– 39 –
Her antique grandfather clock had chimed seven times. In between the last two chimes, Cory heard the phone ring and ran to get it, but when she reached for the phone, it had stopped ringing.
Drat! No one had left a message. Hopefully, it was only one of those annoying recorded sales calls that invariably came during dinner despite her entering her phone numbers on the government “Do Not Call List.”
Fifteen minutes later, her mouth filled with a bite off the wrap she had prepared of grilled eggplant, red pepper and goat cheese, the phone rang again. She let it ring while she chewed, then picked it up.
“Good ebnin,” she said, her mouth still full.
“And good evening to you, lovely one,” Ben said.
“Ben?” She swallowed. “Oh, I’m so glad it’s you. I’ve missed you so much. Where are
