Scrubbed

            Jennifer woke up feeling better. Her head ached, but just slightly. She was showered and dressed before realizing it was Saturday. She went downstairs and poured a cup of coffee. Following her morning ritual, she went outside to bring in the paper. She did everything as usual. Everything as if just yesterday someone had not attempted to abduct her daughter, and she had not stopped them with some type of martial art skills she could not name, let alone explain how she had acquired. 

Shortly after she began reading the paper, Emily came downstairs for breakfast. She seemed amazingly calm after her experience the day before. In fact, she did not even mention it. She asked if she could go over to Ashley’s house to play later that day and if her mother had decided about going shopping for her Halloween costume. Jennifer said she would get back to her on both questions. She was not entirely certain she wanted Emily out of her sight, or out of the house, just yet. She was having second thoughts about allowing her to go out Trick or Treating, as well, after what had happened.

             Michael and Jake came downstairs at the same time. Jennifer cooked a big, breakfast, complete with waffles, scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast with jelly. The four of them had breakfast together. They laughed and joked. For the first time in a long time, she felt like they had a real family. 

“Jake and I are going to the park to shoot some hoops. Do you and Em want to join us?” Michael asked, after Jennifer finished cleaning up the breakfast dishes.

“I don’t think so. I’m still concerned about yesterday. I‘m not convinced Emmy was a random target, and I’m afraid for her to be outside. I’m not sure about you and Jake being out in the open, either.” She hated stopping them from going to the park, after all Michael spent so little time with the children, but she did not want anything to happen to them.

“Jen, we can take care of ourselves. But it’s up to you about you and Em. I understand how you feel. Give it a few days.” Michael kissed her on the cheek and headed out with his son.

They had not been gone long when the phone rang.

            “Hello.” Jennifer answered.

            “Hey there. It’s been a long time. Don’t know what’s happened to you. Can’t talk now, but I’ll be in touch. Hang in there, foxy lady.” A deep, masculine voice responded and then hung up.

Jennifer began to shake. There was something about that voice, something almost familiar. Her head began to throb. Foxy lady. That’s what the man in the dentist office called her. This was more than a coincidence. Somehow the man who grabbed Emily was part of this, and it had not been random. She had been right. Somewhere in the recesses of her consciousness, she still knew that she could not go to the police. It briefly occurred to her that Michael had not suggested that course of action either. 

Just as she did not call the police, she did not tell Michael about the phone call when he came home later that morning. She did not say another word about the incident with Emily and did allow her to go to her friend’s house. The only stipulations were that she stay inside and call when she was ready to come home so Jennifer or Jake could walk with her. She, also, promised her daughter they would go shopping for a costume the next day, which made Emily very happy.

            Jennifer tried to go about her Saturday household chores as if nothing unusual was happening in her life. She, also, tried to ignore the increased pressure in her head. No wonder she suffered from headaches, her entire life was spinning out of c