Little Girl Lost

by Adrianne Lee

Edie said, “I told the police she’d paid her bill in cash and walked away without leaving a forwarding address. She had that right. She wasn’t under arrest or anything.”

  “But why?” Chad frowned, shaking his head.

  Barbara’s eyes pleaded for his understanding. “I needed to have identification in order to get a driver’s license, a job. Missy and I needed a place to live, money for food.”

  “That’s not what I meant. There are legal ways to establish a new identity. Why didn’t you do it legally?”

  The color fell from her face and she grew somber. “Because that would have involved courts, judges, lawyers and reporters. I was terrified of something that I couldn’t remember. How could I risk unleashing God-knew-what kind of horror on Missy and me?”

  Chad whistled. This mess just kept getting worse. He reached out and covered Barbara’s hand with his. He was, he realized, starting to care for this woman on levels he’d never even tapped into before.

  “I’m worried that Marshall will discover what we’ve done and use it against us,” Barbara continued. “I might never get to see Missy again and Edie could lose her medical license.”

  “Would lose it.” Edie’s voice was flat. “The hospital can’t have staff doctors engaging in illegal activities of this sort.”

  Chad touched Edie’s arm. “Then we’ll do our damnedest to keep this secret under wraps and hope Emerson doesn’t stumble on it.” He doubted it would be easy. Or possible. But neither woman needed to hear that right now. “Meanwhile I’ll have my assistant check into the matter. See what he can learn about the legal ramifications. Surely there’s some provision for amnesia victims.”

  “That won’t hold any water with Marshall.”

  Or with the hospital board, Chad thought, unable to look Edie in the eye.

  Barbara lifted her hair off her neck again. The moment of truth was nearing and she looked ready to collapse beneath the weight of heartache she would have to face this day.

  “Mommy?”

  Barbara started as though she’d been pinched. She jerked around. Missy stood in the archway to the kitchen, her hair tangled, her cheeks rosy. She clutched Mr. Bear to her chest with one hand and rubbed at her aqua eyes, which reminded Chad of Barbara’s, with the other.

  The little girl frowned. “Did Aunt Edie and Chad come over for breakfast?”

  Barbara blushed, and Edie looked as though she’d been caught doing something else illegal.

  Chad said, “Would you like it if we did?”

  Missy gazed at him shyly and nodded.

  Barbara scraped her chair back and stood, smiling at her daughter. “We thought we’d have a breakfast party for this special day.”

  “‘Cause my daddy’s coming to see me?”

  “Yeah.” Barbara moved to Missy’s side and squatted, tucking a strand of the little girl’s hair behind her ear in a gentle gesture of love. “But he won’t be here until much later. So we’ll have this party with just us friends. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “Good. Now, I’d say a special party like this calls for some Mickey Mouse waffles.”

  “Yea!” Missy said.

  Barbara straightened and bent at the waist. “Why don’t you talk Aunt Edie into helping you get your bathrobe and slippers on.”

  Edie rose immediately, obviously functioning better when she had something to do.

  The moment they were alone, Barbara turned to Chad. “I should have told you sooner—about what Edie and I did—but the time never seemed right.” And she’d been afraid he would think less of her. Was scared of that still, but she couldn’t bring herself to admit it out loud.

  Something dark passed through his eyes—a sign that he hadn’t told her everything about himself, either. But there was no reproach in those gray-blue orbs, only concern for her. “It doesn’t change anything between us. I won’t desert you.”

  He opened his arms and she rushed into them. They stood that way for a moment, then heard Missy and Edie returning and broke apart. Barbara got the waffle maker out of the cupboard and gave everyone a chore.

  Later, as they ate, Missy regaled them with the tale of a schoolmate who’d used her art scissors to snip a chunk of cloth from the shirt collar of a boy who’d been particularly annoying.

  Chad bit back a chuckle. Edie hid her grin behind her napkin.

  Barbara struggled to keep from smiling. “Missy, that’s awful. She shouldn’t have cut his shirt. I don’t ever want you to do something like that if someone is annoying y—”

  The doorbell interrupted her. The few bites of food she’d managed to swallow churned in her stomach. She flicked a frightened glance at Chad.

  He touched her hand. “Do you want me to get it?”

  “No, that’s all right.” Barbara lurched to her feet. “It’s probably Mrs. Ferguson. She and Missy were supposed to make cookies this morning. I completely forgot to cancel. Missy, you go get dressed, sweetie. Your clothes are laid out on your bed.”

  “I’ll help her,” Edie volunteered, rising.

  “I’ll start the cleanup.” Chad began stacking dirty plates.

  As Missy hurried with Edie into her room, Barbara strode to the foyer. She had told Mrs. Ferguson nothing about her amnesia and certainly didn’t want to broach the subject with her now. The older woman would likely smother her with caring and concern. Trying to think quickly of some excuse for canceling Missy’s visit with her today, she flung open the door.

  It wasn’t the baby-sitter. Marshall and Elvis Emerson and a woman whom Barbara recognized as Marsh’s clinic nurse, Joy Jamison, stood outside her door. A dozen reproaches sprang to her tongue—from What are you doing here so early? to I thought you’d at least wait until I called you before coming over. But all were confrontational, and that was not the tone she wanted for this meeting.

  Stifling her annoyance, she invited them into the living room. The sound of dishes being washed echoed from the kitchen. “We just finished eating.”

  Realizing they could probably guess that for themselves, what with the smell of hot syrup and fried bacon in the air, Barbara warned herself to calm down. She forced a smile. “May I take your coats?”

  Marsh slipped off his overcoat and handed it to her. She accepted it, along with Elvis’s ski jacket and Joy’s fur parka, carried the coats to the foyer and hung them on the rack beside her own coat. When she returned to the living room, she found Marshall and Joy on the sofa and Elvis in one of her armchairs.

  Tension reigned. Silently, she willed Chad to abandon the dishes and come and see who the guests were.

  “Missy is dressing. She’s at that age where she likes to choose her own clothes, and even though she doesn’t always make the best decisions, I let her and she very much likes dressing herself.” Barbara could hear herself babbling, but couldn’t seem to stop. Why had her composure deserted her now, when she needed it most?

  “Is Mrs. Ferguson here, Mom—” Missy stopped in her tracks at the sight of the strangers, looking like a startled fawn caught in highway traffic, not knowing which way to run.

  Barbara opened her arms. “Come here, Missy. These are some people who want to meet you.”

  Missy shook herself and scurried to Barbara.

  Barbara pointed to Elvis. “This is your Uncle Elvis.”

  Elvis Emerson grinned. “Nice to meet you, Missy. You’re sure a looker.”

  “Oh, Marsh, she’s beautiful. She has your mouth,” Joy gushed.

  The awe in her voice sent a shiver down Barbara’s spine. Why had Marsh brought this woman with him? She started to ask, and saw the look of pure delight in Marshall’s eyes as they fixed on Missy. Her stomach churned anew. She steeled herself.

  “And,” he said, “I’m your daddy, Melissa.”

  “I know. Mommy told me.”

  Joy gave Barbara a scathing look.

  Marsh pointed to the woman beside him, taking her hand in his. “This is my wife, Joy.”

  “Your wife?” Edie exclaimed.
/>
  Barbara started. She hadn’t seen her friend enter the room. In fact it was only now that she noticed the huge diamond on Joy’s left ring finger. Well, she mused, some things never changed. Kayleen had been Marsh’s clinic nurse before they were married. But her sister had never had anything as nice as that fur parka or that hefty diamond. What had Marsh done? Won the state lottery?

  Marsh’s gaze was focused on Missy, as though they were the only two people in the room. “Joy is going to be your new mommy.”

  Edie drew a sharp breath.

  Barbara’s chest squeezed and tears stung the backs of her eyes. Missy hugged her around the legs. “This is my mommy.”

  Barbara looked up to find Chad coming in from the kitchen carrying a tray of filled coffee cups. “No one’s in a real rush right now, are we, Dr. Emerson? Let’s all have some coffee and you can spend some time with Missy and get to know her and give her a chance to know you.”

  Marshall scowled at Chad, but the look of fright on Missy’s face and the fierce way she clung to Barbara finally had him nodding. “I like cream in mine.”

  Chad set the tray on the coffee table and the guests helped themselves. Barbara alone abstained. She feared she would wear more of the coffee than she would drink in her agitated state. “Missy, why don’t you show your daddy your room and some of your toys?”

  Missy reluctantly agreed, leading the Emersons to her room. Barbara walked to the living-room window and pulled the blinds open. A dull sun peeked through the gray clouds and wind blew-dried snow along the street. She felt cold inside, as though the wind were blowing through her heart.

  Chad stepped close behind her. “How are you holding up?”

  Barbara sighed. “What do you think?”

  “You’ve had more fun during a root canal?”

  She nodded.

  “This is outrageous.” Edie sidled up to them. Her whisper held scathing disapproval. “How dare that pompous jerk waltz in here and announce that—that raven-haired witch will be Missy’s new mother. As if she didn’t already have one. I can’t believe he fathered our darling Missy.”

  “It does seem incredible. But it’s true,” Barbara assured her.

  “He’s the kind of doctor that gives my profession a bad name. More interested in money than patients, if you ask me.” She leaned closer to them conspiratorially. “Did you get a look at the rock that wife of his is wearing?”

  Barbara glanced at Chad. “And I’d swear his overcoat was cashmere, Joy’s parka mink. Did Marsh suddenly strike it rich?”

  “Guess you could say that.” Chad stroked his crooked pinkie finger. “A wealthy uncle left him a bundle. Did you know the uncle’s daughter, Suzanne? Seems she disappeared about three years or so before Kayleen and you left town.”

  “I didn’t know her.” Barbara frowned. “But I do remember the search for her was intense. The police feared she was the victim of a local serial killer and that her body might never be found. This theory brought on her father’s fatal stroke.”

  “But just before he died, he altered his will,” Chad said.

  Barbara nodded. “That’s right. Kayleen mentioned the new clause. If Suzanne didn’t turn up in seven years, the estate would go to Marshall.”

  “Yep. He collected last month.”

  Barbara’s heart clutched. “If he has that kind of money at his disposal, how will I ever fight him for Missy?”

  “You won’t need money.” Chad touched her cheek. He wanted to hold her, to haul her back to bed and make love to her until all her pain was forgotten. “You have Missy’s love on your side.”

  Edie patted her arm. “We’ll find a way through this, Barbara. I promise you.”

  Barbara gave them both a wobbly smile. What had she ever done to inspire such loyalty? She decided not to question her good fortune; just to appreciate it. “Thanks. Both of you. I don’t think I could get through this without you.”

  “Daddy’s going to read my new library book,” Missy announced as she and the three Emersons reentered the living room. Marsh settled beside her on the sofa, and Joy perched daintily on the coffee table, staring with covetous eyes at the little girl. Elvis, looking as out of place in this family setting as a giant gnome, nevertheless returned to the armchair and listened to his brother read one of the Berenstain Bears’ adventures.

  Barbara, Chad and Edie retreated to the kitchen. Ten minutes later, Marshall appeared in the archway. “I’d like a word in private with you, Barbara.”

  She braced her back against the kitchen counter and clasped the locket tightly, dreading what was coming. “Whatever you have to say to me, you can say in front of my friends.”

  “Yes, but not in front of the child.”

  “The child?” Edie chirped. “What kind of loving father calls his daughter, ‘the child?”‘

  Marshall ignored Edie as though she hadn’t spoken. But Barbara didn’t miss the crimson climbing her friend’s throat. She barely contained her own temper. “What do you want me to do with her?”

  “I thought you might let Joy or Elvis take her out into the hall for a few minu—”

  For the second time that morning the doorbell interrupted. Barbara blew out a frustrated breath, but was secretly glad of the diversion. “Excuse me.”

  She brushed past Marsh and hurried to answer.

  “Good morning, dear.” Mrs. Ferguson, a spitting image of Opie Taylor’s Aunt Bee, looked startled at the way Barbara had flung open the door. She straightened her apron. “Is Missy ready for our cookie bake-off?”

  Oh, no. She’d forgotten again to call and cancel after the Emersons had arrived. What could she say now?

  Missy ran to the door. “Hi, Mrs. Ferguson. Did you come to meet my daddy?”

  “What?” Frances Ferguson’s hazel eyes widened.

  “Er.” Barbara felt her cheeks flame. “Missy’s long-lost daddy has shown up. It’s a really complicated story, Frances. Could I tell it to you at another time?”

  “Of course, my dear.” Curiosity flared in her hazel eyes. She turned to Missy. “We can bake cookies another day.”

  Barbara stopped her. “No, wait. Actually, I think baking cookies right now would be a good idea. I need to talk to Missy’s daddy and I’d rather she was at your apartment.”

  “Oh, certainly.” Mrs. Ferguson nodded in understanding.

  Barbara glanced down at Missy. “Sweet pea, I want you to go with Mrs. Ferguson and I’ll come and get you in a little while. Okay?”

  “Will my daddy still be here?”

  “Yes.” Unfortunately, she thought, he probably would be.

  She returned to the kitchen and found the whole group had gathered there. She explained where Missy was.

  Elvis said, “Good. Now give it to her, bro.”

  Marshall scowled at Elvis and Barbara wondered if Elvis knew how much of an embarrassment he was to the doctor.

  “Give me what?” she asked.

  Marshall dug into his suit pocket and handed her an official-looking envelope.

  She took it with a trembling hand. “What is this?”

  “It’s perfectly legal,” Elvis chimed in.

  Edie moved to Barbara’s side as though readying for battle. She peered at the envelope. “It’s from some lawyer’s office.”

  Marshall said, “In layman’s terms, this document gives me full and immediate custody of my daughter. I’m taking her home with me today. Now. As soon as you’ve packed her belongings.”

  “No!” Edie leaped at Marshall as though she could stab him in the chest with her fists. “You can’t.”

  “He can.” Elvis grabbed her by the wrists.

  Joy’s hands were on her hips. “Melissa is our daughter.”

  Chad wrenched Edie’s arm out of Elvis’s grasp. “Keep your hands off her.”

  The room exploded with colliding voices.

  “Everyone!” Barbara shouted with every ounce of the fury and fear that possessed her. She would have liked to throttle this clan of interlop
ers, go after Marshall harder and longer than Edie, but she needed leverage. Needed to retain her senses, to watch her step, or she would lose Missy forever. She forced her hands outward in a gesture meant to defuse the situation. “Please. Calm down.”

  Edie’s face was crimson and tears stood in her eyes. Elvis’s face was equally red, his pale eyes narrowed in fury. Chad returned to Barbara’s side and settled a hand at the back of her neck, possessively, reassuringly. Her muscles knotted tighter.

  She said, “Marshall, please be reasonable.”

  He laughed bitterly. “I’ve been reasonable for five years. Your bitch of a sister robbed me of the first five years of my child’s life. If you don’t turn her over to me now, I’ll have you prosecuted for kidnapping.”

  Fear skittered through Barbara as cold and icy as the day. Kidnapping? No. It was just a threat. A bluff. Even if he tried it, chances were it would never stick.

  But the fact that he would use whatever he could to legally keep her away from Missy scared the hell Out of her. She wouldn’t have a leg to stand on if it came out that she and Edie had created fraudulent papers to prove Barbara had given birth to Missy. She’d chosen the illegal way Out because she’d been afraid of this man. But she had no proof of that. A judge would likely say she’d been afraid he would find her and take his child back home.

  Chad stepped between Marshall and Barbara. “Hold your threats, Doctor. Or so help me, God, I’ll go to every tabloid in the country and turn this into another ‘Baby Richard,’ with you as the heavy. The media will have a field day with the fact that the newest board member on the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is a bigamist. Not to mention how your bedside manner will be trashed by your unsympathetic attitude toward an amnesia victim, and your callous unconcern for your poor daughter.”

  Marshall’s face was beet red. “You wouldn’t dare.”

  Chad laughed, but there was no mirth in it. “I promise you I will do it…unless you back off and let Barbara handle getting Missy ready to accept the changes in her life.”

  “This is ludicrous.” Joy flicked her black hair across her shoulders. “It’s blackmail. Our lawyer will make mincemeat out of you.”

  “Let him try.” Chad smirked at her. “By then it will be too late. The stories will be in circulation, the press camped on your doorstep.”