Page 44 of A Change Of Heart

A friendly welcoming town in a world that had gone mad.

Not hearing anything unusual, she decided it had probably been Henry attempting to start the truck he owned.It was ready for the junkyard but her boss didn't see it that way.

She returned toAs the Wind Blows.It was really heating up and she enjoyed every minute of it.Then she heard the sound again.This time she tiptoed to her door and glanced through the peephole.The narrow entrance led to the outdoor stairs straight ahead, and the side door was used to enter the shop.It locked automatically from the inside.

Seeing nothing she returned to her computer, crossing her legs comfortably, back to the pillows.It came again.Louder this time.

Quietly, she opened the door an inch only to see the back of a man fleeing down the stairs to the street.Shaking, she quickly locked up and used the chain, then moved a chair to block the knob.

She grabbed her cell and punched in Jason's number, hoping to catch him home.

It rang several times before he picked up.

"Stephanie, this is a surprise."

She couldn't tell by the sound of his voice if it was a good or bad one."I know.I'm an idiot but I'm scared and alone, and you're the first person I thought of."

"Has something happened?"Alarm rang in his tone.

"I'm okay but I was awakened by a noise, and it wasn't coming from the street.Then I heard it again and peeked through the door...”

"Get to the point."

"I am.You don't need to be mean about it."

His sigh rattled through the phone line."What did you see?A mouse?A raccoon, a bat?"

"No!Holy crap!”She eyed the ceiling.“Can they get in here?"

"An old building like yours, it's possible.Especially rats."

"Jason!I saw the back of a man running toward the outdoor stairs."

"Good Lord!Why didn't you say this before?"

"I tried, but you didn't let me."

"Okay, sit tight and I'll be there as soon as I can.Keep your phone handy."

"I will...and thanks, Jason."

Stephanie shut off her computer and sat on the bed watching the door, listening for any sound that meant her intruder had returned.Her hands trembled and she felt a chill in the air.She wrapped a cozy blanket around herself, then used her tiny bathroom to wash her face and freshen up.Not for Jason but for herself.Her finishing touch was a pale lip gloss and squirt of perfume.

Her heart was pounding when she left the bathroom and sat on the bed.What if the stranger managed to push his way in?

Another twenty minutes passed, then she heard what she hoped was Jason pounding on the door."It's me.Open up."

She removed the chair against the door and opened it wide, practically pulling him inside.Then she threw her arms around him and hugged him tight.

Together or not, he was her hero and always would be.

***

Jason stepped asidewith regret, placing his hands on Steph’s shoulders.He bent over to look her in the eye."I'm glad you called but what did you see?"

"I might have overreacted, but I heard some movement outside the door and couldn't see anything from that useless peephole.I opened the door a crack and saw a man fleeing.I don't know if he would have harmed me or just came in from the cold, but it nearly frightened me to death."

Jason took her back in his arms to calm her down."Steph, I'm sorry.We've had a really crappy twenty-four hours."

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