Free Winter's Destiny by Nancy Allan

Gramps.”
    “Who said I’ve got an answer?”
    Amy ignored the remark. “Who was our family doctor when I was born?”
    “Why?” he asked suspiciously.
    “I need some medical background.”
    “What for?”
    “It’s important,” Amy insisted.
    “He’s dead.”
    Amy almost dropped her cell phone. “Dead?”
    “Yup. Burned up in the hospital fire not long after you were born.”
     

CHAPTER 13
     
     
    Yard lighting cast shadows from Nita’s two-story home onto the driveway. The house was dark, except for the porch light. Amy grew increasingly impatient as Brandon’s cell continued to go to voice mail, so she backed from the drive and headed for the park, thinking she may find them there. No luck. She tried a few more places; then returned to the house. This time the dog greeted her as she stepped out of the Jeep. Amy gave him a fast pat and ran up the walk to the door. Nita opened it with a surprised expression. “You’re not here for Jamie, I hope?”
    Alarm bells sounded. “Of course.”
    “Dan picked him up hours ago, Amy. Didn’t he tell you? You weren’t feeling well, so he—” she saw Amy’s look, “well you did sound kind of—” she cleared her throat, “—out of sorts. Anyway, he picked up Jamie, like I said.”
    The color drained from Amy’s face. Dan had moved his personal things out in the night, what reason would he have to pick up Jamie? Especially when he never picked up Jamie. Worried, Amy asked,“Where’s Dan now? Did he take Jamie home?”
    “No idea. What’s wrong? Amy, wait!”
    Amy dashed to the truck and rammed it into reverse. She had no idea what Dan was up to, but she knew it had to do with his sudden decision to leave her, and it looked like he might be planning to take Jamie with him. There’s no way I’m going to let that happen!
    She skidded onto Lighthouse Road, almost colliding head-on with a big delivery truck. She swerved hard right, skimmed the front end, and then struggled for control of the Jeep as it fishtailed, slamming its rear end along the side of the truck. The exterior mirror grazed the van box and exploded into the air. Amy threw the Jeep onto the soft shoulder and came to a sliding stop. Taking no time to recover, she angled the truck back onto the rutted pavement and glanced in the rearview mirror. The big truck was gone. She was surprised, and a little angry, that the driver didn’t bother to stop.
    Amy pressed harder on the accelerator and a few minutes later she skidded onto her own driveway, sliding to a diagonal stop. Dan’s Mercedes wasn’t there, but lights were on inside the house, and the front door stood slightly ajar.
    Amy ran inside. Glancing in her study, she saw it was exactly as she had left it. She rushed to the family room and stopped with a sharp intake of breath. Everything was gone including Jamie’s small computer center. She checked the library next. Dan had no interest in the old furniture she had brought from her grandparent’s home. The room was untouched. The living-dining area was vacant; the furniture, paintings, and rugs were gone. Only the wedding pictures had been left behind. Numb, Amy looked in the kitchen. Everything was the same as she’d left it. Nothing removed. The small kitchen table and the three chairs were still by the window.
    Amy ran upstairs. The guestroom was untouched. It was Jamie’s room that stopped her dead. In a trance, Amy stepped inside, her hands running over the bare walls. Everything—every piece of furniture, every toy, every item of clothing—was gone. His room was completely bare. “No!” she cried, “Dan, you bastard!”
    She was momentarily stunned. Why had he done this? Looking around the empty room, she wondered what her little boy would make of what was happening. Jamie had been born in this house. Moving was not one of his life experiences. He would wonder why Daddy took their belongings out of their home, and where Mommy was. And in the end, Jamie wouldn’t understand