Page 149 of A Very Naughty Christmas

He’d called and asked Mary if she’d given Kendra his message and number. Mary had assured him she had done so. So why was his cell phone so markedly silent?

Derek called and checked in with Jim, one of the doctors in his practice. Jim predictably asked about his mom.

“She’ll be fine. It ended up just being a mild attack. Dad was just scared because she’s never been sick and she’s his rock.”

“Totally understandable, I don’t know what I’d do if anything ever happened to my Susie. Don’t worry about anything, we’ve got you covered until you’re ready to come back,” Jim assured him.

“She was released this morning so I’ll head back tomorrow.” Derek took a deep breath. “Has anything happened to Kendra? I expected…”

“Kendra quit without notice the day after you left,” Jim interrupted him to say. “Mary said she left without any explanation. I have to admit I was pretty shocked; she seemed much more responsible than this when I hired her.”

Derek frowned. “Quit? I don’t understand what could have happened.” Now he was worried because he knew this wasn’t like Kendra. Something had happened after he’d rushed to Denver and he would damn sure get to the bottom of it, or the bottom of a very badly behaved young lady.

He got off the phone with Jim and went to find his parents. His dad had his mom firmly ensconced on the couch and was just laying a tray across her lap.

“I expect you to eat every bit of that, young lady. No arguments,” his father told her firmly.

“Harry, I wish you wouldn’t fuss so,” his mother groused, a slight flush on her still smooth features. “I’m used to taking care of you. I don’t like this at all.”

“Tut! Margaret Malcom, did I just tell you no arguments?”

Derek was beginning to get uncomfortable with the scene unfolding between hisparents. There were some things a son didn’t want to be privy to.

“I’d listen to Dad if I were you, Mom,” he said smoothly, coming into the room and leaning down to kiss her cheek. She beamed up at him and patted his hand before picking up her spoon and obediently taking a mouthful of soup. “He only has your best interests at heart.”

“I know, dear, I just feel so useless lying around on the couch while your father does my job,” Margaret said with a little frown as she continued to eat her soup.

His father leaned down over her, caging her between his arms, and looked her right in the eye. “Your only job right now is to get better. Am I understood?”

Derek wanted to groan when his mother blushed like a schoolgirl and giggled, “Yes, sir.”

“That’s my girl!” his father said, obviously pleased with her response and kissing the top of her head before straightening.

Derek cleared his throat. “It’s obvious my presence has become superfluous around here so I think I will head home now.”

His father frowned. “Now? I thought you were waiting until tomorrow.”

“Something is going on with Kendra and I need to get it sorted out,” Derek said honestly. He’d told his parents all about her and that he intended to marry her.

“Has something happened?” his mom asked worriedly.

“I don’t know; she quit the day after I left to come here without a word. I need to find out what happened,” he told them.

His father clapped him on the back. “Go get your girl, son, and bring her home to meet us at Christmas.”

“Yes, sir!” Derek said with a grin. He hugged both his parents, then grabbed his bag and was in his truck on the way back to Colorado Springs within twenty minutes. Suddenly it seemed imperative to get to Kendra.

He had a hollow feeling in his gut that would not be assuaged.

* * *

It had been four days since she’d seen Derek, three days since she quit the clinic. Kendra hadn’t left the apartment; she’d barely left the couch, staring blankly at the TV, sometimes railing at it, sometimes crying quietly.

How could he have left her without a word?

When the firm knock sounded on the door, she tried to ignore it, but whoever it was didn’t give up easily, pounding again and again. Finally with an irritated sigh she climbed up from the couch and made her way to the door; it better not be a Jehovah’s Witness.

She was shocked to open the door to a clearly irritated Derek. He straightened andimmediately pushed past her into the apartment.

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