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“Ouch,” Mabel winced. She looked down at her hand. It was bandaged tightly.
“You cut yourself whittling,” said Tammy. “Don’t worry, it wasn’t a bad one, but you nicked a blood vessel so I got it cleaned up for you and gave you a couple stitches.”
“That sounds… gross,” said Mabel. “Careful or you’ll make me faint again.”
Tammy smiled. “Don’t worry. I’ve seen a lot worse in my time.” She motioned at the envelope. “Want me to open it for you? Read it for you?”
Mabel shook her head. “No, it’s okay, thanks. I’d rather be alone.”
“No problem-o.” Dr. Tammy walked away and Mabel smiled, watching her go. Before coming to Liberty, she never would have thought she could have taken a doctor who was also a Little seriously. Now, she realized that it was what made Dr. Tammydoublygood. She was super clever, and she had a great bedside manner too. Win-win.
“Alright,” she said under her breath, psyching herself up to open the envelope. She wondered what it was going to say. Over the course of her life, she’d come to expect the worst from just about every situation. Which meant that she was probably about to see a goodbye message in this envelope. Or a ransom note. Or a… or a…
Huh. Well, that was interesting. It was a silver dog tag. And it said “babygirl” on it. This must have been the one that she commissioned from Billie. Did that mean that Rip was already wearing the other one? The one that said “Daddy” on it?
She put the dog tag over her neck and enjoyed the cold feeling of the metal against her chest. Every time she felt it, she would think of Rip. And she would try not to be such a pessimist.
She looked down at her bandaged hand again, wincing. She had been trying to whittle herself a minion when the knife had slipped. A little wooden friend to keep her company. It was the third time she’d tried to survive on her own lately and failed. Maybe the world was trying to tell her something. She was going to leave the survivalist world behind her from now on. Except when she was doing it with her team mate. But then, of course, she wouldn’t be surviving. She’d be thriving.
“Knock knock,” said a voice by the door.
“Fabian,” said Mabel, surprised. “You’re still here?”
“Yep,” he said with a weak smile. “I’m all sobered up now. Got a sore head, though.”
Mabel saw another figure behind him: Dr. Cassius.
“The doc’s been looking after me well,” he said. “Got me onto a program back in Chicago.”
“Does Rochelle know?”
“Yep. She’s pleased. But I’ll probably spend the next ten years groveling to her.”
“Not sure she cares about the groveling,” said Mabel. “She just wants you to give up the drink. Start manning up.”
Fabian nodded. “I’m sorry. I haven’t been dealing too well with stresses at work lately. I thought having more kids would fix everything, but it turns out it’s me that needs fixing.” He paused. “I’m sorry I turned up in Liberty too. I had no right. I’ll go now. But Rochelle asked me to tell you in person that you can see her and Ada whenever you want. It was kinda my fault she wouldn’t let you see her. She thought I was in love with you.”
Mabel was about to say something sassy, but she chose not to. Being magnanimous was not the same as being a doormat. It was time she started exercising some self-restraint.
“Come on,” said Dr. Cassius behind him. “It’s time we headed to rehab.”
Fabian turned and nodded, and the two men walked off.
Mabel yawned as she watched them go. She felt like she could sleep for a thousand years. As though she’d been living in survival mode her whole life, and was finally able to lose her grip.
To let go…
She closed her eyes.
*
Rip fingered his dog tag as he watched her sleep.
His babygirl.
He hoped that’s what she still was to him. He could see she was wearing the necklace under her hospital gown, which gave him hope. Still, he didn’t want to assume. He needed to speak to her.
Problem was, she was fast asleep, and he was growing impatient. He’d waited his whole life to meet someone who made him feel as good as she did. He found himself doing everything slightly more noisily than usual: fidgeting, clearing his throat, placing his glass of water down heavily on the table next to the bed.
