a complete rundown on everything she had done since seeing the girl, including going back to Murchison’s and pretending she had found the girl’s doll and wanted to return it.
“Wow, that’s some detective work.” Jay studied the picture of the girl. “So what does your family think now?”
“I only told Grandpa. Mama and Hawk don’t care.”
“I doubt that,” Jay said. “Maybe they just don’t believe it could be her.”
Abby kicked the water, creating more splash than she had intended. “I’m sure everyone thinks I’m obsessing because we just passed another anniversary.”
Jay rubbed the stubble on his chin. “Is that a possibility? It would certainly be understandable,” he quickly added.
Nothing like an open and honest relationship. Abby snatched the phone from his hand. “Look, I saw what I saw. You said yourself the girl looks like Jesse.”
“What do you think y’all should do about it?”
“I think we should find out more about Ella.”
“How would you do that?” Jay said. “You asked around town.”
“Only on Main Street.”
“You think you can go up and down every street in Foggy Ridge and ask people if they know where this girl lives? Abby, do you know how desperate that sounds?”
“Well, maybe I am desperate! I’ll regret it the rest of my life if I just blow it off. I have to try to find Ella.”
“Why don’t you go talk to the sheriff?”
“And tell him what—that this little girl looks like I imagine my sister would look now? Grandpa said the authorities won’t start investigating again based on just that. Besides, Mama would freak if I did that without her permission.”
“You don’t think she’d go for the idea?”
Abby shook her head. “Absolutely not. She made it clear that she doesn’t want to hear another word about it.”
“Then what can you do?”
Abby shrugged. “I’ll think of something. It’s the first time I’ve felt hope in a long time. Maybe if I just step out in faith, God will help me find Riley Jo.”
“You mean find Ella.”
“Right now, they seem like one and the same to me.”
Jay cracked his knuckles and was quiet for half a minute. “Abby, even if you could find Ella, how would you go about determining whether she was your sister?”
“All this just happened. I haven’t figured it out yet, all right?”
“Hey, don’t be mad at me for asking honest questions. This is pretty important. If this girl is your sister, then where is your dad? You have to deal with that, too.”
“Jay, you’re being a real pain. That’s not what I need right now!” Abby blinked the stinging from her eyes. She was not letting him dissuade her from doing this.
“I’m a practical kind of guy. I think you should have a plan before you jump in with both feet.”
Abby twirled a lock of hair around her finger. “My plan is to find Ella. I’m going back to town and ask around some more—places people would be likely to take children: ice-cream parlors, candy stores, gift shops, toy stores, pizza places, burger shops.”
“People might remember her because of the twins,” Jay said. “That’s a good way to jog their memory. I could help you ask around.”
“Thanks, but people are so protective of kids nowadays, I just think they’d be more willing to talk to a female.”
“Whatever. I wish there was something I could do to help you.”
“There is. Just listen and don’t try to talk me out of it. Or tell me I sound desperate. I need to do this.”
“Then go for it. I’ll be the wind in your sails.”
Abby felt a sting and slapped her arm. “Oh, great. I forgot to use insect repellent. The mosquitoes will eat me alive.”
Jay stood and stepped into his Birkenstocks, then pulled her to her feet.
“How about I take you to Sweet Stuff and buy you a banana boat? As my aunt Clara used to say, ‘Ain’t nothin’ that ails a body or mind that can’t be fixed at Sweet Stuff.’”
“That does sound good,” Abby said.
“And it’s another place you can check to see if anyone working there recognizes Ella.”
An hour and a half later, Abby slid out of Jay’s truck. She shut the door and leaned on the open window.
“I had fun,” she said. “Thanks again for being a friend. It means a lot to me that I can tell you whatever’s on my mind.”
Jay smiled. “The nice thing about having a girl for my best friend is not having to do the talking.”
Abby laughed. “You’re a good listener. I know I talk too much.”