“I made phone calls and took care of some stuff. The clerk at that gas station is going to send Eva a digitized file of that camera footage since we didn’t get through it all.”
“But the man who attacked me wasn’t Norm.”
“I know, but we need to be thorough. You said yourself—he still wore a mask.”
River hadn’t let go of the idea that her in-laws were somehow involved. The more she thought about it, the more absurd the idea seemed to her. She’d sat across a dinner table from them. They’d come to Elsie’s christening and her birthday parties. Even though they did those things to have a relationship with Elsie, she couldn’t imagine Norm attacking her in such a violent and close way.
River rose from his chair. “We can talk about it later. I’ll see if I can have the doctors sign you out. I have another video call to do with the task force later today.”
He left the room. A sense of emptiness invaded her mind. She didn’t want to get in an argument with River about the investigation. They were both doing the best they could.
Within the hour, Lydia was dressed and ready to go.
They drove back to River’s place. When they stepped inside, Lydia spotted Elsie’s teddy bear on the couch where she’d left it. The weakness she felt from the hypothermia and seeing the toy caused the tears to flow. “Where is my little girl?”
She turned back to River, who gathered her into his arms while she cried. She tilted her head to gaze into his blue eyes. He bent close and his lips brushed over hers, a kiss as gentle as the brush of butterfly wings that lifted some of the sadness off her.
He stepped back, shaking his head. “Whoa. First you say you love me and now I go and kiss you. What is up with us?”
She detected fear in his voice. She felt it, too. After Sloane, she’d vowed to remain single. In her world, relationships meant the possibility of deep pain. Never again. “It’s just everything that’s happened. The doctors said I wouldn’t feel like my old self for several days.”
“Yes, that must be it. Lot of dramatic stuff for both of us.” He hurried across the room, grabbed his laptop from the side table by the sofa and set it on the kitchen table.
She avoided making eye contact with River while he got ready for the video call. She rushed into the kitchen, not sure what she intended to do there. The kiss had her all discombobulated.
“Guess I’ll make some coffee. You want some?”
“Sure,” he said.
Doing something productive would get her mind off of how desperately she wanted to be back in River’s arms again.
* * *
River stared at the black screen of his laptop. It was still another five minutes before the video call with the task force was set to start. When he’d been standing close to Lydia, the urge to kiss her again had been overwhelming.
Even now, he was keenly aware of her presence as she moved around the kitchen. She was a woman in crisis. He didn’t want to take advantage when she was all over the place emotionally. Maybe if Elsie was back safe and this nightmare ended, he would have a clearer perspective on his feelings.
The truth was, when he’d thought she might die, he’d realized how much he cared about her.
She came over and set a cup of hot coffee down on the table. Her shoulder brushed against his, causing his heart to flutter.
“Meeting hasn’t started yet?”
He clicked keys, trying to look busy. “Just a few more minutes.” The online meeting room, with only him signed in came up on the screen.
One by one, the other faces popped up on the screen starting with Emmett. Eva was the last to make an appearance after Eli, Lizzie and Maren.
“How is Lydia doing?” Eva asked.
“Yeah, we heard what happened,” said Lizzie.
River glanced over his shoulder. Lydia must have retreated to the bedroom. He looked back at the screen. “She’s on the road to recovery.”
“That’s good to hear, River,” Emmett said. “I know everyone’s time is valuable, so let’s officially start the meeting. Thank you all for showing up. I know with Elsie’s case and the investigation centered on Mia’s disappearance, all of us have been putting in substantial overtime. There’s been a slight shift in the focus of the baby snatching case. Lizzie, I know you and Autumn questioned staff at several homes in various towns for unwed mothers. Eli as well did some poking around in Denver.”
“Nothing in our interviews set off alarm bells,” said Eli.
Eva piped up. “If there had been any red flags, a whistle blower of any variety, I would have found a way to pull the financials on those places.”
