Sacrifices of the Siren [Sirens and Sailors 6] (Siren Publishing Allure) (16 page)

“You’re not coming back tonight?” Blandon asked.

“No, I’m waiting on a couple of calls. Besides, I want to keep any eye on Mel. You go back and let Rech and Aitan know the situation. I’ll Super-Skype in the morning with an update.” Dr. Jay patted him on the back and turned to go.

“You
will
get her baby back for her, won’t you?” Blandon called after him.

The doctor turned back and smiled. “I’ll do my damndest,” he promised.

* * * *

The next few days passed very slowly for Melantho. She spent a lot of time staring at the photographs of her little boy and longing to see him. She knew the doctors were doing their best to find out whether she could have him back, and Dr. Jay had told her how important it was the she got better and was able to prove herself capable of looking after both herself and her son. She had got up every morning, showered, and washed her hair. She had eaten all her meals, which she had previously refused. Although she didn’t really feel like eating, she knew she had to for Owen’s sake. She wore a hospital gown and had been given a pair of slippers. Being bored in her little side room she had often taken a wander down to the ward and looked in at the people there. Once she had seen an old lady with a Zimmer frame struggling with the door to the toilet, so she had popped in and lent a hand. The lady was very grateful and had invited her to drop by and see her whenever she wanted. Melantho had also helped the nurses with carrying trays to the beds of patients who couldn’t get up. She was feeling much brighter and hopeful.

“I hear you’ve been making yourself useful.” Dr. Jay smiled at her as she returned to her room. She had been helping the staff collect the dirty dishes from the bedbound patients in the next ward and was now quite tired.

“I have,” she told him proudly.

“Come and get comfy, I’ve got some news for you.” He grinned and she rushed back to her bed, eager to hear it.

“Is it about Owen?”

“Yes, and about you.”

She stared up at him, her heart pounding nervously.

“You’ve been talking to the counsellor, I hear,” he began.

Melantho frowned, trying to recall what she had told her. She had described how she had been a Siren and fallen in love with the sailor, Phoebus, who had fathered her child. She had also told her how she felt about being left at the Maternity Hospital and what had happened during the birth of her baby. She had cried when she had recounted the awful moment when she had been told she wasn’t allowed to keep her baby, and had broken her heart all over again when she explained how he was taken from her without her being able to say good-bye.

“You’ve done really well, Mel. You’ve opened up and it’s done you a lot of good. Do you feel better?” Dr. Jay stroked her hand as he perched on the bed next to her.

She thought for a moment. She had bottled everything up for years. The misery. The grief. The resentment. It had all come out now. Now that she had seen the pictures of her little baby, smelled him on the tiny hat, heard all about him, it was as though someone had opened a door and allowed it all to come out.

“Yes,” she replied, realizing for the first time that she
did
feel better for talking it all through.

He smiled. “Good. Your overall health’s improved, too. Now, I’ve been in touch with the adoption agency and they are happy to consider letting you have Owen back.”

“Oh!” She screeched at the news and tears flooded her eyes.

Dr. Jay held her hand tightly. “Not right away though, sweetheart. It all takes time and depends on a lot of factors. The first thing is you can go and visit Owen at the orphanage to see how you get on.”

“That’s wonderful! Thank you so much!” she cried. Her heart felt like it would explode and she felt like she was floating on a cloud.

“One of the nurses has given you some clothes. They’re over there.” He indicated to a pile of garments on the little table behind him. “How quickly can you get dressed?” He winked as he grinned broadly at her.

“
Now
? We can go
now
?” she blurted out excitedly.

“As soon as you’re ready.” Dr. Jay beamed as he got up and left the room.

Melantho felt her heart leap and she gasped for air. It was all so unbelievable! She quickly put on the lacy underwear and blue dress which had been left for her, and a pair of blue fabric slip-on shoes. She quickly ran a comb through her long straight hair and tucked it back behind her ears neatly. Dr. Jay was waiting outside as she opened the door and he put his arm around her shoulder and led her outside to where Dr. Ernaut was waiting in his car.

“It might be best if you don’t tell Owen who you are for now,” Dr. Jay told her as they travelled through the busy streets.

“OK.” She’d so anything he asked of her right now.

“And don’t tell him you want him back. Just play it nice and cool. Remember he will have assumed that his adoptive parents would be with him forever, and doesn’t yet understand what’s happened to them. He’ll be confused enough as it is, so just be careful what you say, OK?”

“Got it,” she promised.

“This is just an introduction. We want to see how he reacts to you and vice versa. There will be another woman there, apart from Argi, the manager. This other lady needs to see how you and Owen interact so just play it cool, OK?”

“Is she from the adoption agency?”

“Yep. No one else is in the running for adopting Owen at the moment so your chances are good, but it all depends on the two of you.”

Melantho felt her heart hammering as they drove out of Harborside and into East County. Here it was full of concrete buildings and high-rise apartments. She shuddered. She longed for the sea and the grass and beautiful smell of the Refrainian flowers. She wanted to go home. Eventually Dr. Ernaut turned into Westward Street and she saw a familiar building. She had seen it in the photo which Blandon had given her. It was all concrete and glass and looked very ominous towering over the smaller office buildings around it. She took a deep breath as they pulled into the parking lot outside the East County Orphanage.

Argi met them at the door. She was a very large, bubbly lady who wore a bright pink floral dress which just seemed to hang from her ample bust.

“Melantho, how lovely to meet you. Let’s go into my office for a quick chat before I introduce you to the little man.”

My
little man, Melantho thought as she smiled weakly at the middle-aged lady.

She felt Dr. Jay’s hand on her back, guiding her down the corridor. Blandon had been right about the place being light and airy. It looked immaculately clean and the children whom they passed seemed happy and well looked after. She felt a little easier knowing that Owen was in such a nice environment.

“We’re just in here,” Argi showed them into her large office.

Melantho relaxed a little when she spotted the play area and all the children’s books. This lady obviously liked children and knew how to keep them happy. A lady in a stiff navy blue suit was sitting in one of the four chairs opposite the large desk. She looked up as they entered the room, but didn’t smile.

“This is Kepa Urkialde.” Argi introduced them all and they sat down.

“Melantho, this is just a preliminary visit to see how you and Owen interact, nothing more. Please don’t think we are testing you in any way. We just need to see how happy he is to be with you, and how you take to him. We would do this with any prospective parents,” Argi explained.

I am his parent!
Melantho gritted her teeth and nodded politely.

“We don’t want to raise your hopes unnecessarily, dear,” Kepa interjected, “this is just a
short
visit.” The woman looked as though she were scrutinizing Melantho as she spoke, and the young girl took deep breaths to hide her annoyance.

This is much more than just a visit to me!

They left the office and Argi led them back down the corridor. It was late afternoon and the cosy lounge was full of teenagers happily watching a film on a massive screen attached to the wall. Melantho had seen a television before on the computer, but never imagined one as big as this. The children were talking quietly as they watched, and looked very comfy on their massive soft sofas and chairs. One or two looked up as they walked into the room, but most didn’t take any notice. The room smelled fresh and a big, high window was ajar on the far side of the room. Melantho felt herself relax a little as she noticed how peaceful they were. The children seemed quite happy and content.

A small room off to one side of the lounge held some younger children who were playing noisily. Melantho could hear the chattering of young voices as they neared the doorway and her stomach did a perfect somersault.

“This is the playroom for the younger children,” Argi explained as they walked in. This was another light, airy room and Melantho smiled at all the toys and games which were provided for the children’s enjoyment. A lady in a pink uniform dress was sat at the table with a pile of crayons, helping three young children to write their names. There were chuckles and groans as they scribbled away. A young man was teaching a group of younger children to play a board game. They were sitting around on a large, soft rug, giggling. A little bookcase stood to one side and beside it were two little boys, one dark and one fair. They were sprawled on the soft carpet, both looking at one large book. The dark-haired boy was pointing to one of the pictures and they were both laughing hysterically. The sound was like little bells tinkling.

“Owen.” Melantho knew her son straight away and breathed his name in a gasp.

“Go say hello,” Dr. Jay murmured in her ear from behind her.

Melantho gulped and took a step toward the bookcase. Slowly she ventured nearer to the little boys and knelt down on the carpet next to Owen.

“Heyo.” He looked up at her and she watched his smile broaden.

“Hello, Owen.” Her voice came out as a whisper and she fought back tears as she gently laid her hand over his. He was all soft and squidgy, and she could smell a very faint, familiar scent about him. She couldn’t help smiling at the cheerful little fellow.

“Monkey!” He showed her the picture in the book and both boys burst into fits of laughter again. Melantho laughed too.

“What else is there?” she asked as he flipped the page of the large book.

“Efant,” he squealed excitedly as he pointed to another picture. “Look, efant!”

His wonder was infectious and Melantho giggled with him.

“Eugene, why don’t you show me
this
book?” Argi crawled on the floor and showed another book to the fair-haired boy. He went over happily and started to flick through a different book with her, leaving Melantho and Owen alone.

Owen continued to show her the pictures of all the animals, trying his best to say their names. He knew more animal names than she did, and she giggled at the realization. When they came to a picture of a large fish in the sea his face lit up.

“Do you like the sea, Owen?” Melantho asked eagerly.

“Fishy!” He gave her a puzzled frown.

“Yes, in the sea, look.” She pointed to the water around the fish, but he obviously didn’t understand.

“Fishy.” He pointed to the fish again and nodded.

She smiled. She had seen the house in the country where he had been brought up and now he lived in this massive concrete building in the middle of town. He had probably never seen the sea in his life.

“Fishy,” she said gently and nodded.

Owen seemed happy with that, and chatted merrily as he flicked through the rest of the book. Melantho felt like her heart was melting as she talked and played with her son. She wanted to take him in her arms and hold him. She was desperate to tell him who she was. She longed to take him home.

She watched as he took another book and looked at the pictures. He pointed them out to her and told her what they were in his own little language. Some of the items she didn’t recognize and took his word for their names. She touched him whenever she got the chance, either a friendly point at his knee, or a touch of his hand.

All too soon it was time to go. Dr. Jay tapped her on the back with the bad news and she went to get up. “I have to go now, Owen.” She told him gently.

He frowned and pulled at her dress. “No. Stay.” He looked horrified and she felt a massive lump form in her throat.

“I can’t stay, sweetie, I have to go now,” she whispered as her arms enveloped his little warm body. He swung his podgy little arms around her neck and nuzzled into her throat. She felt tears stinging her eyes, but knew she mustn’t cry, not here. She breathed him in and relished the moment, before forcing herself to pull away gently. “I’ll come back and see you soon,” she promised herself as well as him.
There’s no way I could let him go again!

Melantho was actually humming to herself as she made her own bed in her little side room of the hospital. She had felt so uplifted since meeting her son a few days ago and couldn’t wait to see him again. She kept his photos on her nightstand—Dr. Jay had bought her a wooden frame for the one which Blandon took, promising that it would look even better when it was printed onto proper photographic paper. Melantho didn’t mind—it was her little boy and she spent hours gazing at his sweet little face, remembering his chatty little voice. She couldn’t forget the way he clung to her when she had to leave, and the smell of him. She would remember his scent forever.