Rescuing Vanessa (A Little Bit of Coffee, Flowers, and Romance) by Christina Li Read Free Book Online Page B

fireplace, obviously a garage sale find, and some paintings perhaps done by Vanessa. Sneering and waving dismissively, he wandered into the kitchen, but there was nothing there. He had better find that vase. Otherwise this house was completely worthless.
    He saw a door on one side of the kitchen that led into the garage. Opening it, he was disappointed that there were no boxes, only shelves lining the walls with various tools neatly arranged. He could have shouted in frustration.
    Was it possible that her boxes hadn’t arrived yet? It had been almost a week. Coming back into the house, he remembered the basement. With renewed hope, he found the door on the other side of the kitchen.
    At the bottom of the stairs there was another door. It was locked, but he picked it easily. So, the professor guy was a border. This must be his apartment. In the living room, he was again disappointed. In here was a couch, an easy chair, and several end tables. The walls were lined with bookshelves, filled mostly with books.
    Not seeing any windows in this room, Denny felt safe enough to click on a light. Some of the bookshelves held curious objects. They seemed ancient. But, were they worth anything? He picked up a pot of some kind, but didn’t recognize it as anything of value.
    Where there weren’t objects, there were books. In fact, there were piles of books everywhere. Picking up one, he realized it wasn’t in English. It wasn’t valuable, so he put it back down. No vase in here.
    He wandered into another room and realized it was a bedroom. More books, more worthless pottery. Where is that vase?!
    He opened the closet and snorted, nothing of value there. There was only a tiny kitchenette and a bathroom left. He checked both to be thorough, but found nothing.
    He went back upstairs and wandered around the house . Still nothing. Her boxes weren’t there. No boxes, no vase.
    He co uld kidnap her and hold her for ransom, but he didn’t want to call that much attention to himself. But, if he didn’t get that vase soon, he would have to do whatever it took. His creditors would only wait so long.
     
    ***
     
    When Daniel went down to his apartment later that night, he had the weirdest feeling. It was as if a foreign, uninvited spirit lingered. Upon further inspection, he believed some things were moved. It was crazy. He wasn’t exactly neat in practice, but he couldn’t escape the sensation that someone had been here.
    “Lord, I don’t know what’s going on here, but this apartment is Yours. I claim it in Your Name, Jesus. In Jesus’ Name, I cast out any spirits that don’t belong.” Immediately, he felt peace. Opening up a cupboard above the sink, he got out a bottle of oil and anointed all the doors and windows in the entire apartment. People might think he was weird for doing these things, but from experience he knew there was more in heaven and earth than man was aware of.
    It was so strange. Why would someone break into the Bennett’s house? And if someone did, why didn’t he take anything? Daniel prayed protection for the family above him. He especially prayed for Vanessa. He somehow knew that she was part of all this strangeness. 

Chapter 8
     
    Finally, it was Friday night and time to leave, but where was Daniel? Vanessa had missed his coming in from the college and she didn’t quite feel at liberty to knock on his apartment door. Also, she didn’t want him to think she was desperate or like she wanted anything more than friendship. So, she ended up pacing up and down the living room.
    “Dear, you simply must stop that. You’re making me nervous,” said Grandma.
    “I’m sorry, but Daniel is late.”
    Sitting in his favorite chair and rattling his newspaper, Grandpa said, “You could always go downstairs and knock. Perhaps he fell asleep and needs to be woken.”
    Vaness a groaned. “Do you think you could?”
    “Why can’t you?” asked her grandmother.
    “I don’t want to seem like I’m one of those women