“Here,” said the Viking look-alike, handing it to him. Ash swallowed. “Good luck. I’ll leave you to it.” He went out and let the door close behind him.
“Do you want me to go?” Mia asked. “I don’t mind.”
“No.” Colm smiled then. “Stay.”
She nodded. He sat on the sofa, and she sat opposite him in an armchair.
He glanced around the room, the blanket limp in his hands. She could see the dried blood where the baby—fresh out of the womb—had been wrapped in it. How had Ash managed to pry it out of Grace’s fingers? She’d refused to let go of it since the baby had been taken.
It was quiet, although in the lobby voices murmured, and farther away a baby cried, another newborn, born only an hour after Grace’s baby went missing. Mia closed her eyes for a moment, hoping Grace couldn’t hear it.
When she opened her eyes again, Colm was watching her. His knee rose and fell rapidly as he tapped his shoe on the floor, and his hands were together in a tight knot around the blanket. He gave her a small smile. Then he closed his eyes.
She sat quietly, afraid to move and distract him, even though her back now throbbed dully, pain radiating across her shoulders. She’d not got around to taking her painkillers.
Please let him get something, she prayed silently, not knowing who she was praying to, but hoping there was somebody up there to listen and take pity on them all.
How long would it take? In the archive facility, he’d held the painting for maybe two minutes before receiving the image of his mother. Although when he’d taken it home for the evening, he’d tried for over an hour without getting anything.
Please don’t let it take an hour, she begged. She thought she might explode.
Minutes went by. Colm’s posture gradually changed. He sat forward. His face creased with exertion. She could almost feel the waves of irritation and panic radiating from him.
Eventually he stood with a curse and walked over to the window, massaging his brow. “Fuck it! I can’t get anything.”
She stood and followed him, heart pounding. “It’s okay, honey. Take it slowly.”
“How can I take it slowly? The baby’s parents are out there, waiting for me to magic something up for them.” Real fear crossed his face. “What if my brain just makes it up? I’m so afraid it’s all in my head.”
He wasn’t going to be able to get anything at this rate. It was up to her to help him.
She remembered Grace’s words. He probably knew he’d fall for you quickly, but it didn’t stop him dating you because he’s crazy about you, Mia. Grace had insisted that Colm wanted her, but was just trying to save himself some heartache by breaking it off. Clearly, it hadn’t worked. Whether they wanted it or not, the two of them were entwined, their spirits entangled so much it was going to be difficult—if not impossible—for them to tear themselves apart.
It was time to be honest with each other. Time to own up to the truth.
She picked up his hands and took a deep breath. “I love you.”
He looked astonished. “What?”
She smiled. “I love you, Colm. It’s inconvenient and I don’t know how we’re going to sort things out, but what I do know is that even though we haven’t been together long, I’m crazy about you and I don’t want to be apart from you.”
He looked stunned. “Do you mean that?”
“Yes. I love you and I want to share my life with you. I want everything, marriage, kids, forever, if that’s what you want too. It’s not that I never wanted those things—I hadn’t met anyone I could envisage settling down with. But the thought of staying with you, of waking up next to you every morning, of having your children, of just being with you…it fills me with joy.”
She kissed his fingers. “And as for your gift—I admit I don’t understand it. It puzzles me. But I felt the same way about Nate and Ash when I first met them. Now, I trust them a hundred percent, and Colm? I trust you a hundred percent too. We know there’s more in this world than meets the eye, and I have no doubt that you have this special talent for seeing things beyond the norm. I believe in you. You just have to believe in yourself now.”
She stopped. Had she said too much? Maybe she’d scared him.
He stared at her as if she’d told him she wanted to dance in the town centre naked. He blinked.
Then he smiled.
Her heart hammered as he moved closer until their bodies were touching.
“I love you, too,” he whispered. And then he lowered his lips.
He kissed her slowly, sweetly, and she could have cried except that she’d already cried enough that evening for a lifetime and it seemed a terrible thing to cry now when she was so happy and Grace and Ash were so upset.
He lifted his head and put his arms around her. “I thought I’d lost you,” he whispered.
“Never,” she whispered back, wanting him so badly it hurt.
He hugged her for about ten seconds, and then he pulled back to look down on her. A look of determination crossed his face. “More of this later,” he said. “We have a baby to find.”
This time when he sat down, he looked different, calmer, almost relaxed, and she realised by the rise and fall of his chest he was slowing his breathing, trying to centre himself. He met her gaze and for a brief moment they exchanged an intimate look that filled her with warmth. He smiled. Then he closed his eyes.
This time barely a minute went by before he opened them again.
“Got her,” he said.
Chapter Thirty
Mia stood, heart pounding as he rushed outside, almost knocking into Ash who’d obviously been waiting right by the door.
“I think I might have something,” Colm said to the grieving father and the police officer standing next to him.
Ash’s face lit up. “Really?”
“I saw the Interislander ferry to Picton,” Colm said. “Clear as day. I went over a few months ago so I recognised it. It’s surrounded by water, so I think it’s at sea at the moment.”
“Is this happening now?” the police officer asked. “How do you know you weren’t seeing the past, or the future?”
Colm hesitated. He glanced at Mia, who took his hand and squeezed it. He looked back at Ash. “I’m sure,” he said firmly.
Ash looked at the police officer, who nodded and took out his mobile. “I’ll find out when the next ferry’s due in at Picton,” he said, and walked off a little way.
Ash turned back to Colm and enveloped him in a bear hug. “Thank you,” Mia heard him say gruffly.
“Thank me when she’s found,” Colm replied, obviously still doubting himself.
Ash blew out a breath. “Okay. I’m going to see Grace.”
“Don’t tell her yet,” Colm said. “Ash, I’d never forgive myself if…” His voice trailed off.
Ash nodded. “I won’t. But I’ll tell her there’s hope, and this time I’ll mean it.”
Over the next half an hour, everything seemed to happen very quickly. Details came through to the waiting group by phone as they waited anxiously for some sign of hope.
The police officer found out that the ferry was due into Picton in fifteen minutes. Meanwhile he contacted the staff on the boat and they surreptitiously searched the boat and confirmed there was an older woman on board with a new baby. They said the baby was alive and the woman was feeding her from a bottle. The sketch that the artist had done with the help of the midwife was sent by phone, and the staff confirmed it could be the woman on the boat. One of them took a blurry photograph with his phone and sent it back, and the midwife said she was ninety percent certain it was her. The police instructed the boat staff not to confront her but to wait until the ferry docked.
The police were waiting for the woman when she got off the boat. They apprehended her, took a proper photo of her and sent it to the midwife back in Wellington. She confirmed it was definitely the woman who had pretended to be Grace’s mother.
Baby Girl Rutherford had been found, was healthy
and well. They were flying her back by helicopter.
In the hospital, everyone was exultant, and Mia hugged Colm and Freya and Nate and Isabella and Ash and, finally, Grace, who looked as if she’d been to hell and back.
The officer showed them all the photo they’d taken of the woman.
Mia stared at it. “She works at our school!” she said, shocked. “She runs the staff kitchen and helps out at the tuck shop. No wonder she was able to keep such a close eye on Grace.” They spoke to her on a daily basis. Mia could have kicked herself for not noticing anything, but why would she have ever suspected anything like this would happen?
She wondered whether Grace would be yelling by this point, but Grace just shook her head and closed her eyes. “I don’t care,” she whispered. “As long as my daughter’s alive and well.”
Mia didn’t think she’d ever seen anything as beautiful as when a police woman came through the door with the baby and brought her to the waiting parents. Grace burst into tears again, and tears also trickled down Ash’s cheeks as he looked at his daughter for the first time.
Everyone went out of the room and left them to it.
Mia sat in the lounge with the others, too exhausted and overwrought from her emotions to do anything but sit there with her head on Colm’s shoulder, their hands linked as they all talked quietly. It had been an incredible journey that night, and there would be plenty of time for analysing and discussing the whys and wherefores and future later. For now she was just content to have Colm with her, and to be with her friends.
After about half an hour, Ash came through the door. He looked tired and dishevelled, but oh so happy.
“How’s the baby?” Mia asked as they all sat up.
He collapsed into one of the chairs and grinned. “Good. They’ve given her a thorough check but she looks fine. Grace is feeding her now.”
“Oh, how wonderful for her,” Freya said, and everyone looked relieved.
“We’re going to call her Hope,” Ash said. “Kind of a similar nature to her mother’s, plus it’ll always remind us that we never gave up.” His gaze met Colm’s and he smiled.
Mia looked across at the quiet Irishman. He’d said very little since the police had announced they’d found the baby. Relief had lit his face, and he’d been as happy as the rest of them, but afterward he’d walked to the window to look down at the lights of Wellington, and Mia had been unable to decipher his thoughts.
“What’s going to happen to the bitch queen from hell?” Freya asked vehemently.
Ash’s face darkened, but when he spoke his voice was calm. “Oh, she’ll go to prison for a reasonable length of time, I would think. And she’s a very sick woman, so hopefully she’ll get the medical attention she needs. We’ve decided we’re not going to dwell on her. She’s not worth our concern.” His voice was flinty, and Mia gulped, reassured by the squeeze of Colm’s hand on hers that he mirrored her unease.
“Can we go and see them?” Jodi asked, presumably changing the subject on purpose, as Mia knew the teenager was very astute when it came to her father’s moods. Also, Jodi hadn’t yet had a cuddle of her half-sister, and she was obviously dying to get in there.
“Of course,” Ash said, giving her a hug and kissing the top of her head. “Go on, everyone, Grace is desperate to show you all how our daughter’s going to be the new Miss World.”
Everyone laughed and stood, ready to leave, but he put a hand onto Mia’s arm, stopping her.
“Can I have a word with you two?” he asked quietly.
She and Colm waited until the rest of them had left the room. He motioned for them to sit again, and joined them in the opposite chair.
“Everything okay?” Mia asked hopefully.
“I wanted to say thank you,” Ash said quietly. “Without your help, we might never have recovered Hope and…well, I can’t imagine what our lives would have been like.”
“The police would have found her,” Colm said.
“Maybe eventually,” Ash said, “but without your help it would definitely not have been this quick.” He tipped his head. “I have messages for you both.”
Mia’s heart rate sped up. “Oh?”
He nodded at the man sitting next to her. “As soon as I knew Hope had been found, it was as if the barrier that had descended over me rose again. Colm, your dad came through.”
She felt rather than heard Colm inhale sharply.
“My dad?” he asked.
“Yes. Robert.”
Colm looked at Mia, who shook her head. “I didn’t tell Grace,” she said softly. She’d mentioned to her friend that she’d argued with Colm, but she hadn’t divulged the information about his father.
He looked back at Ash. “What did he say?” His voice was hoarse with emotion.
“’Believe’,” Ash said simply. “He said it over and over again. It was a very quick connection and I’m not sure what you’re supposed to believe.” He smiled wryly. “But it’s obviously important.”
Believe in his gift? Mia thought. Or believe in love?
“He looks very like you,” Ash said, and grinned.
“Thank you,” Colm murmured, his hand tightening on Mia’s where they lay clasped on the sofa.
“I don’t want to push you,” Ash said, “but if you want any help developing the psychometry, I’d be happy to help. I use it occasionally—it’s not as strong as yours, but I can probably help you explore it.”
“Thanks,” Colm said. “I’ll think about it.”
Ash nodded. He turned to Mia and his face took on a determined look. “And as for you, young lady…”
Her mouth had gone dry. Surely he wasn’t going to say the spirit of the dead boy had come through? She wouldn’t be able to cope with that, not tonight.
“I spoke to your grandmother,” he said.
She inhaled, a smile appearing automatically. “Oh!”
“Your mum’s mum, right?”
“Yes.”
“Barbara.”
“Yes.”
“She liked butterflies,” he said. “They’re fluttering all around her.”
Mia laughed then. “Yes, that’s definitely her.” Her nan had had a thing about them and her house had been filled with multi-coloured butterflies on everything from pictures to crockery to bookmarks. Her heart lifted. Ash had really spoken to her.
“She’s very worried about you,” he said, his eyes piercing, as if they could see right through her.
Mia’s eyes filled with tears. “Oh.”
“She said to me, ‘It’s time’.”
“Time?” She sniffed and rubbed her nose with the back of her hand, determined not to cry.
“Time to forgive yourself,” he said softly. “Mia, I understand why you’ve fought against your recovery, but you’re really not helping anyone by refusing to let your body heal. She wants you to take your pills, see the doctor, see Nate, do whatever you need to get better.”
She swallowed. Was she ready to forgive herself?
“And because she knows you,” he continued, “she knows there’s no point in saying the accident wasn’t your fault and there’s nothing you could have done.” He smiled, having told her anyway. “But she understands that you feel guilty. She showed me the children’s ward of the hospital, and you working there, talking to the sick kids and helping out. I think she wants you to volunteer. I think she believes it might help you to feel like you’re doing some good.”
Tears ran down Mia’s face. How well her nan knew her. It was a great idea, especially after what had happened with Hope, because now she knew how vulnerable and worried new parents were, and it would be lovely to be able to do something to help.
“Okay,” she whispered, wiping away the tears. “I’ll try, Ash. I can’t promise I’ll get better overnight, but I’ll try.”
“That’s good. That’s all she wants. It takes time to heal, Mia. And the love of a good man will help.”
Mia’s cheeks burned and Ash chuckled at her flaming face.
She risked a glance at Colm, wondering if it was a step too far. Would he be wary? Annoyed?
But he was just smiling, gentle affection in his eyes.
Ash got to his feet. “Right, I’m going back to Grace. You guys coming?”
“In a minute,” Colm said.
“Sure.” Ash extended his hand, and Colm shook it. “I won’t forget what you did,” Ash said softly. Colm just nodded, so Ash dropped his hand and enveloped Mia in a hug before leaving the room.
Her heart, which had slowed down a little after Ash’s words, began to speed up at the realisation that she was now alone with Colm.
He took her hand and led her over to the window. “It’s a clear night,” he said, and she gasped as she looked up to see the Milky Way arched across the sky, the stars seemingly reflecting the bright lights of the city.
He turned her to face him and took her hands. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” An unfamiliar shyness stole over her, and her cheeks grew warm once again. “How about you? What do you think of what Ash said about your father?”
His eyebrows lifted, and he blew out a sigh of bewilderment. “I don’t know. I’m sure I should be questioning and doubting, but actually I feel as if a huge weight’s been lifted. I mean, he only said the one word, but somehow it summed up everything, you know?”
She nodded. “He was saying you have to have faith in yourself.”
“I suppose.” He smiled. “And in us?”
She caught her breath. “Maybe.” Something was bothering her, though, and she had to ask. “Colm, when we were in Auckland, I asked if you’d ever been in love and you looked sad and wouldn’t answer me. I need to know, was there someone special? And are you still in love with her?”
He stared at her. Then he ran a hand through his hair and gave an embarrassed laugh. “Actually, I was thinking about you. It went through my head ‘Crap, I think I’m falling in love with Mia, what the hell do I say?’ But I couldn’t think what to say, so I kissed you instead.”
Delight welled inside her. He’d been thinking of her?
He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “It’s late, and we’re tired, and there’s no reason we have to decide anything now. But I just want you to know, I want you. I want to be with you. I was fooling myself when I thought I could go back to Ireland and leave you here.”
Talking Sense: Sensual Healing, Book 3 Page 19