Page 44 of Wandering Souls

Damien breathed the cold morning air deep into his lungs, trying to loosen them. Since meeting Abigail, he felt like he hadn’t been able to take a full breath. His tight chest and persistent worry refused to let go. Beside him, Stevie stood in slacks, a shirt and a blazer. Her attire was unusually formal, especially for this hour of the morning.

He tilted his head up to look at her as she set a coffee mug in front of him. Damien patted the bench seat beside him and waited for her to sit. His oldest daughter regarded him cautiously, though he sensed her desire for information. At least she didn’t hide it.

“Abigail is guarded. The surprise of learning about all of us is going to take a long time to sink in. Don’t take it personally if she doesn’t want to instantly become a McCafferty.”

She rubbed his arm to comfort him. “You and Mum both need to chill out. Of course, the kid is shocked. I’m amazed she didn’t go running back to Queensland.”

Stevie’s bravado didn’t lighten his mood. “I’m worried she won’t want to meet your mother.”

“Bite your tongue, old man. It might take a while, but she’ll come around.”

He turned to face her, marveling at the radiant glow of her cheeks. Pregnancy suited her. “Your optimism is admirable, my dear, but don’t hold your breath. Who the hell knows what Margery told her?”

“So? We find out. If it’s a bunch of lies, we set her straight. She’s a McCafferty whether she wants to admit it or not.”

He doubted it was as simple as that. “Thank you for trying to cheer me up.”

“What did Bob have to say for himself?”

Damien rolled his eyes and lifted the mug. The hot coffee slid easily down to his stomach. “He says he found out she was military straight after our wedding. She was in the base hospital, giving the doctors and nurses hell because she was healing too slow.”

Stevie smiled, her blue eyes lighting up. “See? McCafferty, right there.”

He had to agree. “He arranged a visit to the base but didn’t approach her directly. Instead, he took a more subtle approach and left her a flyer for theSanctuary.”

Her eyes widened. “What if that hadn’t worked?”

Well, it did, so her question was already answered. “You know Bob.”

She murmured something inaudible. “When are you seeing her again?”

He sensed her impatience. She wanted to meet her sister, maybe even thought she could talk her around. Damien needed to caution her against her impulsivity but didn’t have the heart to curb her enthusiasm. She’d wanted a sibling since the age of three and now that she had one, there’d be no stopping her.

“We didn’t get that far,” he admitted. She opened her mouth to protest but he put up a hand. “Stevie, relax. There’s no rush.”

Irritation wrinkled her brow. “Except, she’s only here temporarily. You forget she lives in Queensland and before long, she’ll be hopping on a plane to head back. Don’t tell me to relax.”

When had she become so determined? “Fine, but don’t be too forceful. If she does decide to go back up north, I want her towantto visit us. We can’t just tell her we’re family and expect her to believe it.”

“Yes, but I—”

“No.” He shook his head. “It was different with you. You knew me. You knew your mother. You didn’t grow up thinking you were abandoned.”

Or at least, he suspected as such. Abigail hadn’t needed to say the words for him to see that was how she felt. It worried his already frayed nerves to wonder what her adopted mother told her about him and Penny.

“Can you talk to her adopted mother? Maybe find out?”

Sadness filled his heart. “Margery Winter passed away when Abigail was in her final year of high school. Somehow, that sister of yours managed to sort out all of her mother’s affairs, arrange a funeral, sell a house and complete her schooling at the same time.”

Stevie’s smile surprised him. “See?” she said with a defiant nod. “McCafferty, through and through.”

She had a point. “Where are you off to, anyway? All dressed up.”

“Crawford called, wants me to consult on another case. I think Colt Manning is angling to get the old, stubborn codger to offer me a job.” She set a hand over her abdomen. “I’ll need mat leave before long and Crawford will never forgive me.”

He hated to think of her standing in surgery for hours on end. “You do what you think is right, Stevie.”

She laughed, leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “You know I will. Gotta go. Please don’t give into every one of my son’s tantrums today.”

---