Page 63 of The Christmas Door

The Crump house.

The front door stood wide open.

CHAPTER 31

Amayah’s shoesslapped against the cracked porch as she burst through the Crump doorway.

“Eli?” Her voice echoed into empty rooms. “Maisie?”

Silence.

No coats. No backpacks. No signs of life.

“They’re gone,” she breathed. “They ran.”

A sick fear twisted in her chest. Six children. Alone. They’d disappeared into the cold winter.

She forgot about her anger toward Luke for a moment. But she’d definitely address it again later.

“We have to find them.” She turned back toward the street. “We can’t let them disappear.”

“I agree,” Luke muttered. “It’s not safe for them out there.”

Amayah stepped back outside—and froze.

A man stood near the edge of the sidewalk.

Watching.

The same man she’d half-seen at the mall and while judging Christmas decorations. The figure that lingered too long on the edge of her vision. Her so-called “fan.”

Her breath caught.

What was he doing here?

And could his timing be any worse?

Amayah was acutely aware of Luke stepping up beside her, following her gaze. “Is that . . . ?”

She gave the slightest nod. “It’s him. The man who’s been following me.”

Luke squared his shoulders as he started to charge across the street.

“Luke . . .”

“It’s time to address this once and for all,” he murmured.

She wanted to argue. However, she knew they wouldn’t find the Crump kids if this man got in their way.

Amayah stayed on his heels, anxious to hear what the man would say.

Luke paused in front of the man, who stood on the sidewalk frozen as if unable to move.

The man looked rough—hair uncombed, jacket stiff with cold, and boots too worn for the winter pavement. His nervous energy flickered in the way he shifted his weight, eyes wide and unfocused, as if he wasn’t sure whether to run or apologize. He wasn’t menacing. Just . . . unsettled. And deeply uncomfortable under Luke’s glare.

And he looked . . . slightly familiar.

Luke’s hands went to his hips as he leered at the man. “Who are you?”