Eden descended the steps slowly as if she knew she was going to meet someone important. When she got to the main floor, she stopped and turned toward the kitchen. Georgia couldn’t wait any longer. She got up from her chair and stepped into the hall.
Eden stood in front of her. She wore a shabby but clean-looking white terrycloth bathrobe. Instead of slippers, she wore socks. Georgia did the same thing at home. She stared at Eden, who stared back, a curious look in her eyes.
“So you’re Georgia.” When Georgia nodded, she said, “I wonder if this is how long-lost twins feel.”
A smile tugged at Georgia’s lips. “You sure have been hard to pin down.”
“We’re like opposite sides of the Looking Glass. I didn’t believe it when they told me, but now… Her voice trailed off. “How long have you been looking for me?”
“Two weeks or so. But your hair is brown now. Good job.”
Eden touched her hair, which curled at the ends. “I forgot it was curly, it’s been so long since I cut it.” She seemed to regret it. “Okay if I get some coffee?” Even though it was difficult to hear her own voice accurately, Georgia could tell Eden’s was different. Higher pitched. More of a Midwest accent.
“Of course. You’re not a prisoner.”
She gazed around the downstairs of the safe house. “It kind of feels like I am.” She fingered her brown curls. “By the way, you can call me Patsy.”
“Patsy? Not Lisa?”
That brought a smile. “The name on my birth certificate is Patsy Anne Ryan. But I always liked the name ‘Lisa.’ I wanted to name Sariah Lisa, but Porter wouldn’t let me.”
They walked into the kitchen. Even though she was obviously expecting them, Agent Summerfield did a double take. “Wow.”
“Was your family Irish?” Eden asked.
“I don’t know. My father could have been,” Georgia said. “My mother was from the south.”
Eden-Lisa-Patsy replied, “Your mother was kidnapped because of me.” She swallowed. “I am so sorry.”
Georgia shrugged. “It wasn’t your fault.”
“That’s kind of you to say, but of course, it was.” She paused. “If I hadn’t left Nauvoo…” Her voice trailed off again. “I hope I can make it up to you somehow. When this is all over. If it ever is.”
“Oh, it will be,” Georgia said. “The FBI’s involved.”
“Are you with them?”
Georgia shook her head. “It’s a long story. For another day.”
Agent Summerfield poured coffee for Eden and warmed up Georgia’s. “Breakfast?” She glanced at Eden.
“I’m starved.”
“Bacon and eggs okay?”
“Perfect.”
The women sat opposite each other at the table. Georgia said, “We have a lot to talk about. Has anyone told you the plan?”
“Just that they’re up there and plan to negotiate for my kids and your mother.” Eden winced. “It won’t work. Porter would never voluntarily give up any leverage.”
“In that case, I’m sure the FBI has a Plan B.” Georgia sipped her coffee. “So, let’s talk. You’ve been gone for about two weeks. It feels like forever to me, but really, it’s not such a long time. How do you think your kids are doing? Will they be happy to see you? Or angry? If you suddenly show up, what will they do?”
“I’ve been trying to figure that out myself, and I’m not sure. I know they’re scared of doing anything that would cross Porter. He gets violent so fast. Like a volcano that suddenly erupts.”
“But usually he takes it out on you.”
Eden broke eye contact with Georgia, as if she was ashamed. “Yes,” she said quietly.
“It happens to a lot of women. You know that. You saw the women at Ms. Kate’s.”
Eden’s face brightened. “You know Ms. Kate?”
“We met.”
“I sure do like that woman.” Eden said.
The crackle and smell of bacon cooking made Georgia’s mouth water. “Um, Agent Summerfield, would you mind throwing in an extra strip for me?”
“Already did,” the agent said. “How do you like your eggs?”
“Thanks, but I already had breakfast. Bacon will be fine. I can’t resist the smell.” She turned back to Eden. “Okay. What the SWAT team wants to know is the best way to get your kids without provocation from your husband or his pals. What are their names and how old are they?
“Teagan is ten. Sariah’s eight. And Elijah is six.”
“Tell me about them. What they look like, how they act.”
Eden smiled and told her. She clearly loved talking about her kids.
“Are they all in school?”
“Yes. I mean, if you can call it school.” She touched the curls on her hair.
“What do you mean?”
“It’s a Church school. For the Fundamentalist Mormon Church of Nauvoo. They mostly teach Church doctrine. Barely the three ‘R’s’.”
Agent Summerfield set a plate filled with scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast in front of Eden. She placed a smaller plate with two strips of bacon for Georgia.
“Can you think of any way to rescue them without Porter finding out about it, at least for a while?”
Eden set her coffee cup down and gazed at it, like it might be a crystal ball. Her brow furrowed. Georgia waited impatiently, her knee jiggling up and down. Eden looked up. “There might be.” She looked at the kitchen clock on the wall behind Georgia. “But I don’t think there’s enough time.”