Pounce

Chapter 12

Being Followed

Hannah

Hannah felt like she had eyes on her all week. Like someone was following her. Ever since she had told everything to Mason, she began to feel uneasy about others knowing. Paul kept trying to get in touch with her. She just could not take the chance on calling home.

No badly how much she really wanted too. She tried not to worry Mimi about it. She kept things to herself.

Maybe it was all in her imagination.

Maybe she was just paranoid about things. But she had a good reason to be. Hannah was going through her work on the computer before Mimi came in from school.

"Hannah?" Nathan says to her making her jump. "Hannah are you alright?" he worries. He touches her arm.

"I will be. Sorry, I am a little jumpy today" she chuckles.

"I would say you have a good reason to be. But Hannah you really have nothing to worry about. We will all look out for you in the end you know this right?" he asks her.

"Thank you. I get it. But I am just trying to get back in the real world. Get my life back that I can have" she sighs as she logs out of the computer.

"Things take time. You will get it done" Nathan vows.

"I hope so" says Hannah.

"Mommy! It is snowing out!" Mimi suddenly exclaims as she heads in the Inn. She stomps snow off her boots by the front door.

"It is huh? Are you happy about that?" asks Hannah.

"No, I hate snow. Well except for at Christmas time" Mimi says thoughtfully.

"I have so much work to finish up here. How am I with Mimi back" sighs Hannah to Nathan.

"Leave it to me" Nathan says as he winks at Hannah.

"Say want to help me build a snowman outside? Then we can make some hot cocoa for the guests here. And maybe for you to?" Nathan asks Mimi. "If it is okay with your mom that is. I have a break right now. I can use some fun" he winks at Hannah.

"Are you sure Nathan? You don't have to do this" Hannah laughs.

"I want to. What do you say Mimi? Help me make a rad snowman?" he asks her daughter.

"Can I mom?" begs Mimi.

"Sure why not. Listen to Mr. Iris. Do not wander off on your own" reminds Hannah.

"Never mom. Thanks Mom! Come on Mr. Iris!" exclaims a happy Mimi.

♥☆♥☆♥ 

Hannah smiles as she watches Nathan lead an excited Mimi outside to play. He was really good with kids. Hannah was really thankful to find such good friends in a small little town.

Hannah finishes off her coffee in her mug she had. She reads over flies for Mrs. Tolsen. She places them away in the drawer. Her cell phone buzzes again. Maybe it was time to change her number all together.

She was supposed to do so. But she never got around to doing so. Not yet. It was Paul. This was the tenth time he had called her that day. She listened to her voicemail.

"Hello, this is your brother-in-law, I really wish you would take the time to call me. I can't help you guys if you do not call me. This is out of my hands. Sorry, for sounding harsh. I am. I am just frustrated. I want to keep you guys safe. I cannot do so if I cannot be there with you. Please Hannah, call me. At least tell me how things are going? Email me" Paul sighs. He sounded upset. She did not blame him.

"Sorry Paul. When I am allowed to I will. Until then....I can't" Hannah sighs to herself as she deletes the voicemail from her phone. She goes back to work. She hears a creaking noise in the hall way that gives her chills.

"Is someone there? Can I help you?" calls out Hannah. Nothing. No answer. She shakes it off.

Creek.

Again that noise.

"This old house sure gives me the creeps' somedays" sighs Hannah as she tries to brush things off. She hears a tapping sound on the back window behind her. She looks back. Nothing is there.

"My imagination is working overtime here" grumbles Hannah.

Tap,tap, tap....

Again the noise behind her on the window. She turns to look. Nothing.

Smash!

A snowball hits the window right where she was making her jump.

♥☆♥☆♥

"Gotcha momma!" giggles Mimi from outside the window.

"You sure did" laughs Hannah. She shakes her head.

"Leave your mom to her work. Come on! We are almost done kiddo!" Nathan calls out to Mimi. Hannah smiles as she watches them play about.

"How are things going with work?" Mrs. Tolsen asks as she comes in the room.

"Going good. Nearly done for the afternoon. Is there anything else you need?" asks Hannah.

"No, I had one guest call in. A Mr. Ryder. He will be coming in from your neck of the woods. Can you check on the room upstairs to the right? Make sure it is ready for him?" asks Mrs. Tolsen.

"Mr. Ryder? Is his name Paul Ryder?" wonders Hannah curiously.

"Oh Paul? I think so. He is flying in from Florida" repeats Mrs. Tolsen.

"Paul, is my brother-in-law. He did not tell me he was coming. In fact....oh never mind. I will go check on the room for him" sighs Hannah as she feels flustered now.

♥☆♥☆♥ 

She walks up the stairs. The old stairs creaked as she walked up them. She stops by the closet to get fresh blankets to place on the bed. She heads to the room. How did Paul manage to find out where they were?

Had he tracked their last call? She understood he was worried about them. But to go so far to track her? It was a little odd. She knew Paul was just wanting to keep his niece safe. Before she had met Carlos she had dated Paul first. But Paul had been a bit of a drinker.

He liked to party. That was not a life style for her. Carlos was stable. A home body. She ended up being with him instead. She wondered why Paul did not tell her in his last message that he was coming to see them? Maybe he wanted to surprise them.

Hannah went into the guest room. She began to strip the bed. She placed fresh sheets on the bed, fluffed the pillows on the bed. Made everything nice. It would be rather nice to see someone from home again. She really missed her life back in Florida. She missed Paul.

Her family. Her husband's family. She walks over by the window that was by the bed. She looked at the sky as the snow fell to the ground. She spotted a finished snow man on the ground below that Mimi and Nathan had created.

A hand reached out and touched her shoulder making her jump.

♥☆♥☆♥

"Sorry Hannah! Hot cocoa?" Nathan offers as she turns around.

"Mom! Look out the window! Did you see what we made?" Mimi asks her with excitement.

"I sure did! You did a wonderful job!" says Hannah happily. Mimi hugs her. Nathan hands her a cup of warm hot cocoa.

"Thanks Nathan" says Hannah.

"You are awfully deep in thought there. Something going on?" asks Nathan.

"Kind of" sighs Hannah.

"Hey Mimi? Can you ask Mrs. Tolsen if she would like some of the hot cocoa we made really quick? I forgot to ask her" Nathan asks Mimi.

"Sure!" Mimi agrees as she heads downstairs.

"What is going on Hannah?" Nathan asks her.

"So many things. Paul is on his way here" sighs Hannah.

"Who is Paul?" wonders Nathan.

"Paul is or was my brother-in-law" she explains.

"Why is this an issue for him to come?" wonders Nathan.

"I never told him where we were. I don't know how he found us! And Mrs. Tolsen just informed me he would be here any day now. He is flying in. I know Paul has been worried about us. But I don't understand how he found me. Unless he tracked my last phone call to him back home" worries Hannah.

"Do you think Paul could have something to do with your husband's death?" asks Nathan.

"Paul? Oh no. Nothing like that at all. I just wonder why he did not tell me he was coming. Maybe he plans on surprising me. He was always doing that. He never told us when he came to visit. I might feel better once I talk to Paul" explains Hannah.

"Well if you ever fear you and Mimi are in danger in any way you make sure you call on me or my brother. Got it?" demands Nathan.

"I promise I will" agrees Hannah. 

Nathan smiles. Then nods.

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