Thursday's Child (17 page)

“What do you mean?”

“I’m not the same person as I was before the car crash. I’ve read my diaries and so on. I don’t like who I was, and I don’t want to be her anymore. What if you don’t like the new me?”

“I like the new you just fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” He wrapped his arm around her and she leaned against his chest, listening to his heart beating. “I like the way we talk now, listen to each other, read and pray and just be with each other without the nastiness and sniping. It’s like when we first met.”

“And that’s a good thing?” she asked.

“It’s a very good thing.”

****

Seven hours later she woke suddenly to find Jared standing over the bed. “Jarrie, what time is it?”

“Early. Are you awake?”

“I am now. What’s up?”

He picked her up and carried her from the room. “Something to show you.”

“Fair enough.” She snuggled into him, listening to his heart beating.

They reached the hall. “Grab your coat.”

Confused she did so, and then shivered as Jared carried her from the house. “You’re one crazy man. Did you know that?”

“Course I am. That’s why you love me.”

“Hmmm that’s kind of presumptuous don’t you think, Mr. Harkin?” She tightened her grip on him. “I said I like you, didn’t say anything about loving you. And after this? I mean you come in at the crack of dawn, wake me up, grab me from my bed…” she broke off trying not to smile.

“I didn’t hear you complaining at the time.” He carried her across the patio and sat down on one of the chairs, holding her firmly on his lap. “This will be worth it I promise.”

She shivered again, leaning into him. “It had better be.”

Jared wrapped her coat around her. “Or what?”

“Or you make your own dinner tonight.”

“Sounds like a pretty safe bet to me.”

Slowly the light of the sun peeped over the horizon. Jared nodded to the rose bush next to him. “Look.”

She turned her head. The dew caught the light of the rising sun, giving the plain white roses an almost jeweled appearance. “Wow. That is so pretty.”

“Isn’t it? You used to love coming out here, just sitting watching them.”

“I can see why.”

“And just like the sun rises every morning, no matter what, so my love for you never ends, no matter what.”

The sequined winter roses sparkled. She reached out a hand but was unable to touch it. Just like her memories, fragmented and shining with promise but unreachable. But perhaps one day they would come back. Until then she had the roses and the dew and the promises each new day would bring. Most importantly, she had the love of the man holding her.

“What are you thinking?”

“Aside from how pretty it is? Thinking that the dew on the roses is a lot like my memories. There, sparkling like treasure, but I can’t reach them.”

“Maybe look at it as if that’s a good thing—it gives us a fresh start with no hang-ups from the past.”

“But some things I’d like to remember. Dayna’s first word, silly things she’d say or do. Anything about her basically. Remembering why someone’s trying to kill me would also be good. And other important things from the past ten years.”

“Such as?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Ummm, you perhaps. Know what you like, don’t like. What turns you on, where you’re ticklish…”

He kissed her cheek. “You can relearn that very easily, my love, when you’re ready. Just know I still love you. Did you find someone to take you to the clinic this morning?”

“Patrick’s doing it. I’m hoping the doc’ll say I can lose the cast today. He should do.”

Jared ran a finger slowly down her face, a trail of fire following it. “That would be great. So there should be less of you when I get home tonight?”

“Are you implying I need to go on a diet?” she asked in mock shock.

“Nope. Well, just your left leg, that’s all.”

His finger brushed over her lips, and she held his gaze. His head inched towards hers, and she eagerly raised hers to meet it. The kiss was long, slow and tender, his hands moving through her hair.

Finally, he broke off. “I should go.”

“Yes, you should.” She paused. “You say that an awful lot. If this were a book, the editor would have her red pen all over it.”

He chuckled. “Perhaps we could continue this conversation tonight. Don’t worry, I’m not asking more than you’re prepared to give.”

She smiled. “OK. We’ll continue later.”

After he left, Niamh ate a leisurely breakfast and read the morning paper. Then she puttered around the house for a while, dusting and rearranging the ornaments on the sideboard. She could still feel his lips on hers, and her body resonated with his touches.

She glanced at the clock.
Just before ten. Patrick should be here any min—

Boom!

The entire house rocked. A deafening explosion thundered. Niamh hung onto the sideboard, trying to keep her balance.

What was that?
Where was it? Had someone targeted the office or court expecting her to be there today?

She glanced out of the window. A huge fireball billowed in the air, followed by a mushroom cloud. Thick black smoke expanded outwards. Not the direction of the court or the office. Or the fire station.

A swift chill settled over her and she shuddered.
Lord, keep Jared and the rest of the firefighters who respond to this major incident, safe out there today. Protect them, give them the courage to do their jobs
.

****

Jared gazed out of the window of the fire engine at the massive conflagration in front of him. The phone call—petrol tanker hits petrol station—hadn’t done it justice. The fire encompassed not just the petrol station, but the resulting explosion had taken out five of the surrounding houses and commercial properties. So far it covered half the block. Pumps twenty, persons reported. It was going to be a long, hard day.

Flames hissed and crackled. Over one hundred firefighters from the twenty pump and ladder vehicles that had responded, plus an aerial platform ran large volume hoses from the edge of the cordon that had been set up. A few firefighters advanced on the flames, behind hoses, towards the buildings.

Lord, help us get control of this fire quickly. Keep us safe and if there is anyone trapped, let us reach them. Or if it’s Your will to take them, do so swiftly
.

He leapt down, the heat hitting him full on. He strapped on his breathing apparatus as Brad barked instructions. ‘Persons reported’ was never a good thing in a fire. But with the speed this one was spreading, it wasn’t surprising that people were trapped inside the buildings. He handed his tally in at the BA board.

“Bravo two, with Skippy.”

Jared nodded.

A hysterical woman grabbed him and pointed to a house on the edge of the cordon. Flames were shooting high into the sky from the roof and one of the upper windows. “My babies are in there. Upstairs in the front room.”

“We’ll get them out.” He turned to Skippy. “Get the ladder positioned by that window. And get some water cover on it.”

“You can’t go in there.”

“Watch me.”

Half way to the house, an explosion behind him rocked the area. The blast wave sent him flying to the ground.

Pushing upright, he ran over to one of the houses spurting flames.

As soon as the ladder was in position, Jared ran up it, pole in his hand. Flames leapt from the building, the intense heat making him sweat under his layers of fireproof clothing. Making sure his mask was secure, he inserted the pole through the window, checking the floor. He really didn’t want to climb through if the floor had gone. Assuring himself it was there, he climbed over the window sill and into the room.

The entire room was blazing. “Anyone here?”

Whimpering came from his right. One hand in front of him, he edged over to the sound. “Hello? Where are you?”

The whimpering came from under the bed. Kneeling down, he raised the burning cover. A small face, grimy, streaked with tears peered out at him. “Hey, little one. Let’s get you out of here.”

“Mummy….”

“Yeah, we’ll go and find mummy.” He gently pulled her out and wrapped protective arms around her. Five steps took him to the window, and he passed her through to the waiting firefighter on the other side.

“Guv wants you out.”

“No. There’s still another child in here. Going to check the crib.”

“Jared…”

He turned and headed back into the inferno. The floor shifted beneath his feet. Moving as fast as he could, he reached the crib and grabbed the baby. “I got you.”

He returned to the window and handed the baby out.

“Got him. Now get out of there.”

Not needing to be told again, Jared grasped the window sill. At that instant, the floor beneath him vanished. He tightened his grip, his legs dangling in the hole opening under his feet. Glancing up he could see Skippy backing down the ladder carrying the baby.

His hand slipped.

“Niamh.”

He fell into the raging inferno below him.

13

Throughout the drive to the hospital, Niamh kept a worried eye on the sky. Even in the car with the windows closed, she and Patrick could smell burning. She got out of the car as Patrick finished parking.

Thick black smoke hung over the town and the entire northern sky was orange. She wrinkled her nose as a waft of fuel blew across on the wind. Maybe it was a pile up on the motorway.

Patrick locked the car and smiled at her. “Good job we’re not going to the ED. They’re going to be busy.” To emphasize his point, several ambulances shot past the car park.

“Yeah.”

“Ready to go in?”

“No. I hate hospitals. Always have, but the clinic is the worst. Hours of sitting and waiting to spend three whole minutes with the doctor.”

“But if you lose the cast it’ll be worth it. Right?”

“Guess so.” She walked slowly down the hallways to the fracture clinic. She smiled at the receptionist. “Niamh Harkin to see Mr. Smyth.”

“Take a seat.”

As they walked to the only spare seats, Patrick nudged her. “Where shall we take the seats? Maybe they’d fancy a coffee?”

Niamh giggled. “You’re silly.”

“I do my best. Is he on time?”

“Sometimes. Not always.”

“Can I get you a coffee?”

“I don’t drink coffee anymore. I prefer tea, but no thank you. I’m fine.”

Twenty minutes later they were still there.

Patrick’s phone rang. He shot the receptionist an apologetic look and pulled it from his pocket. “I meant to turn this off.”

“I turned mine off before we left the house. I’m a good girl.”

“Yeah, right. Wonder what Liam wants?” He flipped the phone up. “Hey, bro. What’s up? Can’t chat. I’m in the fracture clinic with Niamh. Receptionist is giving me the evils…” The color drained from his face and the joviality vanished from his voice. “That’s why her phone’s off.” He handed Niamh the phone. “It’s for you.”

Niamh took the phone. “Liam?”

“Niamh, I just had a call from the ED.” His voice was quiet and laden with emotion. “They rang me because they couldn’t get hold of you.”

Niamh’s entire body went numb. Her heart fell into her shoes and her stomach twisted into a hard knot before plunging after her heart. “The…the fire? What happened? Is Jared hurt? Why’d they ring you?”

“Jared named me as his second next of kin if no one could reach you. They rang me when you weren’t home or answering your phone. They didn’t give me any details. I think you should get over to the ED. I’m on my way, and I’ll see you there.”

“Kay.” The phone dropped from her hand. “Jared’s in the ED. He was hurt in that fire. He’s in the ED.” Bile rose and for a horrible moment she thought she was going to be sick. “I have to get down there.”

Patrick stood. “Let me cancel your appointment and we’ll go.”

****

The ED was heaving when they arrived. Niamh made her way to the desk. “I’m looking for my husband—Jared Harkin. He’s a firefighter. He was brought here from the fire.”

“Take a seat. I’ll get someone to come and see you.”

Niamh nodded and turned. There wasn’t an empty seat, as it was so busy, but that didn’t matter. A voice called her name and she looked around. The man standing there was in firefighter uniform, coat undone and covered in soot, his arm in a sling. He looked familiar but she couldn’t put a name to his face.

He held out his unbandaged hand. “Phil Rodgers. I’m Jared’s watch manager.”

“What happened? Is Jared all right?”

“I don’t know. He wasn’t conscious when they brought him in.”

“Was he burned?”

Phil didn’t answer.

“Please…no one is telling me anything. Did he get hurt in the fire?”

“Yeah, he was on fire when we pulled him out. That’s how I did this.” He moved his injured arm. “We got to the shout to find several houses as well as the petrol station on fire. Jared went up the ladder into one of the houses, searching for the children trapped inside. He found the little girl, passed her through the window and went back to look for the baby. The heat and ferocity of the flames were like nothing we’ve seen in a while. He handed the child out and then the floor collapsed.”

Flames shot out from every window in the burning house. Glass shattered, the fire roared and crackled, destroying everything in its path. A sickening crashing came from inside, then two screams—one high-pitched and childlike, the other the cry of a man she knew so well.

“Daddyyyy…Mummmyyy…”

“Dayna…Nooooooo…”

Terror and shock flooded her. The cry of
mummy
she heard in her dreams was the dying scream of her daughter. The last thing Dayna ever said was Mummy. Everything spun. Her stomach turned and plummeted. The blood rushed from her head and she closed her eyes.

Strong hands gripped her and guided her to a seat. Someone pushed her head between her knees. “Deep breaths, Niamh.” The voice belonged to Patrick. “Can we get a doctor over here?”