Page 18 of Good Girls Don't Kiss and Tell (Rock Canyon, Idaho 7)

“That’s fine. I’ll have you transfer them to me for her record but the doctor will also take some.”

Over an hour later, Gracie wanted to just bundle Pip up and get her the hell out of there. As nice as the techs were, it broke Gracie’s heart to watch such a tiny child be poked, prodded, and positioned to take X-rays and blood work, and be photographed.

Pip scooted away when the doctor came in and started screaming, reaching for Gracie.

Pushing past Viola, she scooped Pip up and faced the doctor and Viola like a bristling mama bear ready to protect her cub.

“Viola, she’s been through so much. Can’t we give her a little break?”

“Actually, Ms.…” The doctor waited.

“McAllister.”

“Ms. McAllister, I was coming in to say we were all finished and we were so impressed with how well…”

“Pip.”

“Pip did that I was wondering if she’d like a sticker.” The doctor, a dark-haired woman in her mid-forties, held out a tray of different stickers. “Pick any one you want.”

But Pip wouldn’t even look at her, and finally, Gracie picked a Little Mermaid sticker and held it in front of the little girl’s face.

“How about this one? She’s pretty, huh?”

Pip took the sticker without lifting her head, and Gracie could see the thumb shoved into her mouth like a safety net.

The doctor now spoke to Viola. “We’ll try to get the results on the blood back as soon as we can. Hopefully we’ll be able to locate her mother or a next of kin. Other than the diaper rash and her weight being a little low for her estimated age, she is in good health. There were no signs of sexual abuse or trauma, and no broken bones on Jocelyn’s X-rays.” The doctor handed Viola several prescription slips. “Here is a prescription for an antibiotic ointment

for her diaper rash and a children’s multi-vitamin.”

Once the doctor left the room and it was just the three of them. Gracie stroked Pip’s back gently, meeting Viola’s gaze.

“Is she done now? Really?” Gracie asked.

“Yes.” Viola seemed to be watching her intently. “You’re very good with her.”

“I’ve taken care of kids before.”

“And she seems to trust you.”

Gracie stopped rubbing Pip’s back. “What are you thinking, Viola?”

Viola lowered her voice. “I don’t have a current foster home for her in the Magic Valley, and until I get the lab results back and we figure out who she is, I either have to place her with a family in Ada County or a group home. But if you’re okay with it, I can have a motion filed this week giving you temporary care of her until we’re able to find her family.”

Gracie’s heart leapt in her throat. “Do you think a judge would go for that? I’m not an actual foster parent.”

“I’ve got a judge that owes me a favor, and when I explain the circumstances, I have a feeling she’ll be sympathetic. You just leave that up to me.”

* * *

Eric sat in front of his computer, typing up an email to his literary agent, Neal Goodman. He knew Neal was out of town for the weekend visiting family, but hopefully he’d get it first thing Monday and be able to give him an update on his submission. Considering Neal was the only one he had to talk to about his novel, he was going out of his mind.

It wasn’t because he was ashamed or thought his family wouldn’t approve. Writing was always something he enjoyed, but since he’d never gone to college or taken any classes, he’d always kept his musings to himself.

The last two years, though, he’d been a bit restless. He’d been running his family’s bar since he was twenty-one years old, and although he loved it, it wasn’t his passion.

Still, he wasn’t ready to share anything with anyone until there was something to share. When he’d finished his manuscript six months ago, and sent a query letter to eight different agents, six of them had come back with a hard no.

Not Neal, though. He’d sent him a contract to review five days after reading Eric’s sample chapters, and the two of them had been tweaking and working together ever since. Neal had finally told him in September that the manuscript was ready to shop.

---