Part 2: The Hunted
Chapter 27
Genesis
Eighteen Years Earlier
"Do you understand why you can't do these things, Charlotte?"
Cecelia Fletcher bent down to see into the face of her daughter. She saw her tear-streaked cheeks, her devastated eyes, and felt sorry for them.
"No, Momma. I don't understand. Why can't I talk to that man? He might want some cookies."
Charlotte's Girl Scout sash had fallen from her shoulder, gathering at her elbow. The brown slip of fabric was covered in patches- all hard won achievements Cecelia had encouraged her daughter to strive for.
Charlotte had come home from the last troop meeting upset. The other girls had called her a brown-noser because she had the most patches. Cecelia told her they were just jealous.
"Because he might want to hurt you, my love." Cecelia pushed Charlotte's beautiful hair from her face. It had gotten quite long, but she couldn't bear to cut it.
"Why would anyone want to hurt a little girl?" Charlotte wiped the back of her hand across her nose, sniffling loudly.
Cecelia put her arm around her daughter's shoulders, gathering her to her bosom. She would do anything to keep her close and safe forever.
"There are bad people in the world, sweetie. Bad people who do bad things just because they want to."
Charlotte's eyes widened in terror, their aquamarine color like deep Mediterranean pools. "How can you tell if someone is bad?"
Cecelia turned the girl so she could look in her face. "You must learn to tell the difference, my love. Listen to your heart. It will help guide you."
Charlotte nodded her head, her little face intense. "My heart will tell me?"
"Yes. It knows."
Charlotte clutched at the box of cookies in her hands, the potential customer forgotten. "Momma?"
"Yes, sweetie?"
"Are there more bad people than good in the world?"
Cecelia looked down at her daughter, the earnest question painted across her naive face. "I don't know, Charlotte. I truly don't know. But I don't want you to take any chances."
The seven year old girl seemed to understand, even if she didn't comprehend the implications. She turned to look out at the parking lot filled with shoppers, coming and going in their self-absorbed haze of to-do lists.
"I won't take chances, Momma."
Cecelia smiled down at Charlotte, approval lighting her face. "That's my girl."
* * * * * * * * * * *
Present Day
"I promise to call you as soon as I get back."
Charlotte stood by the window in her room at Fox Hollow, looking down at the street. She was on the phone with Leighton, checking in. Her friend had agreed to watch Matisse for her while she was away.
YOU ARE READING
In the Stars
RomanceWhat would you do if you found your name and address written on a toilet stall? Would you call the number they left? Charlotte Fletcher didn't want to. She wanted to pretend it was a hallucination. Kind of like the medieval guy who haunted her d...
