaced and not lost?” The last of her words came out sternly.

“Um.” Nancy twisted her hands. “It was an accident.” She pulled up a chair beside her.

Elle’s shoulders dropped. “An accident?” She was holding tight to the not lost part, otherwise, she’d really be losing it.

“Wendy, one of the administrators of the complex, she packed it in someone else’s suitcase by accident.”

Elle jumped up. “Someone else has my manuscript?”

“Um, yes.” Nancy stood. “She feels bad about it and promised she’d get it back to us as quick as possible.”

Elle started shaking. “Do you trust this person?”

Nancy nodded. “Completely.” She sat back down. “I’m really sorry, Elle. I’m just sick about it.”

Elle could tell her words were sincere. She sighed. She patted her arm. “No, no, it wasn’t your fault at all.”

Nancy made a face. “Well, maybe a little . . .” She held her finger and thumb up showing a tiny space between them.

“What?” Elle’s eyes widened. “How?”

Nancy folded her hands on the table. “I think it’s okay to tell you about Sofia, but only if you don’t talk to anyone else about her.”

Elle put her hands on her hips. “Yeah, like who do I ever talk to?”

Nancy shrugged. “Mimi?”

Elle frowned. Like she’d ever told Mimi anything clandestine, even about themselves. “Okay, not even to Mimi.” She was getting a little irritated. It didn’t escape her that Nancy had first said the manuscript was lost, only to a few seconds later retract it, and say it was only misplaced. She guessed Nancy’s little ruse had worked though—misplaced was a lot more palpable than lost. “Who is Sofia and what does she have to do with my manuscript?”

“It was her suitcase that Wendy put the manuscript in.”

“And this Sofia didn’t see that my manuscript was in her stuff?”

“No. The last time I saw Sofia, she probably didn’t even know her own name.”

Elle’s eyebrows rose. Sofia must be a drunk. “Great. Just great.” She drummed her fingers on the table. “A drunkard has my book.” She growled.

Nancy held her hands up. She looked surprised and hurt. “Sofia is not a drunkard.”

It seemed as though Nancy was defending Sofia’s inability to function as a normal human being. “That doesn’t make sense, Nancy. What other reason would Sofia have to not see things right in front of her face?” She snarled. “What is she? A lunatic?”

Nancy was clearly offended. “That’s just not nice.” She scraped the chair legs against the floor and stormed toward her room. “Let me know when you want to talk, but I’ve had enough.”

Unbelievable. Elle’s jaw fell open. She’d not expected that response. She’d undoubtedly touched a raw nerve. Her thoughts raced back to her last words. “Lunatic?” She sucked in a breath and hurried to Nancy’s room.

Tapping lightly on the door, she said, “I’m sorry, Nancy.”

The door opened a crack. Nancy looked out. “Sofia is a lunatic, at times,” she said softly, “and at other times, she’s one of the most incredible people that I’ve ever met.” She opened the door and let Elle in. “I’m sorry about your manuscript.” She sat on the bed.