Page 63 of Forever Ink

“Of course. I promise, I just want to get him away,”

“All right. Look, I think you should speak to Donald, Constable Mathis. He was the one who sent you on your way last time you were here. He has work friends in the know with this sort of thing.”

Susan nodded and looked at me with hope in her eyes. I didn’t know how to deal with this. For years Susan had been the stern, authoritative stepmother, a woman I had tried to befriend when I was little, to only have her rebuff me. It was hard to equate that woman with the one who sat in front of me now. I pulled my phone out. “I’m going to call Simon and get him and Donald to come inside. They’re out there waiting for me.”

“They’re very protective over you.”

“Do you blame them?” I answered, smiling a little bit.

“Not in the slightest.” Susan and I shared a wary smile. I was never going to forgive her, but I could move on, and I wanted to help Ciaran.

Simon and Donald came in, both shooting Susan cold glances, but they soon thawed when I explained why Susan needed our help. Donald took some details down while Simon sat there watching Susan with an impassive glare.

“Do you think your nephew will come willingly with you?” Simon asked quietly.

Susan turned to look at Simon and frowned. “I honestly don’t know. I’d spoken to him just before Christmas, right before his parents had him dragged off to Father Gordon. He seemed to believe I was honest in wanting to help him get away. He’d asked about Rhys, about the town, and I told him what I could. I was honest with him. I told him how horrible I’d been the last time I’d seen Rhys, but I think he believed me when I told him I only wanted to help.”

Donald let out a loud breath. “I might be able to find out some information. I can’t promise much, and it’s going to take a bit, but we’ll try and find your nephew, Mrs O’Connell.”

“Thank you so much. I should be going. I have someone coming to pick me up soon.” She turned to face me, reaching out to quickly brush a hand over mine. “Thank you, Rhys.”

I nodded stiffly, unsure what else to say, and watched her stand and leave.

Next minute Simon’s arms were around me as he hugged me tightly. “I’m so fucking proud of you, boy.”

I smiled into his jacket. “I’m kind of proud of me too. I want to help her find Ciaran, and I believe she really does want to help him.”

Donald cleared his throat. “I believe she means well. You get to know people in my job, and she wants to help her nephew. I’ll talk to my contacts and see what I can find out, and once we do find him, we can go from there.”

I nodded, yawning. I was suddenly exhausted.

“Let’s get you home, baby bear.” Simon stood, pulling me out of the booth and gently herding me towards the door. I gave Liz a wave and burrowed back against Simon’s bulk, looking forward to getting home.

Chapter 23

SIMON

“The keys are under the mat, carrot top. Just drop them down to me once you’ve shown your young man around,” Dorathea shouted down the line. It was as if she thought you had to shout to be heard on a mobile phone. I didn’t have the energy to try and explain that she didn’t need to shout.

“Thanks, Dot. I’ll show him around then hopefully we can sign the papers when I drop the keys off.” I let out a nervous breath as I said goodbye and ended the call. I was still unsure whether Rhys would love the place or hate it, but I had my fingers crossed. My other surprise for Rhys would be dropped off soon so we probably should get a move on.

“Rhee baby, you ready to go?” I looked down the hall and heard Rhys’s guitar. Smiling to myself, I walked the short distance from the hall to our bedroom. Rhys was sitting on our bed, strumming and softly singing to himself. He looked up as I entered the room and smiled. I could live a thousand years and never grow tired of that sight. His smile lit me up and made each day better. Even on the shite days, he could make me smile.

“You ready?” I asked again.

“I am. You finally going to tell me where we’re going?” Rhys carefully sat his guitar in its stand by his side of our bed, then stood back, hands on hips waiting for my answer.

“Nope. You’re going to have to wait until we get there.” I bustled him towards the front door, grabbing our coats on the way through.

“Can you at least give me a hint?” Rhys’s voice was muffled as I wrapped his scarf around him.

“Nope.”

“Is it animal, mineral or vegetable?” Rhys asked as we walked down the stairs. “One hint, please, Daddy.”

“Still not answering, baby bear.” I opened the door of the car and made sure Rhys’s belt was done up before closing the door, barely avoiding cracking up at his pout.

“Daddy, sneaky mid-afternoon fish and chip runs does not count as a fun surprise, just so you know,” Rhys tutted.

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