CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

 

Oona’s emotions were all over the place. At home, surrounded by silence, she let rip, crying, screaming and cursing her own misfortune in an outpouring of grief. At her parents’ house, she paced the room then moped around until her father persuaded her to return to work.

‘If I hear anything at all, I’ll phone you.’

Realizing he talked sense and to stop herself from going mad, she forced herself to believe it might help. She put on a bright floral dress and white, low-heeled sandals. She knew she looked terrible, but she couldn’t be bothered to put on any make-up.

Brenda came towards her.

‘Is there any news of Sean?’

She shook her head slowly. ‘Nothing.’ People were kind and just wanted to help.

The door to her office was open and Jack stood by the window, his back towards her. At the sound of her voice, he turned.

‘Oona! I didn’t expect to see you today.’ A smile brightened his face as he closed the door behind her, before drawing her close and kissing her. ‘You didn’t have to come in. It’s so good to see you.’

Oona rested her head against his shoulder. His lips brushed the top of her head.

‘It’s the not knowing… all this time, Jack… It… it feels like a nightmare… a nightmare I’m never going to wake from.’ Tears made her eyes sparkle. ‘I’m sorry… I’ve not come in to… I’m here to work. My dad thinks it will help.’

‘Are you sure?’

She moved away and slipped off her jacket.

‘I’ll get you a coffee.’

She nodded. Although Jack had called to see her most evenings, she had barely been aware of his presence. What should have been a happy time for them both was now swamped in sadness. While her son was missing with a man who had no idea how to care for the needs of a child, she couldn’t think of anything else. She pictured Sean, his eyes alight with the stories Vinnie would be telling him. She hoped that wherever they were, her son was safe.

Sitting down, she took the cover from her typewriter and began to sift through the mountain of paperwork on her desk.

Jack came back with two mugs of steaming coffee. She cleared a space on her desk and he placed one down next to her. ‘I meant to clear that, but with one thing and another…’

‘That’s okay. You can’t do everything. How’s Tim been?’

‘Yeah, he’s learning fast. He and Brenda are making steady progress and working better together. Enough about them. What–’ The shrill of the telephone interrupted their conversation and from then on, the morning passed in a blur for Oona. By the time Jack left for the docks that afternoon, she felt shattered. How could she carry on without sleep? The doctor had offered to give her sleeping pills but, after the experience of taking them a year before when she had felt herself turning into an android, she decided against them. All she wanted was for Sean to walk back in through the front door, throw his bags in a heap on the floor, and to hear him clatter up the stairs.

She was rubbing her temples to relieve her aching head, when a tap on her office door made her glance up and Tim wandered in.

‘Sorry to trouble you, Oona… especially now. Only, I wondered…’

‘It’s all right.’ She half-smiled. ‘What is it?’

‘Can I…can I just say . . .’ He lowered his eyes and sucked in his cheeks.

‘I’m sorry for your trouble and pray that Sean will be home soon.’ His lanky arms fell awkwardly by his side.

Nodding, she swallowed. ‘Thanks, Tim. Sit down.’ She gestured towards a chair. ‘What’s on your mind?’

‘I’ve had a consignment returned, in spite of it having been sent to the correct address.’

‘Have you checked the address in the directory?’

He nodded.

‘Could it be the wrong consignment? Check with the shipper and see what they have to say. This kind of thing can happen, and it can take up so much time.’ She guessed that Tim already knew this, and she appreciated his concern over Sean.

‘Thanks. I’ll get on to them first thing,’ he said, as Brenda tottered in.

‘Is there anything else for the post?’

Oona shook her head. And the girl stood staring until Tim nudged her and they walked back to their own office.

That night, in spite of working hard all day, Oona still couldn’t sleep, and sat up most of the night talking with Jack on the phone.

 

***

 

By lunchtime the following day, she was struggling to keep her eyes open. Jack swiped his jacket from the back of his chair. ‘Come on. I’m taking you for lunch. I want to discuss something with you.’

It was early and Dino’s was quiet. Jack joined her in the corner booth, carrying a tray with coffee and lightly cooked cheese omelets. He removed the contents from the tray and pushed the plate of food towards her, then sat down.

‘Before I get serious, you must eat something. You’ve heard the saying, an army marches on its stomach?’

She looked at him, her eyes dark pools of despair. ‘If it’s about the new contract, Jack, I’m doing my best to concentrate and I’m aware how hard you’ve been working while I’m languishing.’

He frowned. ‘Forget about work.’ He reached across and touched her hand. It felt comforting and reassuring. ‘Now, eat something.’

She cut into the omelet and placed a forkful into her mouth. It was delicious and she had some more. ‘Umm… these are sumptuous, thanks, Jack.’ Looking pleased, he began eating his own meal.

‘I can’t bear to watch you suffering, Oona, and if I could get my hands on that conniving…’ he paused. ‘I’m sorry. I know he’s Sean’s father but…’

‘No, I’m sorry I ever had anything to do with him.’

‘None of this is your fault.’ He lowered his head and ran his hands over his face.

‘There’s something I have to say and I hope it won’t sound…’

She glanced up at him. ‘What is it?’ Her hands rested limply in front of her and he placed his own hands over them.

‘I’m looking at a girl who’s all ready to give up the fight,’ he said. ‘This is not the Oona I know.’

Tears of anger slipped down her face onto the strong hands clasping hers. She swallowed. ‘How can you say that? I’ll never give up; not while there’s blood running through my veins.’

‘That’s more like it.’

‘But it just seems so hopeless, Jack. We’ve exhausted every possibility here, and the police have come up with nothing so far. What can I do?’

‘Stay positive and we’ll find Sean.’

‘How?’ she snapped. ‘What else can we do?’

‘We can go to England. You believe that is where Sean is, and you know him better than anyone. We could go to Liverpool. Tom, my stepfather, is a retired police officer. He can advise us.’

Her eyes sparked to life. ‘What about the business?’

‘I’ve been thinking about this for days, Oona. I’ve spoken to Mr. Mountjoy. He’s offered to take over the agency while we’re away.’

‘Really!’ She leaned across and kissed him on the lips. ‘McNally will try and stop us.’

‘I’d like to see him try.’