Tuesday Tales:From the Word BARE

Welcome to this week’s Tuesday Tales. Each week I join a few select authors and post a snippet from mt work in progress based on a particular word or picture prompt. This week’s word is BARE. I’m continuing with my Holiday Romance, Forever in my Heart.

Calvin picked up the receiver. “ Cathy, I told you I wasn’t to be disturbed …  Oh, I see, put her through.” He pushed the button to put the phone on speaker. Mike heard the call connect.

“Ms. Hayworth. Thank you for getting back to me so promptly.”

“I don’t have time for small talk, Mr. Ross,” the woman’s voice came across the line clearly, the pain and concern in it touching his heart. “You said there’d been a fatal accident. How is my sister? Is she … is she dead?”

The agony she suffered was clear in her voice.

“I’m afraid so. She died instantly. Her husband passed away a couple of hours later.”

“Oh God!” The sound of heavy crying came across the line.

“Their babies?” She managed to get out the words.

Mike frowned. If there had been no contact between them, how had she known about the twins?

“The girls were not with their parents at the time of the accident,” Calvin said, not acknowledging the faux pas.

“I’ve booked a flight to Calgary for 6:30 tonight. I can be in Timberton tomorrow morning.”

Mike shook his head. “Ms. Hayworth, this is Mike Branscomb, Luke’s brother. There are several things that have to be done in Calgary, including the formal identification of the bodies,” he said. “Stay in Calgary, and we’ll come to you. After we take care of things, you can come back to Timberton with us, and we can take it from there.” He hoped he didn’t sound as desperate as he felt. The silence at the end of the line seemed heavy and ominous. “Ms. Hayworth, are you there?”

“Yes … I … I’m here.” Her voice trembled, her words so softly spoken he could barely hear them. “Where … where will I meet you?”

“My secretary will book a room for you in Calgary and I’ll arrange for the Ambassador Limousine Service to meet your plane and take you to the hotel,” Calvin said. “My firm will see to all the details. Just give me your flight number.”

Through her tears, she mumbled out the airline and flight number.”

“Very well. The driver will take you to the hotel, and Mr. Branscomb and I will see you in the morning. Please accept my deepest sympathies for your loss.”

“Thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She ended the call.

That’s it. Stay safe and don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales