Their lawyer stood and called for silence, and eventually the shouting had stopped.
‘We are drawing an end to this press conference, ladies and gentlemen. My clients are feeling distressed, and I’m afraid their welfare is my priority, not what will be lining tomorrow’s waste paper bins. If you would exit in an orderly manner, that would be much appreciated.’ Some security guards entered and began to direct the disgruntled journalists out of the room. Questions continued to fly around. People pleading for exclusive interviews. Business cards being thrust through the arms of the security team and waved in their faces. Some resorted to throwing their cards straight at Jason and Oriel. One caught his forehead and stung, making him flinch. The man was wrestled to the ground and arrested. The whole situation was terrifying.
They were ushered out of the room quickly and escorted to the VIP lounge where they would wait for their flights home in relative peace.
Oriel hung her head. ‘Oh Jason, I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I was so stupid. And now Colette and Stevie will see the headlines and feel betrayed. I’m such a fool.’
He pulled her into his arms. ‘Hey, don’t worry. It was a total misunderstanding, and by the time the papers are out, you’ll be home and able to explain. And so will I. It’s not a big deal. Really it’s not.’
A female police officer entered the VIP lounge and came to speak to Oriel. ‘Miss Maçon, if you would like to come with me, your flight is boarding in thirty minutes. You will have a security escort, and you need to meet him.’
Oriel’s eyes widened and glistened with tears. ‘Jason, I’m going to miss you so much.’ She flung her arms around him, and he lifted her petite frame from the ground, burying his face in her neck. His own eyes were damp, and his throat constricted.
He swallowed hard, keeping his emotions in check as best he could. ‘We’ll keep in touch. And don’t forget you and Colette are welcome to come and stay at the camp any time you fancy an adventure that doesn’t involve being kidnapped.’
She laughed and kissed him. ‘Thank you. For keeping me sane. For looking after me, and most of all for saving my life. I owe you so much.’
‘You owe me nothing. It was my job to keep you alive, remember.’
She pouted. ‘Is that all I was to you? Just a job?’
He smirked. ‘Are you kidding me? If I didn’t like you, I’d have done a runner by myself.’ They both laughed.
Jason became serious again. ‘Seriously though, Oriel, we got through this ordeal together. We survived because of each other. And I’ll love you forever simply for the fact that you saved me too.’ His voice broke and he chewed on his quivering lip.
She clung to him once again as the female police officer placed a hand on her shoulder. ‘I’m sorry, Miss Maçon, but it’s time to go.’
Reluctantly, Jason released his friend and watched as she was led away. His lip began to quiver, and he ran a shaking hand through his long, shaggy hair. After everything they had been through, it would be tough not seeing her for a long while.
He had been hoping that Stevie might show up at the airport. She must have heard on the news about his ordeal. And surely she’d been in touch with Dillon? He knew it was a long shot, but he’d hoped she come. His flight to Inverness was boarding in an hour, and there was no sign of her. He contemplated calling his brother but decided to wait until he saw him in person. The British Consulate had contacted Dillon to inform him of flight times, and so Jason knew there would be someone to welcome him home.
Home.
He. Couldn’t. Wait.
The flight was uneventful much to Jason’s relief, and the police escort he had was a nice guy. They chatted about everything except his ordeal, and Jason wondered if the officer had been given strict instructions to avoid the topic. If this was the case, he was very grateful. He wanted a break from thinking about what he’d been through. It haunted his dreams as it was.
After saying thank you and goodbye to his police escort, Jason walked through the security barriers at Inverness airport and spotted his welcoming committee. Dillon and Dorcas held up a sign with the words Hero Jason Reynolds painted in fancy lettering. Next he spotted Oliver, Hannah, and his younger half-brothers, Josh and Elliot. He almost took off at a sprint. Once he reached the group, he was enveloped in a group hug that took his breath away, and for the first time since he and Oriel had escaped, he let his emotions run free. His body was racked with violent sobs, and he let the tears flow unabashedly. His legs weakened, and his father held him up even though he was crying too.
‘Oh, son, I thought I’d lost you. I thought I’d lost you.’ Oliver stroked his hair and held him tight as Jason leaned on him for support.
Next it was Dillon’s turn. He clung to his brother and continued sobbing as Dillon did the same. No words were exchanged, but the tears of relief said everything that needed to be expressed.
Once Jason had calmed down, he was led to the car parking area and helped into the awaiting chauffeur driven, plush, ten-seated vehicle that had been sent by the British Consulate to ensure Jason and his family arrived home safely and in comfort.
Just over an hour later, they pulled through the gates of Wild Front Here, and Jason breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Home again, where he belonged. Without a doubt, he wouldn’t be leaving again.
Oliver and the rest of his USA family bid him goodnight and said they’d see him the following day. They climbed into their rental car and drove away. They were staying at a nearby hotel. Dorcas and Dillon, however, had decided to stay on site in one of the cabins for a few days, seeing as there were no corporate events or schools booked for a while.
It was late and Jason was emotionally and physically exhausted.
Dorcas hugged him when they arrived inside his cabin. ‘Can I get you some food, Jason? Or a drink maybe?’ she asked stroking up and down his arms affectionately.
‘To be honest, Dee, all I want is my bed. I just need to sleep.’
Her smile was warm. ‘Of course you do. You have fresh bed linens and towels in your room. I’ve got the things to make you a nice Scottish breakfast in the morning. But don’t rush to get up, eh? Nothing’s spoiling.’ She kissed his cheek and told Dillon she’d see him over at the cabin.
Once she’d gone, Dillon asked, ‘Did Stevie show up at the airport?’
Jason pulled his brows into a frown and hung his head. ‘Nah, bro. I honestly thought she’d be there. But I looked out for her and she wasn’t.’
Dillon shook his head. ‘I don’t get it. She’s been distraught. You should’ve heard her. She was blaming herself for the whole thing. She told me she would be there to meet you, today. I just…I don’t get it. Why didn’t she show?’ Jason could see the question was rhetorical by the way Dillon looked at the floor. He lifted his head again. ‘I have something to tell you, but I’ll wait until you’re ready.’
‘Is it about Stevie?’
Dillon nodded.
‘Tell me now.’
Dillon huffed out a long breath. ‘She…she still loves you, Jace.’
‘Yeah. And I still love her.’ Jason shrugged as if this was old news.
‘No, you don’t get it. That guy she was with when you turned up…things…things weren’t how they looked.’
Jason laughed bitterly. ‘Yeah and that’s why he was half naked when I got there, is it? Because I really need some sleep, bro.’
‘Look, from what she told me…and I believe her...she had no reason to lie to me whilst you were…erm…away… Anyway, she said that just before you arrived that night, she’d told him she couldn’t go through with it. She said she couldn’t sleep with him. And she didn’t. All she could think about was you, but she was trying to get over you, Jace. But your timing was crappy. The guy, he knows that she’s still crazy about you. The letter you sent her broke her heart. She came to your hotel, but you’d already set off back here.’
Jason stared at Dillon for a few moments, trying to process it all. ‘Okay. That’s…’
He rubbed his hands over his face. ‘I don’t know what to do with that information, Dill.’
‘You don’t have to do anything. I just thought you should know.’
Jason sighed heavily. ‘One thing I learned whilst I was being held in that hell hole is that this is where I belong. I’m not leaving again. I can’t. All that stuff about moving to London for her…I would’ve done it back then. But now…now I can’t. Things have changed so much in such a short space of time. This is my home. You’re here. My business is here. I belong here. And I think that changes everything where she’s concerned.’
Dillon nodded his agreement. ‘I’m kind of glad. I’d have missed seeing your ugly, hairy mug around the place.’
Jason laughed quietly, shaking his head. ‘Yeah? Now you’ve seen me, you can fuck off as I clearly need my beauty sleep.’
The brothers hugged and Dillon left.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Jason awoke to the delectable smell of bacon and haggis. The sound of someone caterwauling somewhat ruined the effect of the mouth-watering aroma, and he was a little baffled as to why he could hear no accompanying music. After pulling on his sweats and a T-shirt, he made his way into the kitchen, where he stood, arms folded across his chest, chuckling to himself at the sight before him.
Dorcas was standing over the stove, blonde hair in bunches and ear buds in. Amazingly, her voice sounded nothing like the sweet one he was used to at campfire sing-alongs. Instead it was a kind of incoherent rambling, and she was clearly unaware of her audience of one. He tapped her shoulder, and she jumped so violently she almost fell over. The spatula she had been using flew out of her hand and narrowly missed Jason’s head. He picked it up off the floor, shaking his head, and tossed it in the sink.
She pulled out her ear buds. ‘Shit! You scared the bloody life out of me, Jason!’ She placed her hand over her heart as if to emphasise the fact.
Jason couldn’t help laughing. ‘Yeah, well it’s hard to sleep with that noise going on. I thought the purpose of headphones was so that the enjoyment of music was a private affair.’
She cringed. ‘Oh hell, sorry. I tend to forget I’ve got them on. Are you hungry?’
‘Bloody starving.’
‘Great! Dill has gone to Aviemore to grab some fruit juice. He’s been gone a while, so he won’t be long. Your dad is coming around later.’
‘Thanks for doing this for me, Dee. I really appreciate it.’
She blushed and dropped her gaze to wash the spatula. ‘Oh, it’s no bother. We want to make sure you’re back to normal as soon as possible, eh?’
He grinned. ‘Normal? I’m not sure I was ever normal to begin with.’
Dillon breezed through the cabin door. ‘Hey, bro, you’re up. Did you sleep okay?’
Jason nodded. ‘Mostly. In between dreaming about being in that fucking bunker and trying to escape.’
‘Shit. Have you checked your phone? I’ll bet there are messages from Stevie.’
Jason shook his head. ‘Just old ones. Nothing recent.’
Dillon seemed surprised. ‘I don’t get it. I’ll give her a call later, maybe—’
‘No!’ Jason held up his hands. ‘No, don’t do that, mate. Just leave it, yeah? If she wanted me, she would’ve been there. Or she would’ve called. She must’ve thought better of it…so…just leave it.’
‘Jason, she still wants you. I know—’
‘I said leave it!’ Jason’s angry voice boomed around the cabin, and Dorcas dropped her spatula again.
He ran his hands through his hair. ‘Look, I’m sorry, okay? I just…I can’t think about Stevie right now. Every time I do, I’m reminded of how I fucked up so many times.’ His voice wavered and he swallowed to try and dislodge the knot of emotion lodged in his throat. ‘I clearly fucked up in a massive way if she didn’t come to the airport when she said she would. I’m going to move on. I’m putting her behind me now. I have to for my own sanity. It’s no use all this hanging around waiting for her to change her mind about us. She got my letter. I laid my heart out raw for her. And regardless of what you say, she clearly doesn’t want me anymore. Until she turns up here to tell me otherwise, then it’s…it’s over.’ He pushed past Dillon and walked out the door.
Jason found himself gravitating towards the riverbank where he had spent time with Stevie. When he closed his eyes, he could imagine her laid out before him on the ground as he kissed and caressed her body. And what a body. Gone was the teenage frame he’d been familiar with when he left her without warning. Instead she was the epitome of womanhood. Soft feminine curves and rounded breasts that became heavy and full when she was aroused. God, what he wouldn’t give for her to still want him. To still need him the way he needed her.
He thought back to the day they had almost made love out on the riverbank. He had teased her about outdoor sex. The memory made him smile…
Jason slipped his hand into her hair and pulled her closer. ‘Come on…let’s go back. I really want to make love to you again and I'm not sure it'd be a good thing to let that happen out here.’
‘But it’s so lovely out here,’ she almost whined.
He feigned shock and gasped. ‘Since when did you become an exhibitionist, Miss Wat…Mrs. Norton?’
Stevie giggled. ‘I’m not an exhibitionist. I didn’t mean I wanted to have outdoor sex. I just meant it’s so beautiful here. It’s a shame to go in.’
He folded his arms and pursed his lips playfully. ‘Well okay. Let me give you a choice then. You either come back with me now or you become very much accustomed to outdoor sex and exhibitionism because I’m making love to you regardless, although I’m guessing the kids will be back soon, and I’m not sure that being found in flagrante delicto is such a good career move for such a talented Science teacher.’ He winked. ‘So what’ll it be?’
‘But the picnic—’
‘We’ll leave it for the ants. Come on.’ He grabbed her hand and pulled her to stand in front of him. He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. ‘I want you, Stevie. I have no idea how many more times I’ll have this opportunity to be with you so…please?’
How right he had been about the lack of time they had. There had been several occasions where they had made love knowing very well that it was temporary between them. But it didn’t stop him allowing it to happen again and again and damn his heart.
On that particular occasion after the riverbank picnic, he had made love to her standing up whist she was perched on the kitchen counter top. It had been slow, languorous and deep. He had relished her curves. Trying to make her believe him when he told her how much he adored her womanly form with its softness and smoothness. She had been embarrassed about her body. Claiming that now she was no longer eighteen, her body wasn’t all that great. But he knew different. He covered every inch of her in wet kisses to prove his point. And when they had both come undone together… Wow! Her face was the epitome of sheer beauty. He had once told her that the most beautiful sight he had ever seen was when she came for him. He still held to that belief.
No other woman would ever compare.
He slumped down in the spot he loved even more since sharing it with Stevie and glanced around him. Closing his eyes again, he could hear her laughter echoing through the trees as she lay on the blanket with her long, dark hair spread around her like a fan. She was almost like a ghost to him now, a memory that he would treasure but could never have for real.
The silly thing in all of it was that he really didn’t understand why he couldn’t have it, why he couldn’t have her. There were so many reasons why they wouldn’t work. Clearly there were trust issues, thanks to his ability to run at the drop of a hat. But overall, he was willing to give things a try when he went down to London. And from what Dillon had said, she had felt the same. Like he’d said to Dillon, he could only assume that she had changed her mind.
Tired of his melancholic state of mind, he stood and made his way back to the cabin.
Stevie stared at
the newspaper headline as if doing so would help the reality of the situation sink in. She hadn’t read the article itself. The headline was very self-explanatory,
HOSTAGES FIND LOVE IN A WAR ZONE AND GET ENGAGED
The photo that accompanied the article had been captured when Jason had leaned to whisper in the blonde woman’s ear. But in the photo it looked distinctly like he was kissing her. Perhaps that’s what he had been doing, and she had been in some kind of denial at the time.
Dana handed her a cup of coffee. ‘Stevie, sweetheart, throw it away. Please. It’s doing you no good staring at it.’
Stevie laughed bitterly. ‘He really moved fast. He thought I’d moved on and so he did the same.’
‘Love, they were in such an intense situation together. These things apparently happen in times like that. Don’t be angry with him. Maybe now you can move on.’
‘I don’t have a lot of choice, do I?’ She walked over to the window and looked out over the rear garden. ‘I should let Dillon know what happened. He must think I’m terrible for not speaking to Jason when I said I’d be there to meet him.’
‘I hardly think he’ll blame you, darling. My guess is he’s probably feeling terrible for putting you in that position. He can’t have known. Dillon’s not malicious. He wouldn’t have asked you to be there if he’d known about the engagement.’
‘No…no I guess not.’
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The weeks passed slowly for Stevie. Her spare time was taken up preparing for her new job. She had to make it her own. Put her stamp on it. This was to be her main focus now. It was all she had. She had to shake off a wave of depression before it gripped her in its claws and clung on. She was determined to make a go of things. This was what she’d been working towards.
This was meant to be.
Reasons to Stay Page 22