Free Lost and Found by Breanna Hayse Page B

just let life move him. Kathy was right, he was a control freak, and it was keeping him from being free. With new life lessons in mind, Lance resumed his jog.
    Noelle was sitting at the kitchen table with Kathy and Todd when he arrived home. She ran to him for a hug, and then pulled away, holding her nose.
    “You’re icky. Aunt Kathy! Daddy needs a bath.”
    “Oh yeah? You don’t like manly smells?” Lance laughed, grabbing the girl and squeezing her against him as she squealed and tried to escape.
    “You are so disgusting.” Kathy scolded, slapping her brother’s arm. “Are you trying to kill the child with your man-stench? For God’s sake, shower!’
    “Let me guess, he did that to you, too,” Todd asked, sipping his coffee.
    “Both of them did. Noelle? Let’s get you cleaned up and see what plans Daddy has for you today. I think Uncle Alan might be stopping by later.”
    “What about Maggie and the girls?” Todd asked. Kathy gave him a dirty look and he grew silent.
    His sister-in-law was not always the most subtle of people when she had an opinion, and he suspected hers would not be favorable regarding Noelle or the circumstance that brought her to live with them. Further, saying that Maggie and Kathy did not get along, was an understatement. Maggie disapproved of the relationship that her husband maintained with his sister, especially now that Kathy was married. She also felt compelled to compete with Kathy for Alan’s attention. Kathy, on the other hand, snubbed Maggie for not treating her brother the way she thought he deserved. Kathy was very domestic and adored waiting on her men hand and foot, especially when it came to cooking and cleaning. Maggie could not even make toast and rarely raised a finger to clean. Her only saving grace was that she was an attentive mother to the twins.
    Lance quickly showered and threw on some old jeans and his Lakers jersey, humming happily as he prepared to spend his first whole day with his girls and Todd. Noelle met him downstairs, jumping into his arms and kissing his cheek merrily.
    “You smell lots better. Did you eat breakfast? It’s good for you,” she asked, her pale eyebrows drawn in concern.
    “Not yet, Little Miss. I went running. Do you like to run?”
    “I don’t know how.”
    “You’ve never run before? Even when you were little?”
    “I don’t know. How do you run?”
    “It’s like walking really fast. Aunt Kathy used to go running with me all the time.
    Maybe she can do it again with us.” Lance looked at his sister hopefully.
    “I would love to. Maybe we can convince Uncle Todd to go, too.”
    “Don’t count on that,” Todd grumbled, opening the paper. “Hey, guys, it looks like there’s been a wee bit of trouble at Edwards Air Force Base. It says the military is being forced to practice aggressive maneuvers on trespassers and to warn civilians that deadly force is authorized. There’s a comment that 14 civilians have been taken into custody for questioning after being found wandering inside the grounds. There is also a disclaimer that the military will not be held responsible for those individuals who chose to disregard security warnings.
    Interesting that this comment should be published at this particular time, isn’t it?”
    “Noelle? Could you try to answer some questions for me? If you don’t know, that’s ok.
    Up on my lap,” Lance said, putting his coffee down, “Is there anything you remember from the time those men found you? Anything at all?”
    “My head hurt really bad and there were two men with something in their hands. I couldn’t understand them.”
    “Did they speak English?”
    “I don’t know. There was a yellow sign behind me but I couldn’t read it. I tried to walk, but it was hard. That’s when there was a real loud noise and I fell down. I’m sorry, Daddy. I don’t remember anything else.”
    “You did very well, sweetie. We’re just trying to find out what happened to you and where you came