Glancing at the mother for a moment for permission, she crouches down, offering an open jar to the toddler.
“And what's your name?”
The little girl lisps. “I'm Libby-Beth.”
“Would you like one of these?”
Libby-Beth crooks a finger to her mouth, sucking the tip, but nods, then reaches in for a candy.
“I’m Cindy. You can come and play with me and the other little girls and boys for a bit. Mummy will come for you in a while. Alright?” Libby-Beth nods and then, holding Cindy’s hand, toddles away.
“She's very well-behaved,” comments the receptionist to her mother.
“Oh, yes. She's such a good child. She'll be no trouble to anyone I promise.”
And when David returns a few minutes later to help bring in the bridesmaid’s dresses, the woman he saw and the man she was with have gone.
*****
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