Chapter 5
While Cooper turned the pages of Olivia’s baby book, Kendall couldn’t take her eyes off him.
It wasn’t just because he was gorgeous to look at.
He so was, but it was more that the emotion in his eyes and the soft expression on his face as he took his time to absorb each memory captured in the book tugged at her heart.
His brows furrowed slightly at the sight of Olivia’s first steps, then on the next page, a small chuckle escaped him as he read about her first word.
“Mine?” He glanced up at her. “I always thought Mama was a baby’s first word.”
“She said that when I tried to take a cookie that was a slobbery mess away from her.”
“That’s my girl.” He went back to paging through the baby book.
There was so much tenderness in his touch as he traced the outlines of tiny footprints and handprints left on the pages.
He glanced up and caught her staring at him, a soft smile playing on his lips that made her stomach flutter. “She’s lucky to have you as her mom.”
“I think it’s more like I’m the lucky one. I need her back, Cooper.” Tears swelled in her eyes again as she thought of her little girl out there somewhere in the dark, wondering why her mommy didn’t come get her.
He closed the book and set it on the coffee table. “I think you need a hug. Come here.”
She hesitated a moment. Although they’d once been as intimate as possible, he was a stranger. Was it weird to want the hug he was offering, one she really needed?
Maybe so, but he was Livie’s father, and she thought he might need a hug as much as she did.
She scooted over and Cooper tucked her against his side.
She’d known he was a nice man from their one night together.
That night, he’d been a lot of things; sweet, considerate, and had confirmed her consent even after they were in his hotel room, where it had to be obvious she was agreeable with being there.
He’d shown her he was a man who could be trusted, and that meant everything when it came to her little girl.
The way he’d stared at the photos of Olivia in her baby book and the album she’d brought out, she was sure he was already in love with the daughter he’d not yet met.
Unless he was an amazing actor, Livie was going to have a wonderful father.
“Tell me about Olivia… Livie. Is it all right if I use her nickname?”
See, considerate. “Of course. It’s Olivia if she’s in trouble.”
“And is she in trouble a lot?”
“No. She’s actually pretty well behaved, but she does have her moments. She can be impatient when she wants something. She laughs a lot. Thinks the silliest things are funny.”
“Like what?”
“Silly jokes, kid movies like the Minions… She’ll laugh hysterically at them.”
“Well, the Minions are funny.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’ll wait to hear you say that again after you watched them ad nauseam. She really wants a dog, but we’re gone all day, so it’s just not feasible.”
“I have a dog. Maybe the two of you can visit me sometimes and she can play with Ruby.”
“She’d love that.” What was Livie doing right now? Was whoever had taken her at least taking care of her? Feeding her? “I feel like we should be out looking for her.”
“If we had any idea where to search, believe me, we’d be doing that.” He twirled a lock of her hair around his fingers, something she didn’t think he realized he was doing.
“Why were you in the bar that night?” She’d felt back then that he’d been a bit sad, and she’d always wondered when she thought of him if she was right.
“I told you I was home on leave, right? I seem to remember that I did.”
“Yes, but you didn’t say why.”
“I was home to bury my father.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I did think you seemed sad that night.”
“Don’t be sorry. If I appeared sad, it was because I was worried about my sister.
This will sound harsh, but he’s not missed.
Not by me or Emmie. He was mean, miserable and a drunk.
But he was my father, and someone had to make arrangements for him.
Emmie and I agreed to have him cremated.
We didn’t want him buried somewhere that we would feel obligated to visit.
I also had to meet with a Realtor that week to put his house up for sale. ”
“Does your sister live here?”
“No, Emmie… Her name’s actually Emilia, but when she was little, she couldn’t say that, and she called herself Emmie. It stuck. She lives in Boston with her husband. She’s finally happy.”
She wondered what the story was with his sister and her finally being happy, but when he didn’t offer more, she didn’t ask.
“Tell me about you,” he said. “What do you do?”
“I’m a second-grade teacher, and I also have a monthly podcast that averages a thousand downloads.”
“Is that good?”
“It puts me in the top ten percent for podcasts.”
“Impressive. What is your podcast about?”
“Cold-case children’s kidnappings, but I don’t want to talk about that right now.” She’d have to explain why she did the podcasts, and she just wasn’t up to reliving that part of her life tonight.
“Okay, but I’d like to hear more about it when you’re ready. As for your full-time job, I can see you as a teacher, a good one.”
“I love teaching children.” He’d taken her mind off her missing daughter for a while, but she needed to be alone now. She leaned away from him. “It’s getting late. You can sleep in my bed.”
“The couch is fine. I don’t want to kick you out of your bed.”
“I’m sleeping in Livie’s bed. I know it’s silly, but I feel closer to her in her room. I’d sleep there even if you weren’t here.” Or not sleeping at all.
“Okay, then.”
After getting him settled, she went to Livie’s room, where she curled up with her daughter’s stuffed animals and cried herself to sleep.
“Are you sure you want to watch this?” Detective Rossi said the next morning when she and Cooper arrived at the police station.
“Yes.” It was going to be hard, but she had to. Had to know everything about what had happened to Livie.
“Come with me, then.”
As they followed him, Cooper put his hand on her back, and his touch gave her the confidence that she could do this. The detective pulled up a second chair and had her and Cooper sit at his desk in front of his monitor. She sucked in a breath as Detective Rossi clicked Play to show them the video.
Cooper reached for her hand as the video began to play, and again, his touch gave her the strength to watch. At seeing Amanda and Livie pushing the cart to the car, she wanted to yell at them to go back in the store.
This was the first time Cooper was seeing his daughter on film, and Kendall glanced at him. His eyes were glued to the monitor, and there was a small smile on his face as he watched Livie chattering away while Amanda loaded the groceries.
A white van was parked next to Amanda’s car, and even knowing what was going to happen, Kendall gasped when a man got out of the van and then came around the other side and eased the sliding door open.
Amanda had her back to him as she helped Livie into her car seat.
The man glanced around, then he hit Amanda on the back of the head with his balled-up fist. As she began to fall to the ground, he pushed her onto the floor of the car.
Confused and scared, Livie started crying. The man moved swiftly, grabbing Livie and shoving her into the van. He shut the back door of Amanda’s car, then jumped into the van, sliding the door closed behind him.
As she watched the van speed away, Kendall burst into tears.
“I told you she didn’t need to see this,” Detective Rossi said.
Ignoring Rossi, Cooper turned his chair to face her and took her hands in his. “Listen to me, Kendall. We’re going to find her.”
“Promise?” She lifted her gaze to his, searching for the assurance she needed from him.
“You have my word.” Keeping her hands in his, he glanced up at the detective. “What do you know so far?”
“We’re looking for a fat man driving a white van with an unreadable license plate. That’s about it right now. The video’s too grainy to see his face clearly, but we’re running it through our facial recognition program in the hopes we can get a match. I’m not too hopeful.”
“Did you see how fast he moved? He’s not fat.
He’s wearing padding. Watch it again and see how thin his face is.
Also, if he was that heavy, he should have a double chin.
It’s unfortunate the video probably isn’t distinct enough for facial recognition to make a match.
I think when you do find the van that he’s already ditched, you’ll probably find that it’s stolen. ”
“How do you know all that?” she asked.
“It’s what I do, and I’m good.”
All she could think was thank God she’d called him.
“I want to watch it again, but I think maybe you’d rather not?”
She pushed away from the desk. “I can’t.”
“We have a break room if you want to wait in there,” Detective Rossi said. “There’s coffee if you want some. Not that I recommend it. There’s also a coffee shop next door.”
“I’ll wait in the break room.”
“Down the hall, second door on the left.”
Cooper touched her arm. “I’ll come get you as soon as we’re done here.”
“Take as long as you need. All that’s important is finding Livie.”
Nothing else mattered. Not a damn thing.