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“Two kidnapped little girls,” Ellie said, then she heard a gasp and saw Lara and Jasper Truman running toward them from the waiting area, Shondra close behind.
“Ava!” Lara squealed. Jasper was right behind her, and Ava jerked her head up. Emotions bled through Ellie as Lara ran to her and reached for her daughter. Her eyes silently asked all the questions a mother would.
“She seems okay, just scared,” Ellie said softly.
“Thank you,” Lara murmured as she pulled Ava against her chest and kissed her hair, then Ava reached for Bunny.
“Mommy! Daddy!” Ava threw her arms around her mother’s neck, burrowing into her, and Jasper wrapped his arms around them both.
Jasper looked up at Ellie with tears in his eyes. Regret mingled with relief and an apology in his voice. “Thank you for bringing our baby home.”
Ellie gave a little nod. “I’m just glad she’s here in time for Christmas.”
“Good job,” Shondra said warmly.
“I couldn’t have done it without a team,” Ellie replied, smiling.
Kaylee stirred and glanced up, searching their faces. “Ava?” she whimpered.
“I’m here.” Ava reached for Kaylee’s hand.
Lara stepped closer and the girls clung to each other for a second. “Kaylee took care of me, Mommy,” Ava said in a small voice.
Lara blinked away tears and patted Kaylee. “I’m so glad you made friends.”
“Let’s take her to her aunt,” Ellie said. “Lara, Jasper, you might want to come with and meet Priscilla. If it wasn’t for her, we might not have found Ava.”
“Yes, let’s go,” Lara said eagerly.
Ellie took Kaylee from the officer and led Lara and Jasper, clinging to Ava, down the hall to Priscilla’s room. Ellie was glad to see Bryce still at the door.
“Thanks for staying, Sheriff,” she said. “We found the girls.”
“Good work, Ellie.”
Had Bryce just given her a compliment?
He touched her elbow. “Mind if I go now? Mandy agreed to have breakfast with me tomorrow.”
Ellie gave him a smile. “I’m glad. Just take it slowly, Bryce. Your daughter’s lost a lot already.”
His jaw tightened but then he slipped something into the palm of her hand. “My one-month chip,” he said in a voice only she could hear. “I’m trying, Ellie.”
Ellie was so touched she couldn’t speak. Kaylee shifted in her arms, and Ellie knocked on Priscilla’s door and opened it as Bryce headed down the hall.
Lara and Jasper stood aside and let her head in first. Priscilla was sleeping but lifted her head at the sound of them entering and when she looked up, squealed and reached for her niece. “Oh my goodness. Kaylee, baby, come here!”
“Aunt Prissy!” Kaylee squirmed against Ellie, and she hurried over and lowered the child into Priscilla’s waiting arms.
Priscilla hugged and kissed Kaylee, and the girl wrapped her arms around her aunt’s neck and laid her head on Priscilla’s shoulder.
Ellie’s lungs squeezed. Losing Piper had torn the Goodings apart, while almost losing Ava had brought the Trumans closer.
She looked at the clock as it struck midnight. Technically, it was Christmas Day. At least they had done it––the families would share the holiday together.
One Hundred Forty-Five
Ellie stepped into the hall with Shondra and explained what happened. “Gayle got away. I need to talk to her husband and see if he has any idea where she’d go. Will you stand watch here in case she shows up to retaliate against Priscilla?”
