“Ah, sure. In the kitchen.”
Kendall couldn’t hear their conversation, but she could imagine Amy’s surprise when she learned who Cooper was. All she’d told her friend was that Livie’s father wasn’t in the picture. While they talked, she moved to the sofa, sitting with Livie in her lap.
“Do you hurt anywhere?”
“No, Mommy.”
Although relieved she seemed to be physically all right, they’d need to have her checked by a doctor.
Cooper returned carrying yellow gloves and a baggie. He stopped a few feet from Livie. “I don’t want to scare her, but we need to get the note off her.”
“Why don’t I do it?”
“Probably better.”
Livie looked back at him when he handed Kendall the gloves. “Mommy, make the man go away.”
Cooper backed up, and Kendall felt sad for him. He’d been excited to meet his daughter, but Livie didn’t want anything to do with him. She’d never reacted like this around men, and Kendall didn’t want to think about what the past twenty-four hours had been like for her. They were going to have to ask her, though. Maybe not tonight when she obviously still wasn’t feeling safe.
“That’s Cooper, sweetie, and he’s Mommy’s friend. He’s a very nice man.” She pulled the gloves on. “Hold still a minute, and let me take this note off you, okay?”
“The bad man put it on me.”
“Well, the bad man isn’t here, and he’s not coming back.” She wanted to cry, to yell, to pound on something. How dare the bad man scare her little girl. But she couldn’t break down in front of Livie. She had to make her daughter believe she was safe now.
Cooper held open the baggie, and she dropped the note in. What did it say? She almost didn’t want to know. Whatever words were on it, they wouldn’t be good.
Tears welled in her daughter’s eyes. “He said he’s coming back. I don’t want him to, Mommy. Don’t let him take me again.”
“I won’t, I promise.” She met Cooper’s gaze. Was he going to leave now that Livie was back? Would he stay for a while if she asked him to? Livie would be safer with him here. His face wasunreadable. Was that his soldier face, the mask he wore when walking into danger?
“Can I do anything?” Amy asked.
Livie started crying. “I want to go home.”
“Okay, baby.” As she stood, Livie tightened her grip on Kendall’s neck.
Cooper touched Amy’s arm. “There’s really nothing you can do but thank you for taking care of her until we got here.”
“Of course.”
Propping Livie up with one arm, Kendall gave her friend a hug. “I’m so glad you were home and found her. Thank you.”
“If you see a stranger hanging around or anything out of the norm, call the police,” Cooper told Amy.
“Believe me, I’ll be watching.”
When they arrived home, Kendall handed Cooper her purse. “My keys are in the side pocket.”
He got them out, and when he unlocked the door and followed them in, Livie cried harder. “The man can’t come in, Mommy. No mans!”
“Remember I told you Cooper’s Mommy’s friend? He’s big and strong and won’t let the bad man take you away again.”
“Livie, I promise I won’t let the bad man take you,” Cooper said softly.
She hiccupped as she peered around Kendall to look at Cooper. “Okay, Mommy. He can stay with us.” She buried her face into Kendall’s neck again.
“I’m going to give her a bath and get her in her pajamas.”