Libby waved goodbye to Kipp. As much as she tried to fight it, she knew she would miss him. He was impatient, he had a stubborn streak as wide as the Mississippi, and he could be curt at times, but under the circumstances, she couldn't judge him. His sensitive and loving side eclipsed anything negative.
She felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Earth to Libby. Are you going to stand there all day?"
"He's been through a lot."
"So have you," Ellen said. "Why don't you take a nice hot bath, and I'll watch baby bear."
Libby spent as much time as she dared away from the child, luxuriating in a soothing bubble bath. When she emerged from the bathroom, the girl ran to her and threw her arms around her.
"I guess we know who Mommy is," Ellen said.
Libby squatted and hugged the child. "Everything's going to be all right, little girl."
With Ellen's help Libby unbraided the girl's hair and bathed and cared for her. She rummaged through a bedroom drawer and found a tee shirt that could serve as a nightgown. "She's going to need clothes."
"I can shop for you, Libby, since I have more experience at it."
"I'll start working with her tomorrow, and you can go shopping," Libby said. "Right now, she needs to de-stress from the trip."
The girl stayed close to Libby's side.
"She doesn't talk much."
"Her speech may have been arrested when she was kidnapped. Kipp may have to have a speech therapist work with her. Or it could be, once we unlock her memory and she feels safe again, she'll speak freely."
Libby found paper and crayons, sat the child at the table, and encouraged her to play.
Ellen made jasmine tea, and they sat in the living room in close proximity to the girl.
Libby propped her feet on the coffee table. "Those were the longest days of my life. I'm glad I have the rest of the week off."
"Looks like you're going to need it."
"It worked out, didn't it?"
"I want to know all the details. Where did you find her?"
Careful to keep her voice down, Libby told Ellen how she led them to the polygamist community, how they were led to Grace and Rebecca, and how, with Rebecca's help, they were able to retrieve Kipp's daughter. Ellen wanted to discuss the strange community, but Libby thought it a bad idea.
"The whole thing gives me chills," Ellen said. "You are amazing."
"That's what Kipp said."
"Oh?" Ellen raised her eyebrows.
"Here we go again. I know what you're thinking."
"Since you brought it up, did anything of a romantic nature transpire?"
"There wasn't time for anything like that."
"Are you sure? The way you two were holding each other."
"Holding each other?"
"At the door before he left. I peeked around the corner and saw you two."
"That was just a friendly hug goodbye."
"Looked more like a sweltering embrace. When are you two going to quit pussyfooting around and admit your feelings for each other?"
"You know why I can't give in to my feelings."
"Aha! You admit you have feelings for him."
"Maybe I do, but I can't act on them."
"That's bullshit."
Libby nodded toward the girl and shushed Ellen.
"Oops." Ellen glanced toward the girl and back. "I thought she'd be hysterical when you brought her here."
"She was pretty upset when she came out of the woods, but I calmed her using my energy technique. She really responded."
"Is she going to be all right? I mean, will she ever warm up to Kipp?"
"I think deep down she knows Kipp is her daddy. It's just that her memory needs a little prompting," Libby said. "With a case like this, Kipp is going to be faced with a few challenges. My instinct tells me she'll eventually be all right. She's so special to him."
"Why don't you give Kipp a chance to be someone special to you?" Getting no response, Ellen said, "It's the cancer thing, isn't it?"
"It's not just that," Libby said. "He's going to have to spend time with his child, and his ex-wife will be in the picture. The timing is bad."
"And if it wasn't?"
"Ellen, I'm too tired to discuss it. Let's talk about you and Charlie."
Ellen's smile drooped.
"What's with the gloomy expression?"
"There is no Charlie."
"What happened? The last time I talked to you, you two had spent a night together."
"Mel spoiled everything."
"Mel? I thought you were through with him."
Ellen gave Libby a rundown of her fabulous night with Charlie and explained how Mel took her to dinner and tried to woo her with compliments and diamond earrings.
"So, you dumped Charlie for Mel, the man who every day of the year treats you like you-know-what?"
"It's more like Charlie dumped me."
"That doesn't sound like Charlie."
"Well, he didn't dump me. He's just backing off, giving me space to work things out."
"How do you feel about that?"
Ellen took a long sip of tea. "Lousy."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning I miss Charlie, but I'm still mixed up."
"Do you want to know what I sense about the situation?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm so glad you're back. I need your insights."
"I wish you would get your own insights, but I want to save my dearest friend the heartache, so here goes." Libby set her cup on the coffee table and shifted toward Ellen. "When you told me you were leaving Mel, I had these pictures flash through my mind. I saw you with a tall, curly-haired man Charlie's size, with the same ruddy complexion. I got the symbol of two hands interlocked together, which to me means something permanent."
Ellen wilted.
"That doesn't make you happy?"
"It doesn't un-mix my emotions," Ellen said. "Mel said all the right things. Plus, he reminded me I have to think about the kids. And I do. And get that disgusted look off your face."
"Have you forgotten about the discussion you had with your daughter?"
"No."
"It sounded to me like she was doing just fine with your decision to separate," Libby said. "So, don't let him guilt you into going back to a life of half-baked promises. Just compare how Charlie treats you with Mel's actions. Then make your decision. If you want my bottom-line advice, I say don't let Charlie get away."
"I hope you're listening to your own advice," Ellen said, "because Kipp is a great catch, too."
Just then the little girl in the big tee shirt came running across the room and climbed onto the couch next to Libby.
* * *