Page 16 of The Luminosity of Loriana Harper

The other woman’s scowl didn’t lessen. “You know we do.”

“Oh, there’s Deanne. She was just here yesterday, so I’d better go make sure everything is okay.”

Totally lame, but a valid excuse. The older mother had visited with her daughter Calleigh yesterday and rarely visited on days when Toddlers and Books wasn’t running.

Loriana left the back room with a huge smile on her face.

Deanne’s responding smile was just as wide.

“You’re back.” The librarian rounded the circulation desk to find little Calleigh strapped into her stroller.

The two-year-old had a wicked grin on her face and extended her arms upon seeing Loriana.

Loriana checked with Deanne first and, upon receiving permission, unbelted Calleigh and pulled her into an embrace. “Hello, darling girl, nice to see you back so soon.”

“Ba ba ba.”

“Yes, you’re back.” She turned her attention to Deanne. “Everything okay?”

The woman smiled warmly. “We were in town for Calleigh’s checkup, and I thought we could drop in here.”

“Everything’s good, I assume.” Because it had to be. Loriana loved these children as her own, and anything happening to them would be devastating.

“She’s fine.” Deanne ruffled Calleigh’s hair, and the young girl batted her mother’s hand away. “Rusty Stevens was also at the doctor’s office.”

“Is something wrong with Mira?” Rusty’s daughter was the same age as Calleigh.

Deanne shook her head. “I shouldn’t say anything. I mean, it’s not my place. But I’m worried about him.”

Loriana nodded. “This have something to do with his wife?”

“Well, yes.” She glanced around to make sure no one could overhear. “His wife was there, and she looked very ill. Rusty was holding Mira and soothing her while the woman just sat there.”

Knowing Deanne’s strong protective nature, Loriana saw the problem. “You think there’s something wrong.”

“Well, yes.” She cleared her throat. “Rusty’s said a few things over the last few months. About how tough parenting is. He even let slip he wished he had help. I wanted to point out he had a wife, but something told me to hold my tongue and now I’m glad I did. I just…” She patted down her dark curly hair. Such a contrast to Calleigh’s fine blonde hair. “Do you think I should offer to help? Albert and I are so lucky—having everything we could possibly need and more. Calleigh’s such a calm baby, and my other daughter Remy secured a job in the prosecutor’s office…well, I feel incredibly blessed.”

Loriana understood that well.

Deanne and Albert were pillars of the community—known for their generous donations and acts of charity. Rusty was a proud man who wouldn’t accept charity—even if he needed it. The puzzle was how Sissy Stevens fit into the picture.

Loriana knew Sissy, of course.

The young woman grew up in Mission City, the only daughter of a known alcoholic who was often neglectful. She and Rusty’d married right after high school. The pregnancy after a few years been a surprise, but they both appeared happy. Since Mira’s birth? No happiness.

The few times Loriana glimpsed Sissy, the woman did not, as Deanne pointed out, look well.

Rusty never missed a Toddler and Books session while Sissy had never appeared at one.

“Maybe offer to have Mira over more often? Calleigh loves her company—so make it clear he’d be doing you a favor if you could borrow her for a few hours a couple of times a week.”

Deanne’s dark eyes lit. “That’s a brilliant suggestion. I don’t have his phone number, but I’ll talk to him next week to see if we can plan a Christmas playdate. Oh, Calleigh would love that.”

The toddler, who’d been quiet, looped her arms around Loriana’s neck and cuddled close.

Loriana pressed a kiss to the top of her head, inhaling the sweet baby smell.

“You’re so good with her.”

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