If Only It Were That Simple

Chapter 33- Christmas Eve

Lorrie-

What was taking her so long? "Nikki!" I call up to her again as I fix my dress for the third time. I'm out of my cast, now I'm just stuck wearing a boot. I can do more things on my own now thankfully thanks to the boot. "Nikki, come down it's time for service!" I call up again, "Benny, are you still up there?"

"Be down in a second Lor!" He calls back, "Hey, Lor, where's my blue tie?" Benny calls down. I shake my head with a smile, he never knows where anything is, but his room is so neat and tidy. Just like the rest of the house.

I knock on Benny's door before walking in. He's in his slacks, thankfully, his undershirt is tucked in, along with his button down, which is only half buttoned and his blazer is on. "You mean this tie?" I ask taking the blue tie off his rack of ties on the back of his door.

"What would I do without you sis?" He asks taking the tie from me kissing me on the forehead. He finishes getting ready while I check on Nikki, who has still yet to answer my calls.

"Nik," I call into her room with a knock, "Nik, are you okay?" No answer, I turn the knob to go inside, it's locked. "NIKKI!" I yell into the room, "Nikki open the door! Nikki!" I pound on the door willing it top open with Nikki grinning sheepishly from the other side, "Nikki!" I rattle the knob, "NIKKI PLEASE!"

"Lorrie, what's wrong?" Benny asks racing out of his room, completely dressed, his tie half tied.

"Nikki's not opening the door, or answering me when I call." I answer my heart racing as I begin to panic, "Nikki!"

"I'm going to go onto the roof by her window and pray its unlocked." He says shrugging out of his blazer and tossing it onto the floor racing downstairs, "I'll let you in when I get in."

"God watch over her, God help her." I pace the doorway when my phone goes off, "Benny, how is she? Is she okay? Is she there?"

"Lorrie?" A confused voice answers me, "Is everything okay? Is who okay?" I quickly check the caller ID. What does Connor want?

"Sorry, I thought you were someone else." I answer him as I hear the window unlatching and footsteps in Nikki's room. I knock to remind him I'm in the hallway waiting for him.

"Lor, Nikki's not in here." Benny tells me through the door. It sounds like he's looking around.

"Connor, can I call you back later?" I hang up before he can answer. "Benny let me in!" The door swings open and I race into her room just to see that everything is how it always is. "Where is she?"

"I don't know." He answers, "I should've guessed her window was unlatched. It was too easy to get in for it to have been locked."

"Where would she have gone?"

"I don't know Lor," Benny answers wrapping his arms around me, "I don't know."