All these years, Ally had felt sorry for her friend living in Hicksville. But now, she felt a bit sorry for herself thinking how her entire apartment could probably fit into her friend’s foyer!
Lara proceeded to pull into the wraparound driveway with trees surrounding either side, all lit by beautiful white fairy lights. A coating of fresh white snow sat on top of each tree as if it had been hand-placed by a professional decorator.
Columns surrounding the porch were decorated with alternating red and green festive garland.
It all looked like something out of a Christmas card.
“Nice isn’t it? It belonged to Mark’s grandmother. Way too much space for us, but it means a lot to him raising his family here.”
“I’ll say. It’s like the McAllister’s place inHome Alone.”
Ally grabbed her bag and helped Riley out of his car seat while Lara picked up the baby carrier and headed inside.
A massive Christmas tree took up over half the entryway, and every branch had beautiful, distinctive ornaments dangling. The angel on top was pretty much level with a grand second-story staircase.
The whole effect was magnificent, truly like something out of a movie and Ally almost thought of asking Lara for a map of the place, just in case she got lost.
“Mommy, I’m hungry,” Riley declared, as he threw off his coat.
“Alright, let’s get the pizza in. Will you show Aunt Ally where the guest room is? I’m sure she’s dying to get out of those work clothes.”
Ally glanced down at her dress and pumps. She had never really thought of her outfit as ‘work clothes’ before. But perhaps something casual would indeed be more appropriate for pizza and playing with the kids.
She headed upstairs, struggling a little as she hefted her case up the grand, seemingly never-ending stair case.
Inside the guest room, she threw it onto the bed and undid the zipper. Then throwing the lid back, she stopped and frowned.
A beige sweater lay on top, a fancy expensive looking cashmere one that Ally couldn’t recall packing.
Orowningfor that matter.
Moving it aside, her frown deepened with what she found underneath; a bunch of books and notebooks.
Three had the same cover, with mountains in the background - proper books. Ally didn’t even own four hardcopy books, much less three of the same.
She continued to dig, hoping that whomever put these relics in her suitcase on top of her stuff, wasn’t also a thief that would have taken her phone charger.
But came up empty handed, as she pushed aside a tuxedo, a pair of slippers, until finally realization dawned.
This wasnother bag!
Yes, it was the same type and model as the one she’d taken on every trip since she founded her tech consultant business six years ago, but it definitely wasn’t the one she’d boarded the plane with.
She must have grabbed it by mistake. But no, this was the only one left on the carousel, which was why she’d taken it in the first place.
Which meant that someone else had picked up hers.
Theywere the one who had made the mistake.
What on earth was she going to do?
Chapter 6
Ally fell backwards onto the bed as the realisation sunk in even further.
She had no laptop, no VPN, no phone charger. Let alone personal belongings, like a toothbrush or makeup or underwear even!
How was this possible? And what should she do? Once the phone on her battery died, she’d be completely cut off from the outside world.
