Chapter 286: Nine Minutes

Jackie waved as Blake, still carrying a giggling Amy, hiked up the slope and headed toward his cabin.

Wistfully, Jackie watched them go. “Yeah, we won’t be seeing them again tonight.”

She sighed and headed back into the lodge. The telephone was ringing as she passed the office. She spent five minutes chatting with her mother. They’d arrived in Niagara Falls safe and sound. The children could hardly be pulled away from the hotel room balcony overlooking the falls, but Ann insisted that they each say hello to their mother.

“Don’t worry about a thing, sweetie,” her mother said. “We’ll be back on Friday.”

Hanging up the phone, Jackie checked on Trina at the front desk. The current guests were settled, and they didn’t expect any new arrivals until the weekend. Trina reassured her that she had things well in hand.

“Relax, Jackie,” she smiled. “I’ll be here until 10:00. But everything should be quiet tonight.”