to the main building and felt a rush of cold air when she opened the door. She nodded at the day manager, went back to the offices, and stood in the open doorway, trying to catch her breath.
Her mother looked up from the computer, a puzzled expression on her face. “What is it, Abby?”
“I need to show you something.” Abby hurried over to where her mother was sitting. “I was in town and saw this little girl. I nearly freaked out.”
Abby held up her phone and displayed the picture of the girl.
Mama stared at the image on the phone without saying anything.
“Well …?” Abby said. “Don’t you think she looks like Riley Jo?”
“Lots of little girls have similar features and coloring.”
“Mama, look at that face. She’s even the right age.”
Her mother’s eyes flashed a flicker of hope that was quickly extinguished. “Abby, you have to stop this. How many times has this happened? Twice? Three times? It’s been five years. You need to accept that she’s gone.”
“But aren’t you even curious? What if it’s—”
“There’s no way it’s Riley Jo.”
“I saw a man come out of Murchison’s and swat her behind. He pulled her inside before I could get a closer look. As soon as I got my wits about me, I went into Murchison’s and tried to find them. But they were gone. I looked in the park and every shop and restaurant along Main—all the way to First and back. But I didn’t see them.”
Mama turned a pencil upside down and bounced the eraser on her desk. “This isn’t healthy. Maybe it’s time you went back to see Dixie. There’s no shame in getting more counseling.”
“I don’t need counseling,” Abby said, more loudly than she intended. “I need the truth.”
“Well, we’re not going to get the truth! The sooner you accept that, the happier you’ll be. What happened to Riley Jo and your father is a mystery and will likely never be resolved. We just have to accept it and move on.”
“I can’t,” Abby said. “I won’t!”
Mama threw her hands in the air. “I can’t force you to accept it. But I have. And I simply can’t be part of your false hope. I don’t want to hear any more about this.”
“Like you ever did.”
“That’s enough, young lady. One more disrespectful comment and you’ll find yourself grounded.”
Abby put her phone in her pocket. “Don’t worry. I won’t mention it to you again.” Ever!
Abby turned on her heel and left the office. She went to look for Grandpa Buck.
“Why is everyone being so weird about this?” Abby looked across the kitchen table at her grandfather, who was studying the photo of the little girl. He handed her cell phone back to her.
“I didn’t realize I was actin’ weird,” Grandpa Buck said. “But I agree with your mother, honey. The chance that it was Riley Jo is next to impossible.”
“Next to impossible—not impossible. You said yourself that nothing is impossible with God. Now that I finally believe that, are you saying it’s not true?”
“That’s not what I’m sayin’, Abby. And I think you know it.” Grandpa stroked his white mustache. “Let’s pretend for a moment that this was Riley Jo. What would she be doin’ in Foggy Ridge?”
Abby shrugged. “Don’t you think we should find out?”
“How?”
“Go to the sheriff.”
“And tell him what?” Grandpa looked over the top of his glasses. “That you saw another girl that looks like you think your sister would look now? Where do you suggest he start lookin’? The sheriff’s department has spent more money and manpower on this case than any in the town’s history. They’re not gonna take kindly to any more wild-goose chases.”
“Is that what you think this is?” Abby’s eyes burned with tears. “Grandpa, you should’ve seen her. The picture doesn’t do her justice. It could’ve been Riley Jo. I can’t just ignore that.”
“And I’m not sayin’ you should. But this has happened before, and I know that neither the sheriff nor the police chief is gonna start another investigation without somethin’ more concrete to go on.”
Abby heard someone laughing and turned.
Hawk stood leaning on the kitchen doorway, his arms folded across his chest, an irritating smirk curling his lips. “You’re hallucinating again, Sis. The next stop is the loony bin.”
“That’s enough,” Grandpa said. “Abby wasn’t talking to you.”
“How long have you been standing there eavesdropping?” Abby didn’t bother to hide her annoyance.
“Long enough.” Hawk came into the kitchen and stood holding the back of an empty chair. “All the wishful thinking in