After her stomach was emptied, she started to feel a bit better and crawled into the shower to clean up and slowly made her way down the staircase. A new person had been hired to replace her and her last day had been a couple weeks ago and it was the first time in her life she had her days free.
She loved the time she got to spend with her niece and watched Molly blossom even more over the last few weeks, but didn’t like that their entire way of life depended fully on Trenton. She loved him more than she could have ever thought possible and even though they made love nightly, she knew he still held something back from her.
He had a full staff hired for the house, so it was hard for her to even be able to cook or clean. She tried to when she got a chance. Sunday’s were her favorite day because she’d talked him into giving the staff the day off, allowing her to prepare their meal and tidy the home.
“Auntie Jennifer, look at my pretty pancakes,” Molly said as Jennifer entered the kitchen. The staff had fallen in love with Molly instantly and pampered her at every possible opportunity. She had a giant pancake on her plate with a smiley face on it, made with whipped cream and strawberry syrup.
“That looks so yummy I think I may have to steal it from you,” she teased her niece.
“I’ll share with you,” Molly told her, holding out her fork with a bite on it. Jennifer took the bite and sighed dramatically, which made Molly giggle. They ate breakfast together and then decided to go and play at the park. It was a rare sunny day in Seattle and Jennifer was going to take full advantage of the fact.
Molly was having a great time playing with some other kids and Jennifer sat back on one of the benches, fighting nausea, hating she was still feeling unwell. She knew she was pregnant but was so afraid to confirm it. Then, she’d have to share her secret with Trenton and she didn’t want to yet. She’d be far too devastated if he was unhappy about the fact, and they hadn’t discussed children. She didn’t even know how long he planned on them being married, let alone if he wanted kids.
He was amazing with Molly, but that didn’t mean he wanted to have his own kids, with a woman he didn’t love. She knew he cared about her in his own way because when he made love, he was passionate and loving but he never said the words and he was distant during the days.
She laid her head between her legs for a few moments, trying to get the nausea under control. She finally started to feel a bit better, grateful she wasn’t going to throw up in front of the people around her. She looked over to the swings and didn’t spot Molly. She looked around, not concerned at first, until she couldn’t spot her anywhere.
She jumped from the bench, calling out her name, looking over every square inch of the park and still not finding her. Soon, other parents joined in on her search and after about ten minutes she knew there was something desperately wrong. She immediately called the police and then Trenton, but never stopped looking.
Trenton arrived just as quickly as the police and after she explained the last area she’d seen Molly, Trenton pulled her into his arms. She finally allowed herself to break down and sobbed in his arms, terrified beyond anything she’d ever felt before.
“I don’t know what could’ve happened. I looked away for only a moment and then she was just gone,” she told him, sobbing uncontrollably.
“We’ll find her, it will be okay,” he said soothingly, as he tried to comfort her. She was beyond being able to be comforted, though. She’d already lost her sister, she couldn’t lose her niece, too.
“We have to find her, I can’t believe I let something happen to her,” she continued to sob.
“This isn’t your fault,” he told her, lifting her face to his so she had no choice but to look into his eyes. She could barely make eye contact she felt so much guilt and misery. She didn’t answer him because there was no one else responsible but her and she’d messed up. She’d let her niece out of her sight.
“Mrs. Anderson, she’s not at the park. A couple of parents said they saw a strange man hanging around the park area and were able to give us a description. We think it’s a kidnapping and the best thing for you to do is go immediately home and wait by the phone. We’re going to send the FBI over to put a trace on your phone, but we think someone recognized you and they’ll demand a ransom,” the officer told her.
Jennifer looked right through him, the terror overwhelming her. She couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to kidnap Molly. There was no need, Jennifer was a nobody, with nothing to give. She couldn’t even put the pieces together that she was married to a very powerful man and there’d be people who’d want to attack her because of that. Her brain finally shut down and she sunk into blackness as her body refused to face reality anymore.
Trenton swore as he caught Jennifer in his arms. He couldn’t believe he’d been so stupid as to not have assigned security to both her and Molly. He knew with his amount of money there were always people who resented him and would take from him if they got the opportunity. He had a wife and child to think about and couldn’t believe he’d allowed Molly to possibly be harmed.
He lifted Jennifer into his arms, carrying her to his car and drove quickly back to the house and carried her inside. She was starting to stir again as he laid her down on the couch and immediately placed a rag on her forehead.
“Molly,” she said hopefully, hoping for a moment it was nothing more than a bad dream.
“We’ll hear soon,” he told her and felt physical pain as he saw the terror enter her eyes again. He wished he would’ve been able to tell her everything was okay. He wished he could make it all go away and have the two most important females in his life be safe.
The officer was right, because they barely got the phone system set up when a call came in. Jennifer sat on the couch, shivering, caving in on herself, with silent tears streaming down her cheeks. Trenton wanted to fall apart himself. He was so scared something would happen to Molly, but he knew one of them had to stay strong and keep their head. He also knew Jennifer loved Molly more than her own life and was dealing with her terror by withdrawing. It was the only way she could survive the ordeal.
“Just answer the phone, stay calm, ask as many questions as you can without angering the kidnapper, and give them whatever they want. Her life is worth more than any amount of money,” the agent told him seconds before he picked up the phone.