Free Trent (Redemption Romance Book 4) by Anna Scott

perfect couple to have had that large family they wanted. Dad was worried about me, though, and I thought that their frequent visits had a lot to do with their need to see that I was okay and to get to know my friends. They wanted to have a clear picture of my safety. Dad had even gotten me a panic button, so worried about me walking to my apartment from campus, or being out after dark.
    Mom had obsessed those four years I was in school, reading every frightening story about girls being attacked on campuses around the country. They enrolled me in every self-defense class they could find, and even wanted to send me a dog, though I wasn’t allowed to have one at school or in the apartment I lived in.
    There was no doubt my parents spoiled me, they wanted nothing but my happiness. How could I ever burden them, or tell them about our miscarriage? It would have broken their hearts.
    Our lunch this week wasn’t possible, because, with Aurora away, I couldn’t leave the store. Even if Dawn came in early enough for me to go, I didn’t want to leave her alone any longer than I had to. I knew that she could handle it, as she had to do in the evenings all week, but Thursdays at lunch time could be brutal. A lot of women came into the store to find the perfect outfit for their weekend plans. Leaving Dawn alone with that would be unforgivable.
    After opening the store, my cell phone still held to my ear, I finally disengaged with my mom, as Gillian walked in. She looked frazzled, which was not normal for her at all. I did a quick scan and didn’t see anything overtly wrong. she wasn’t carrying a coffee or a pastry bag, though. Usually, when she stopped by for a visit, she would bring something fun, or something new for us to try. Now, she looked upset, possibly even worried.
    “Hey, you okay?” I asked, as she closed the front door behind her and leaned against the counter.
    “Yeah,” she answered distractedly and shook her head in the negative at the same time.
    I waited a few seconds, wanting to see if she would share on her own, or if she needed me to coax her. Before I made the decision, she moved toward me and ran her hand over the top of her head, like she was smoothing back her hair, that was always held tightly in a long ponytail or up in a bun. Her hair was meticulously neat, held firmly back, I knew so that none got into the delectable food she prepared.
    “I’m kind of freaked out,” she started, and paused, then looked around the store to make sure we were alone. “I just got a call from my cousin’s neighbor. Something is wrong, and I have no idea what.”
    “Missy, my cousin, has always been a mess, but manageable. She had a little girl two years ago and seemed to straighten up after that.”
    I nodded in encouragement when she paused, staring up at the ceiling as if trying to figure something out. She waited a few seconds and finished.
    “Anyway, Missy seemed to get herself together, she was working and stuff, my aunt was taking care of Kelly, but then my aunt got sick. So, the neighbor was watching her when my cousin went to work. After my Aunt died last winter, the neighbor said that Missy started getting home from work later and later, so late sometimes, that she’d just have Kelly sleep over. She noticed that a few times, Kelly hadn’t had a bath, or seemed like she hadn’t eaten. So, of course, she took care of that, but now, Missy is gone. She left for work yesterday morning, and hasn’t been back.”
    “That doesn’t sound good,” I told her inanely, since obviously, she already knew that. “Are they in Oklahoma?” I asked, trying to remember where she’d gone for the funeral several months ago.
    Shaking her head, she told me. “No, Shreveport.”
    Nodding my understanding, I thought that was at least one good thing, Shreveport was a much faster trip, if she had to run over there and see what was happening with her cousin.
    “I’d totally offer to go with you, but with Aurora...” I