Christmas Hideout. Susan Sleeman

find a breath. Panted. Tried harder. Looked for answers. For what to do.

      She suddenly realized she was still clutching the knife and dropped it on the counter. The solid metal landed with a clang, ratcheting up her fear.

      She needed help. Her sister. Piper. She’d call Piper. She was a voice of reason and could help Nicole think logically.

      She grabbed her phone and dialed. “He’s been here. Grady...in the apartment.”

      “Are you in danger?” Piper’s urgent and worried question was nearly Nicole’s undoing.

      She took a breath and blew it out. Took another. “We’re fine at the moment. He’s gone, but he could come back.”

      “You need to call the police. Now!”

      “What good will that do?”

      “He violated his restraining order. They can lock him up, and all of this will be over.”

      Nicole snorted. “Like that’s made a difference. I’ve called 911 on him so many times, and he’s long gone before anyone arrives, so they think I’m crying wolf.” Piper had to realize by now that as a cop, Grady knew how to play the game. To disappear as fast as he’d appeared. “I’ll report him, but I can’t rely on the cops to make sure he’s punished for violating the order.”

      “Why did I ever date him?” An ache settled in Nicole’s chest. “Him of all people to be the first guy to go out with since Troy died.”

      She hadn’t dated in the three years since her husband had been killed in a motorcycle crash. She’d shut down for months, needing Piper just to get through her daily activities. But Nicole soon realized as a pregnant woman she had to find her footing again for the baby. To honor Troy and give their child the best chance in life. She started dating Grady after he came to her classroom to talk to her students. He was so compelling. So sweet with the kids, and she’d never been able to resist a guy who loved kids this way.

      “You’ve got to quit beating yourself up about that,” Piper said. “I still think you should call the police.”

      Nicole shot a look around her tiny apartment. “Grady wouldn’t have touched anything without wearing gloves, and there’s no sign of a forced entry.”

      “Then how did he get in?”

      “I don’t know. Maybe the windows.” She ran to check the locks, window by window. “No, they’re locked, and there’s no sign he forced them open.”

      “What about the door?”

      She raced to the front door. “No scratches or gouges from prying it open. He had to have a key.”

      “Did you give him one?”

      “No. He insisted I have a key to his place, but I never gave him one for my apartment.”

      “Then how?”

      “Maybe he used his status as a police officer to get the building manager to let him in. Yeah, that has to be it.”

      Piper sighed. “No matter what, you’re not safe there. Come stay with me.”

      “No. No way. He’d find us at your place. I need to leave. To run.” Nicole didn’t need to think twice about her decision when Grady threatened to kill her, leaving Emilie an orphan.

      Running was the answer.

      The only answer.

      But how and where?

      She’d just have to play it by ear.

      “I’ll call you once we’re safe.” A thought burrowed into her brain. “No, wait. I can’t take my phone. He can track it. I’ll have to leave it here. I’ll buy a prepaid phone the minute we’re safe and call you.”

      She couldn’t believe she was even thinking about running? Was it the right thing to do? Would they be safe?

      “Honey, don’t go,” Piper pleaded, breaking Nicole’s heart even more and raising her doubts. “Not like this. Not alone. I’ll come—”

      “I can’t ask you to come along. I’ll go to that cute bed-and-breakfast in the Texas Hill Country I stayed at with Troy. I’ll call you the minute I get a new phone. I love you, sis.” Nicole disconnected before she caved in.

      She left the phone on the counter and raced to her room to jerk a tote bag from the closet. She needed clothes, sure, but she had to take items that were important to her, too. That gave her comfort. She didn’t know when she would be back, if she would be back, and the journey would be tough. Nicole would ask Piper to pack the rest of their things and put them in storage.

      She grabbed her mother’s necklace. Her wedding ring. Her father’s watch. Put them in the bag. She located Emilie’s baby book and added it, too.

       What next?

       Should she even be doing this? Could she do it?

      She looked at Emilie. Yes, for her, Nicole had to be strong.

      She scanned the room. Pictures. She wanted to have family pictures with her. Piper’s and their parents’, who lived in Minnesota. This was the only way they could be with her to offer strength. She placed the frames into the bag. Next went her laptop and cords. Clothes followed. As many as she could fit in the bag.

      She located a large backpack from her college days and hurried to Emilie’s room to pack her belongings. She didn’t want to risk Emilie dropping Mr. Monkey. Freeing him from her daughter’s arms, she put him, then her favorite blanket and several changes of clothing, in the bag.

      Bag zipped, Nicole surveyed Emilie’s room. They’d just finished decorating the space with playful monkeys in bright colors that Emilie had chosen. She’d named each monkey and said good-night to them every night. Now she would have to leave them behind.

      Tears pricked Nicole’s eyes. She swiped them away. No time for tears when their safety was at risk. She slipped on the backpack and slung the tote bag over her shoulder.

      Perfect. Nicole set off for the front door, passing the Christmas tree with Emilie’s presents below. Only a week away, and Nicole was ready for the usual celebration with Piper. Now Emilie wouldn’t have a family Christmas.

      Tears flooded Nicole’s eyes. Sobs followed, her body convulsing.

       No. Stop. You have to keep it together for Emilie. Go! Now!

      She breathed deeply, willed her tears away to pack food and her own personal items. She shrugged the bags over her shoulder and returned to pick Emilie up. She held her daughter close, inhaling the sweet scent of her shampoo. In the foyer, Nicole snatched her keys from the table where she’d left them when she’d come home from an extended day at work to find the knife. Home. Not home any longer. Not since she’d spotted the knife.

      She fumbled through the key ring to grasp the fob for her car. She held it at the ready. The moment she got in range of her car, she would press the button and unlock the doors. She wouldn’t lock the dead bolt. No time for that. She’d have Piper take care of that, too.

      At the door, Nicole pressed her ear against the cool metal and listened. She’d wait to step out until she heard people outside. Grady wouldn’t likely approach when others were around and could act as witnesses to his visit. Sure, he would still try to follow her, but if he did, she had to hope she could lose him.

      The moment she heard voices, she opened the door. Took a deep breath and mentally prepared to run for her car.

      She pressed the button on the key fob. Heard the resulting beeps.

      “This is it, baby,” Nicole whispered to her still-sleeping child.

      She took off. Moving at top speed through the freezing night air. She reached her car. Jerked open the back door and settled Emilie. Nicole hated having her back exposed, but she had