by Wade, Maddie
“You’re right, of course, Zack. Fucking. That’s what we did–and good fucking, at that.”
He was shocked. He’d never heard her swear like that, she had been such a good girl. He was annoyed to feel his erection pressing against his zipper as the words spilled from her mouth. Who was she?
“My, my, haven’t we developed a foul mouth,” he mocked.
“Well, I thought you liked it dirty, Zack?” she purred, and he struggled not to go round the desk, bend her over, rip her skirt off and slam into her heat. He clenched his fists instead.
Her face was flushed with heat and he could see that she was pleased at his reaction. Then something changed, her face fell and she looked ashamed.
“Look, Zack. I’m sorry, that was inappropriate. Can we just agree to leave the past in the past and work together to get this done so that I can get home to my family?” She looked genuinely upset now, and he could see that she did, indeed, wanted to get home.
“Yes, of course. Let me show you the files we have.” Her being upset had been like a dash of cold water on his erection, so at least he didn’t have that to contend with as he led her from the room towards the conference room.
Chapter Eighteen
Thursday
Skye was excited; Noah had been moved out of Paediatric ICU and was in a private room on the ward. She’d stayed with him night and day since he’d been back. He had recovered from the effects of the mystery drug and they were going to allow him home for a few days before they started his chemo to prepare for the transplant.
The relief that he was still okay for the transplant was overwhelming and she had shed a few tears on Nate’s shoulder. He‘d stayed with her every night since Noah had been rescued. They hadn’t talked of the future, but she felt confident that, for the first time in forever, she would have one full of contentment and love.
They had spent their nights at the hospital with Noah. She had mostly slept in the chair, curled up on Nate’s lap. She knew they couldn’t carry on like that. They were both exhausted, but she couldn’t leave him. The thought of him being alone with only the hospital staff made her nervous.
Nate was working the case in the day, but spent as much time as he could with her and Noah. Lizzie was a darling, as always, and kept her company while Nate was working and Mateo was at school. She’d brought her proper food from La Madelaine, not the junk the cafeteria served. She’d sat with Noah while she showered and changed and even phoned around to all of Skye’s customers, explaining the situation and sorting out alternate cake makers for them.
She was lucky. In the six years she’d been making and decorating cakes, she had built up a good reputation and even had interest from small businesses to supply cakes for their restaurants. That would have be put on hold now, though. As much as the money would come in handy, she needed to be available for her son.
She didn’t know what she would have done without her friendship with Lizzie. Lauren was working during the day, as she was a primary school teacher, but made sure Dane brought her to see Noah, and her, every evening. It was amazing to see that even though she was only three months pregnant, she had a tiny bump already. It cheered her to see her friend looking so happy after everything she had been through with her father and that Terry Griffiths.
The last twelve months had been hard, but they also brought friendship and relationships that she could never regret. Lizzie, Lucy, and Lauren. The guys from Fortis, and of course, Nate. Yes, they were her silver lining in a shit year. She just needed to get past this current nightmare and hopefully her bright future was out there.
The whole thing had, predictably, upset Noah–his obsession with Kanan being the worriesome. As soon as he had come round, he’d asked about him. The worry etched his little face–he seemed so sad–that Kanan had been hurt and then disappeared. Every time she tried to soothe him, he got more agitated.
He constantly asked to see him and it had gotten so bad that Nate had agreed to speak to Zack about it to see if he could somehow get in contact with him.
Nate had insisted that he be present when the police questioned Noah. He stood in the corner of the room with his arms folded across his massive chest, like a sentry. Skye was relieved to know that if the detective upset Noah at all, Nate would intervene. The female detective that had been on his case, Detective Herbert, had questioned him and she had been very kind and sweet to Noah, relieving some of the strain for Skye.
He hadn’t been able to tell them much. It had seemed that he had not been hurt, except for the drugs. He seemed scared when they mentioned Felicity Lockwood, but not so scared when he spoke of Hugo. He said that Hugo had spoken to him twice.
Once the night he had arrived, and once when Noah had awoken and found him watching him in the night, Hugo had said ‘he was sorry and that no kid deserved this.’ Noah wasn’t sure when that conversation took place, though, as the drugs had messed with his concept of time.
Zack arranged for his friend, Jack Granger and his team, to have access to the blood results. She didn’t know who they were, but Nate had explained they were similar to Fortis and they were working with them on this. Whoever they were, they were trying to analyse the drug.
Nobody from the hospital could tell them what the drug was, but it was similar to a drug that caused memory loss, and was also mixed with something else. Noah did say that the old woman kept trying to steal his dreams. It had made him so upset and they had had to sedate him. Skye wondered if that was the drugs purpose.
For some reason, the dreams were the reason he was so anxious to speak to Kanan. He said he needed to tell him before they stole them. Stolen dreams…whoever thought that could be possible.
Skye was at a complete loss. She didn’t know who to turn to for help. The doctors didn’t understand this sort of special gift, and that’s what it was, she realised. And honestly, she was worried they would think he had lost his mind.
Lauren was a healer and that was completely different. Reg, god love him, would probably scare Noah to death if he talked to him. So, that left who? She didn’t know.
She lifted her head from the crochet blanket she was making for Lauren and Dane’s babies when the door to Noah’s private room opened. Her heart lifted when she saw Nate. He looked so handsome in faded jeans and a tight, long-sleeved tee that stretched across his broad chest and arms.
“Hey, mi cielo, how’s the little guy?” He dropped a kiss on her upturned mouth, lingering just a fraction. Skye inhaled the scent that was all Nate, sweet musk and sandalwood. She loved how just the smell of him could make her stomach flip.
“He seems a little better. His vitals are all strong and there is no sign of infection. All being well, he can come home tomorrow.”
“Is he still asking about K?”
“Yes, but he doesn’t seem so anxious today.”
“That’s good. Have you eaten? It’s nearly lunch time, I could get you something.”
“No, I’m okay. Lizzie will be here soon and she will bring something from the Mouse Trap Deli.” Nate nodded, lifting her up, he sat down and settled her onto his lap. He buried his head in her hair and she relaxed into his strength as he wrapped his arms around her.
“Are you okay, Nate?”
He looked up at her. “My parents arrived in town this morning. They want to meet you and Noah. I told them it’s too soon. But my Ma is a force of nature.” Skye could see that he loved his parents by the loving, but irritated, tone of his voice.
“I don’t mind meeting them. If we are going to be family, we should meet. It will be good for Noah.” She blushed a little as she said it. Was she being too presumptuous calling them family? She was relieved to see his large smile.
“That’s good, mi amor, because they are outside.”
Skye sat up abruptly. “What? Now?” she squealed, “But I’m…I mean…oh, fine. I look rough and have bags under my eyes, but sure bring them in.”
“You look like the most beautiful woman in the world,” he
said, giving her a proper kiss. She relaxed into him, never seeming to get enough of his kisses. His tongue grazed her lips and she opened her mouth on soft sigh. Her hands tunnelled through the softness of his dark hair. She could feel the way he wanted her as she shifted on his lap and he groaned softly into her mouth.
Nate pulled back. “We need to stop before this moves way past PG and Noah needs therapy.” She laughed at him and dropped a quick kiss on his mouth before getting up.
“Go let your parents in.”
Nate left a few minutes later, and two minutes after that, returned with an older couple. His father was Nate, only thirty years from now. His hair still dark and thick, but liberally flecked with grey, his body still strong and fit even though it sported a slight paunch at the middle.
It was his mother who surprised her, though. She was small, barely five feet, and had an ample waist and bosom. Her silver hair was styled into a bun at the back of her head, and a large silver cross hung around her neck. She was classically beautiful the most beautiful skin–hardly a wrinkle in sight. She had a tight hold on her husband’s hand, but her eyes were fixed on Noah.
“Ma,” Nate called, and she looked at her son, “I’d like you to meet Skye.” He had crossed to Skye and slipped his arm around her back, pulling her to his side.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Jones, and you, Mr. Jones.” Skye thrust out her hand, but was promptly pulled forward out of Nate`s arms by Mrs. Jones into a tight hug.
“Family doesn’t shake hands, mi hija. Families embrace.” Skye was a little shocked at first, but it felt so nice to be held in a motherly hug, that she let it be. She couldn’t remember the last time she had been held by her mother. Probably never. Her mother wouldn’t want to wrinkle her dress.
“And call me Mimi, please.”
Mr. Jones stepped forward, then, and gave her a brief hug that was no less filled with warmth. Skye struggled to hold back tears as these people she hardly knew treated her like a long, lost daughter.
“David. Pleased to meet you, Skye. Excuse my wife, she can be a bit over excitable.” It was said with humour and so much love as he looked at his wife that Skye’s heart almost stopped.
“Nonsense, I just know what I see with my two eyes. Do you not see it, mi amor?” she asked her husband.
“Yes, cariad, I see it.”
Her eyes moved from Skye, then, and landed on Nate.
“Mi hijo, my eyes they do not deceive me. She is the one is she not?”
Nate pulled Skye to him and slipped his arms around her waist, with her back to his front, he rested his chin on her shoulder.
“Yes, Ma, she is.” He looked at Skye as she twisted to see his eyes. The look in his eyes said so much and she leaned her face into him for a kiss, completely oblivious of everyone else in the room. They kept it brief, though, and broke apart to see Noah watching them from the bed with a big smile on his face.
“Hey, baby,” she said as she broke from Nate and went to him, “how you feeling?”
“I feel much better, now, mummy. Who’s that?” he asked, pointing behind her to Nate’s parents.
“Those are my parents, buddy,” said Nate. He motioned his now nervous looking mother forward.
“Ma, Dad, this is Noah.” Mimi seemed at a loss for words. She moved forward and when she reached the bed, Skye noticed she had tears in her eyes.
“Hello, precioso niño. I am Mimi, but you can call me, Abuela.” She reached out and touched his cheek reverently.
“What does that mean?” asked Noah, as always full of questions.
“It means grandmother,” Nate said smiling. The look on Noah’s face almost brought Skye to her knees. It was a mixture of wonder, hope, and happiness that she had never seen. He had never had a grandparent and she hadn’t realised he had missed it, but looking back, she realised he must have. She had been so close to her grandparents growing up, and had spent every summer holiday with them while her parents travelled.
“Can I, mummy? Can I call her Abuela?” Skye looked at Nate who had a huge smile on his face.
“Yes, baby, you can call her Abuela.”
“Abuela,” he said, trying it on for size, “I like it. It sounds nice on my tongue.”
“You can call me Pop, young man,” said Nate’s dad, stepping forward and shaking hands with her boy. Noah seemed to flourish under their attention and Skye was content to sit back and watch as her son charmed Nate’s parents.
They visited for a while, then the lunch trolley was brought round and Nate`s parents said their goodbyes.
“We are in town for a week. We will come see you every day if that is okay with your mother,” Mimi told Noah as she ruffled his hair. They both kissed Skye’s cheek and hugged her.
“I’ll walk you out,” Nate said to his parents. He dropped a kiss to Skye’s mouth and followed his parents.
“Mummy,” Noah called.
“Yes, sweet pea?”
“Are you going to marry Nate?” Skye wasn’t sure how to answer that. Things seemed good, but they hadn’t talked of the future and she didn’t want lie to her son or give him false hope.
“I don’t know what will happen, baby. Nate is my boyfriend,” she said hesitantly and smiled when Noah snickered. “I do know that he loves being around you and playing Legos. In fact, he’s been itching to have a Lego batman rematch on Xbox.”
“Really, he has?” Noah asked.
She nodded, “Yep.” Phew! She’d dodged a bullet, there, or so she thought. Noah carried on eating his mashed potatoes and baked beans with grated cheese on top. It was his favourite and the staff always tried to make it for him while he was there.
“If you do marry Nate, can he be my dad then? I really want Nate to be my dad.” It was said so innocently that it clogged her throat with emotion for a second.
“Me, too, baby. Me, too.”
~~~
Nate walked his parents to their car–his eyes ever watchful for a threat. He kept getting an itchy feeling on the back of his neck when he was out here, and he couldn’t shake it. The police had released Hugo on bail earlier that morning after the finger prints that had been found at the scene had somehow been contaminated, and were now inadmissible as evidence.
They had charged him with conspiracy to commit kidnap of a minor, possession of a class A drug, and possession of a lethal weapon. Unfortunately, he seemed to have a good solicitor who was a friend of the family.
Stopping at his parents cherished blue VW Beetle, he hugged his father, “Thanks for coming, Dad.”
“She’s a goodun, my boyo. You take good care of her.”
“I will dad, I will.”
He opened his arms for his tiny mother, who walked into them.
“Now, you listen, mi hijo,” she bossed, “you take good care of them.” She cupped his cheeks with her small hands, pulling his face down to hers, “She is the one, mi hijo. I see it in your eyes. She is the one who has captured your heart and will keep it. Her little one he needs you. He’s crying out for a father, and the way he watches you, as if you are his saviour, fills my heart with joy. Now, I have decided that she is worthy of my boy, so when you are ready, to do the right thing. you come to me first, I have something for you. And don’t take too long, I’m not getting any younger.” With that, she kissed his cheek and climbed into the car.
“Thanks, Ma.” She nodded and blew him as kiss.
“We will call you tomorrow to arrange a visit.”
Nate watched them drive away in the thirty-year-old car, which looked better than most new cars, and smiled. He loved that his parents had loved Skye and Noah as much as he had. It wouldn’t have made him pull back from Skye, but his parents meant a lot to him and it would have made life difficult.
Now he just needed to get rid the threat of Hugo and Felicity Lockwood, who had disappeared into thin air, from over their heads and get this transplant done so they could move forward as a family.
Nate was smiling as he approached the door. He
was about to push through when he heard Noah ask, “If you do marry Nate, can he be my dad then? I really want Nate to be my dad.” Nate stopped and listened while he held his breath, waiting to hear what Skye would say.
“Me, too, baby. Me, too.”
The air left him in a whoosh and his shoulders sagged. He wanted that, too. He wanted that more than anything. He pushed open the door loudly, pretending he hadn’t heard.
“Hey, champ! How’s the cheesy-beans and mash?”
“It’s good, Nate, real good. Look, it’s making me strong,” Noah flexed his tiny bicep to show Nate, who good naturedly gave it a squeeze.
“Wow. I need to hit the gym or you are going to be lifting more than me,” Nate grinned when Noah giggled.
He felt Skye come up behind him and slip her hands round his middle. She pressed her front to his back, he felt her softness against him. She dropped a kiss to his back and he shifted and pulled her so she was snug at his side.
“Walk me out?” he asked Skye. “Buddy, I hear they are going to spring you later, so no more excuses. The Batman rematch is on.”
“Yeah, as if you could beat me,” Noah said with a boyish giggle. Nate put his hand out for a high-five. “Later, tater,” he laughed as Noah high-fived him.
“Later, Nate.”
Skye told Noah she would be back in second and walked him out.
He loved the feel of her against his side, tucked under his arm. He could smell her hair and the watermelon shampoo she used. They stopped at the lift and he turned her to him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her to him. She looked up, then–he could see the exhaustion in her eyes, and she had never been more beautiful.
Running his finger down her cheek, he traced the shadows under her eyes.
“He seems much better today,” he said softly.
“Yeah, he does, it’s such a relief.”
“I want to ask Lucy and Drew to stay with him tonight. You can wait until he goes to sleep. But, mi cielo, you’re dead on your feet. You need to get some proper rest.”