Nowhere to Hide Read Online Free PDF

Tiger—crazy cat. I forgot to feed him and he was letting me know in no uncertain terms."
    Ellen let out the breath she’d been holding. She couldn’t stop herself from asking, "Are your doors locked?" and heard the indulgent smile in her sister’s answer. "Yes, Mommy, my doors are locked—double locked, in fact. Windows, too. But I love you for worrying."
    ~ * ~
     
    Upstairs, Ellen set about making up the other twin bed. This time tomorrow night, Gail would be in it. She could have waited until morning to make it up, but she was still feeling restless. She’d splurged on candy-striped sheets and pillowcases, and bought a pretty pale green satin puff to match the one on her own bed.
    A bouquet of yellow roses was centered on the small, wicker table by the door. Off-white walls, soft lighting from milky globes, splashes of green provided by hanging plants and an assortment of pillows all conspired to give the room a bright, airy feel. For a long time she’d kept everything just as it was when Ed was alive. She’d found comfort in being surrounded by those things they’d shared together. It had made it easier to pretend he was still with her. But now she needed to create a space of her own. It was time to let go of the past.
    Ellen wandered to the window, one of two overlooking the dense, piney woods behind the house. She could see only blackness outside, a faint silhouette of the tree outside her window, and her own ghostly reflection in the glass.
          Turning from the window, she stood uncertainly. There was something she must do. Something important she’d forgotten but she couldn’t think what it was. The turkey was in the freezer, all the fixings for their Christmas dinner bought. No Kraft Dinner this time.
    Finally, taking off her robe and stepping out of her slippers, Ellen crept between the cool sheets and waited for sleep to come. But her mind was not easy, as it had not been easy all day, and for a long time she lay listening to the house settling, to the howling wind outside, and tried to still the nagging sense of foreboding within her.
     

 
     
    Five
     
    After hanging up the phone, Gail slipped out of her white, strapless dress. Draping it carefully over a wooden hanger and covering it with the plastic bag from the cleaners, she hung it up in the closet and closed the door.
    With a little sigh, she picked up her cup of tea by the phone and took a sip. It had gone lukewarm and she made a face, accompanied by a small sound of disgust. Setting the cup back down in its saucer, it rattled a little as a yawn overtook her. She was starting to wind down. Good, that meant she would sleep. She glanced down at the packed bags on the floor at the foot of the bed—a happy, reassuring sight. Her Christmas gifts to Ellen were stacked on the chair, all gaily wrapped, topped with bright, shiny bows. All but the last one, but she’d get to that in the morning.
    Stifling another yawn and wondering how in hell she was going to lug all this stuff out of the house, she perched on the edge of the bed, toed off her silver high-heeled sandals and peeled off her pantyhose. Leaving them on the floor where she’d dropped them, clad only in her strapless bra and white silk half-slip, she padded to the vanity, where she sat down and switched on the lamp. She began taking out her rhinestone—albeit "very good" rhinestone earrings. The beige tweed carpeting felt soft and soothing under her bare feet, and she indulged them in a little massage.
    And then Gail’s feet grew still as she sniffed the air, thinking she smelled cigarette smoke. But since neither she nor Sandi smoked, she must be imagining it. Unless she’d brought the smell home in her clothes and hair. Gross. After a moment, she forgot about it, caught up in thoughts of her sister and the wonderful time they were going to have together.
    Ellen would love what she’d gotten her, Gail thought, setting the earrings on the vanity top and picking up the brush,