Holiday Homecoming. Jean C. Gordon

giving her second thoughts about Hope not being able to slip outside. Her heart pounded as she passed the closed door that must be to Connor’s office. Afraid that Hope wouldn’t answer if she called up to her, Natalie climbed the ladder. “Hope,” she said as she stepped from the ladder into the room.

      “Natalie?” Connor’s voice came from behind a stack of boxes on the other side of the room.

      Her heart slammed against her chest. “Amelia told me she thought Hope was up here.”

      Connor crisscrossed the maze of boxes and furniture to her. “She told me the same thing, and that she’s afraid of ladders.”

      “The ladder part may be true.”

      “Let’s get out of here,” he said in as angry a tone as she’d ever heard from him.

      Before they could move, the inner trapdoor slammed closed, followed by a muffled giggle.