Chapter 24

As Christmas approached, I couldn’t seem to shake the overwhelming urge to drive past the Reynolds’ household.

There was nothing festive. The cottage looked as if no one had lived there in months. The front veranda hadn’t been shoveled since the blizzard, but there were fresh tire marks in the snow, which suggested that Dr. Reynolds was still coming and going from the hospital.

I drove by late one night and saw his car parked out front. In an upstairs window, a television cast an eerie, flickering glow.

I drove home, called Lizzie to tell her what I had seen, and suggested we at least send her father a Christmas card.

“Yes,” she said without hesitation. “We should. Why don’t we pop by tomorrow night? I’ll bring some sugar cookies and a present I made for him.”

I agreed it was the right thing to do, and I hoped we’d be given a better reception than last time.

Knowing it was rare for Lizzie’s father to arrive home from work before 7:00 p.m., we showed up at 8:00. Unfortunately, the house was dark and his car wasn’t in the driveway.