Learning to Live Again
Chapter 16
Joey was released on Tuesday. He was weak and would be off work for at least six weeks. Mike had stayed home with Bobby while Libby and Tamara got Joey and the kids settled back in. Tamara had taken the kids upstairs to go to bed, giving Libby a chance to talk to her brother about trying to find Hannah.
"So, do you have any connections within Family Services?" Libby asked as she adjusted the pillow under Joey's back.
"I work primarily with Katherine. I do have another connection, but I won't be talking to her, if you get my drift." Joey said. Libby immediately tumbled to what he was saying.
"Mike never got confirmation of his younger daughter's death. She was…not really his, but he raised her and legally she was. He really misses her, and her sixteenth birthday is coming up on Saturday. He told me that his wife…first wife, Christine had wanted to leave Hannah in Florida with her biological father when she was about two. Mike refused. Is it possible that…I don't know really what I want to say." Libby started.
"You want to try to find her. Since there is not a biological connection, if they ran her DNA, Mike would not come up. You want me to use my connections to see if she is in the foster care system somewhere." Joey completed.
"Yeah, pretty much. I did look in her baby book yesterday. Here is a photo of her when she was about eight. And…in Mike's documents, I found the other man's name. I took a copy of it and put the original back. Could you help me?" Libby asked.
"Did a mother who wanted to leave a young child with a man that the child didn't know make a baby book? That's always been Tamara's thing with our kids. I know where they are, but I don't know if I have ever even opened them." Joey asked back.
"From what Mike has told me, she never fully bonded with Hannah and to answer your question, the entries in the book are all in Mike's handwriting. The other two books have a woman's handwriting, so I suspect that Mike didn't want Hannah to feel left out as she got older, and so he made her's. It doesn't have the elaborate cut-outs either. Just notes about what Hannah was doing at different stages, rolling over, grasping toys, saying words, and that type of thing. There is even a page in notebook paper." Libby explained.
"So, it sounds like his first wife was a crappy mother." Joey said.
"Mike has the allusion that Christine loved Hannah. I'm not so sure of that, but he admits there were issues." Libby confirmed.
"Alright, I understand what you are wanting to do, and I will help you, but what do you do if the girl is dead? Or settled with her biological father? Legally, yes, Mike would have a claim, but it wouldn't stand in court because all this…uh, Max? All he would have to do is say that Mike withheld Hannah from him, and he wants her. Can Mike afford to lose her a second time? And what if Hannah doesn't want anything to do with Mike for lying to her?" Joey questioned.
"I didn't think of that. So, do you have a way of at least trying to find her?" Libby asked.
"I have a way, but I have to talk to Tamara first. I will not contact Kelly without her knowledge. If I do, and she doesn't know what I am doing, it could tank my marriage. I cannot lose Tamara now." Joey said.
"I don't want to put you in that position." Libby said.
"Well, I have to pay for my mistakes. Kelly works in the next county over and I can't ask Katherine to do this. Kelly may not, and if she won't, I will see if there is another way. It might not happen by Saturday though." Joey warned.
"You're the best. I love you." Libby said as she kissed Joey's cheek.
"I love you too. Now, I have a question for you. What the hell are you doing? I thought this marriage was just a sham. You and Mike seem very close. Like a couple who are madly in love with one another." Joey asked.
"I don't love him, and he doesn't love me." Libby argued.
"You're sleeping with him; aren't you? Libby, please…be careful. This could lead to heartbreak. What if you get Bobby adopted and Mike divorces you?" Joey asked.
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there. Besides, Tamara finally told me about how you two started out, and it works well, even now. It turned out well, yes?" Libby reminded him.
"Six months ago, I started an affair with a woman who likes having sex with as many powerful men as possible. I love Tamara with all my heart, but there is something wrong at the base of our marriage. I wouldn't have done what I did if there wasn't. I don't know what it is, but I don't want that for you and Mike. Just be careful." Joey said.
"So, if you love Tamara so much, why did you do it? Was it for…attention? Love? Sex?" Libby asked. She knew she was treading on thin ice with Joey and the last thing she wanted was to upset her still very fragile brother.
"Attention and sex. Abby was still very small. Not sleeping through the night. Tamara hadn't lost weight and was breast feeding. Weird acne in weird places, stretch marks, a jiggly stomach. Honestly, at that point, Tamara repulsed me. It wasn't all physical either, because she was busy with two kids under three years old. The sheriff's wife is expected to be on committees and such. She was busy. We would fall into bed after midnight and sex was the last thing she wanted. So, I met Kelly at a training and slept with her. She could wear the tight skirts and half the time, I wondered if the buttons on her blouses wouldn't pop. She didn't have kids and so we didn't have responsibilities when I was with her. Tamara thought I was at work, and work thought I was at home." Joey explained.
"Does Tamara know all this?" Libby asked.
"Yeah, we've talked a lot. It wasn't easy telling my wife that I was repulsed by her." Joey answered.
"So, what changed?" Libby asked.
"I realized when you and Tamara questioned where I was going, I had to end it. I would lose my wife, my kids, and quite possibly the only other relative I have. Losing all that wasn't worth some cheap sex. Now, I just have to get Tamara over this somehow." Joey said.
"If you don't want to do this for me, I understand. It might be better if you don't contact her." Libby told him. She was sitting next to Joey on the couch.
"I'll figure something out. I might be able to reach out to Katherine." Joey said.
"How did Kelly take it?" Libby asked.
"Kelly is very shallow. I think the only reason she is a social worker is for power over people's lives." Joey answered, in such a way that he didn't answer her question.
"Will this hurt you professionally?" Libby asked.
"I don't know. Tamara isn't going to go public. She's too embarrassed. Once I run again for sheriff, we'll see if it comes out. I was careful and no one knew. Not even from the office. We will just have to wait and see. I am not the first politician who has had an extra-marital affair. I just can't continue it with Kelly, and I can't ever do it again. Tamara already told me if I did, she would ruin me and take the kids where I couldn't ever see them." Joey said.
"Despite her saying that, she really does love you. Just wants to hold you accountable and she knows that you love those kids." Libby told him.
"Maybe. So, I will do some checking and then if need be, I will either speak with Katherine or Kelly. Just be ready though, because it maybe another heartbreak. Don't think Mike can handle anything else." Joey warned.
"I really do appreciate this. Do you need anything else? You have her full name, date of birth, social security number and her biological father's name on that paper." Libby asked.
"He was from Florida, or at least lived here?" Joey asked.
"Yeah, Mayport area." Libby said.
"Okay. I have my work laptop here and already told Tamara I have to do some work. I'll do some initial checks and go from there. Maybe loop my sergeant in, so if any footwork needs to be done, I have someone. I think he has a connection with the Florida State Patrol too. That might help." Joey said. He was moving around to reach his laptop bag, which was on the armchair. Libby got it, pulled the laptop, mouse and cord out and set it all up on Joey's lap.
"Thank you so much. I do love you." Libby said before giving another kiss on the cheek. Joey had always been her best friend, advocate and biggest cheerleader, until Mike came along. All she wanted was to help him and Tamara.
"I love you too. I'll text if I find anything. Thank you for all the help with the kids. It gave Tamara and I a lot of time to talk." Joey said.
"Well, let me know if you need me to watch them so you and Tamara can have more time." Libby told him firmly.
"Will do. Just be careful. I don't want you hurt with this deal with Mike. Either with finding his daughter or the whole marriage." Joey said.
"I will be. He really is a good guy. Just let me know if you all need anything." Libby said as she squeezed Joey's hand and grabbed her purse.
"Just take care of yourself. I'll shoot you a text. Let me know that you got home okay. I can't watch you walk in from my kitchen window anymore. You live five miles away, entirely too far." Joey said.
"A little distance does everyone some good. Give Tamara and the babies my love. Don't overdo." Libby said before walking out of the house and to her car.
She got home and hung out with Mike and Bobby on the couch. They watched movies until Bobby's bedtime. Mike had some work to do in his office, so after Bobby was tucked in, Libby went in for a relaxing bath while Mike worked.
As she was reading a book, her phone dinged and Libby carefully checked it, so not to drop it in the water. It was from Joey. Libby made sure Mike was nowhere close and opened the text.
"I found her. She's in a group home in Tampa. I don't know how she got there. Bob is working with some contacts to get her here. With a little luck, we will pick her up Friday night at the airport. She can stay with us Friday night. I'll see about Tamara going." Joey's text read.
"SO FAST! Is she okay? Will they release her like that so easily?" Libby texted.
"I spoke with the supervisor. They will. They gave me the basics of Hannah's story. Its sad but they say she is a really sweet girl. They are happy she is getting a home…I'm assuming you are ready for a teenage girl?" Joey asked.
"We will make it all work. Just let me know what needs to be done. I have some money if her flight needs paid for. Mike takes care of EVERYTHING!" Libby texted.
"I'll let you know. Just hope you can keep a secret." Joey said.
"I hope you didn't have to utilize Kelly?" Libby asked.
"No, thankfully. I'm getting ready for bed. Tamara offered to give me a sponge bath. Not sure how to even respond to that." Joey texted.
"Let her take care of you. She is proving her worth to you. Let her." Libby answered.
"I'll talk to you in the morning when I know more. I am tired and I know Tamara is wanting to sleep in an actual bed. Have a good night. Love you." Joey texted back.
"Love you too. Get some rest and take care of that wife of yours." Libby typed back.
Libby got out of the bath, dried off and got dressed in comfortable pajamas. She was fortunate in that Mike didn't expectfancy lingerie every night. He was simple and encouraged the same from her. She read until he came in and got ready for bed. As soon as he laid down, she laid her head down on his chest, her new favorite way to sleep.
