18

 

Jared let himself into the house. “Hi, I’m home.”

Silence greeted him.

“Niamh?” He hung his coat on the wall hook and went into the kitchen. A tall male figure stood by the worktop, peeling potatoes. “Patrick, what’s going on? Where’s Niamh?”

“She’s sleeping.” Patrick glanced over his shoulder. “There was an incident in court this morning.”

Jared’s heart flip-flopped and stopped. “What? Is she hurt? Why didn’t anyone ring me?”

Patrick turned and held up a hand. “Take a deep breath before you hyperventilate. She’s fine. She’s not hurt. She’s sleeping because she’s sick, has been for a while according to Liam.”

“Yeah, stomach flu. I’m taking her to the doctor’s in the morning.”

“Good. She got another death threat this morning. This one was in her robes, in her locker at the Crown Court.”

Jared froze. “In the court building itself?”

“Yes. Needless to say, we’ve upped the protection. Hope you don’t mind a houseguest for a while.”

“You?”

“Yeah. And yes, I’m armed before you ask. I’m not going to let anything happen to her, Jared. I promise.”

“What about in court? You can hardly sit beside her.”

“She’ll be wearing Kevlar under her robes at all times. I’ll be in court, as will more court officers than usual. We’ve made the judges in charge of her cases aware of this and they’re on board with what we’re doing.”

“Good.” He let out a deep breath. “Is she all right?”

“Shaken, but you know Niamh.”

“She hides things, Patrick. She may not look bothered by this, but she is. I’ve heard her crying at night when she thinks I’m sleeping. I’ve gone in a couple of times, but she just clams up.”

“Then push it,” Patrick said bluntly. “Wait a minute. You guys still sleep in separate rooms?”

Jared nodded. “Yes, we—”

Niamh cut him off. “We are until the wedding.” She moved into the kitchen, sitting on Jared’s lap and sliding an arm around his neck. “Hey, you.”

Jared hugged her tightly. “Patrick told me about your day.”

“Horrible. Majorly horrible. How was your day?”

“Oh, full of adoring little old ladies on zimmer frames and kids all wanting to be firefighters.”

She nestled against him. “How many of the kids called you Sam?”

“Most of them.” He kissed her cheek. “You sure you’re all right, baby?”

“Now you’re here,” she whispered, closing her eyes, humming Fireman Sam quietly to herself.

Jared held her, listening to her breathing slow. He looked at Patrick.

“She’s been dozing on and off since she came home. That doctor’s appointment is a good idea. What time is it?”

“Ten o’clock tomorrow morning. I’ve got the morning off to take her.” He slid a hand through her hair. “It’s not like her to be sick. Even when she was pregnant with Dayna, she wasn’t sick at all. She was the envy of every woman in the ante-natal class. I’m hoping it’s just stress and nothing more serious.”

“Want to pray about it?”

“Please.”

Patrick sat beside him. Placing one hand on Jared and the other on his sister, he started to pray, handing the entire situation into the Lord’s hands.

 

****

 

Niamh came out of the ladies and crossed the doctor’s waiting room. She slumped back onto her seat between Jared and Patrick. “They didn’t call me, did they?”

“No.” Jared frowned, concern plastered all over him. “Look, maybe we ask for a home visit instead.”

“No, I’m here now.”

“Here in spirit perhaps,” he muttered. “You’ve spent more time in the loo than here in the waiting room with us.”

“On the floor next to the loo, not in it,” Niamh corrected.

He snorted. “You had to do that, didn’t you?”

She leaned her head on his shoulder. “Yeah, because you were expecting it, and I didn’t want to disappoint you.”

He kissed the top of her head. “I love you.”

“Love you back.” She paused. “And your front and your side and…” She broke off as the buzzer sounded. Her name flashed up on the screen. “That’s me.”

“Want me to come with you?”

Niamh shook her head. “I’m a big girl now. I won’t be long.”

“But—”

“No buts. You and Patrick can sit and talk while I’m gone.” She stood and headed through the door to the consulting rooms. She read the numbers on the doors and knocked on the one labeled six.

“Come in.”

Niamh opened the door and smiled. “Hello.”

Dr. Brown smiled at her. “Hello, Niamh. How are you doing?”

“Not great.” Niamh sat down and put her bag on the floor.

“You don’t look so good. How can I help?”

“I’m assuming its stomach flu, but it’s been going on for two weeks. I’m tired all the time, can’t keep anything down and my sense of smell is so heightened it’s untrue.”

“I see.” Dr. Brown reached out and took Niamh’s pulse. “How’s work going?”

“Stressful. Can’t say much, but yeah, lots and lots of stress.” She rolled up her sleeve and took a deep breath as the doctor did her blood pressure. “I haven’t eaten or drunk anything I’m allergic too. At least, I don’t think I have as Jared’s pretty good at stopping me.”

“Your blood pressure is up slightly, but if you’re stressed that would explain it. Let me run some blood tests. When was your last period?”

Niamh shrugged, wincing as the needle went into her arm. “Things haven’t been right since the car crash. Surgery, stuff going on at work, and I couldn’t tell you when the one before the car crash was.”

“Is there any chance you’re pregnant?”

Niamh shook her head. “No. I’m not married. Well, I am, but we’re not, we’re not sleeping together. And according to Jared, I wasn’t sick the last time.”

“OK. The blood tests should come back in about a week. I’ll ring you if there’s anything to be concerned about.”

“In the meantime what do I do? I can’t work like this, and I’m in the middle of a really big case.”

The doctor wrote a prescription. “This should help with the nausea. Rest as much as you can.”

Niamh took it and stood. “I will. Thanks.” She went back into the waiting room, stifling a smile as both men almost leapt from their seats. She waved the prescription. “He gave me something to help with the sickness, and I have to rest as much as I can.”

“But what’s wrong?” Jared asked.

“He’s running tests. Find out end of next week. Let’s go find a chemist.”

“I’ll buy you a coffee while we wait for it,” Jared said.

Niamh swallowed hard. “I thought I was the one with the dodgy memory. I don’t drink coffee anymore. Thanks anyway, but I’m due at work.”

Jared nodded, sliding a hand into hers. His skin was warm and her nerve endings started tingling.

Outside a fine rain began to fall and she leaned into him as they walked. Patrick walked in front and the two other officers behind her.

“Niamh, when’s your interview?” Jared asked.

“For the judgeship?”

Jared nodded.

“I decided not to go for it. I don’t know half of what I should any more, and I’m happy where I am. Well, most of the time.”

“Are you sure? You were so keen to start with and so happy when you got selected.”

“I’m sure.” Niamh looked at him. “Sides, I don’t think I’m cut out to make decisions like they have to every day. Can we go now? I have a pile of stuff to do at the office. Then I have a meeting at four.”

“I’ll take you,” Patrick said.

“I’m coming with,” Jared said at the same time.

“Actually neither of you,” she said firmly. “The two cops behind me are coming. You two are food shopping and cooking tonight. And don’t argue with me. I’m a lawyer so way better at it than either of you.”

 

****

 

Four o’clock on the dot, the CPS driver dropped her at the door of the haberdashery. The bell tinkled as Niamh opened the door.

Cassie beamed at her from behind the counter. “Hey, glad you made it. Can you manage alone for a bit, Danny?”

Danny grinned. “You’re hardly here anymore, and we’re not exactly busy. I’ll be fine.”

“Thanks, bro. Come out the back, Niamh. Danny will keep watch in case Jared or one of your brothers decides to drop by.”

Niamh followed Cassie into the small storeroom at the back of the shop.

Cassie reached up, pulling back the curtain revealing a dress cover. She unzipped it. “There you go.”

“Wow,” Niamh whispered. Tears stung her eyes. She’d never seen anything like that. Completely overwhelmed she just stood there.

Based on the shift dress Jared had said would do fine, Cassie had added sleeves and a slight train at the back. Understated beading lay around the square neck and around the high waist.

“Is it all right?” Cassie asked after a few minutes.

“It’s beautiful,” Niamh whispered. “It’s even prettier than it looks on paper.”

“Would you like to try it on?”

“Can I?”

“Of course.”

She took off her dress and let Cassie slide the dress over her head. She stood in front of the mirror as Cassie fastened it. “Wow.”

She turned first one way and then the other. The dress was a perfect fit, but given Cassie’s apparent expertise in this, she wasn’t surprised. “What do you think? Will Jarrie like it?”

“I’m biased. Do you want Danny’s opinion?”

“OK.”

Cassie smiled and stuck her head around the door. “Danny, we need a bloke’s opinion.”

“Nah, Jack’s just walked in. He’ll be better than me.”

Niamh shook her head. “He’s marrying us, so he can’t see it either.”

Cassie smiled at her. “Nope, she wants yours.”

After a moment, Danny’s head appeared around the door. His eyes widened and a huge smile lit his face. “That is amazing. Niamh, you look fantastic.”

“You think he’ll like it?”

“Yeah, I do. You look beautiful. He’ll be stoked. “

Niamh stood there while Cassie added a headdress and veil. “That’s incredible,” she whispered. “It’s much better than I imagined.”

Cassie smiled. “I’m glad you like it.”

“I love it, thank you.” She changed out of it and let Cassie hang it back in the bag. “What do I owe you?”

“Just what we agreed at the beginning.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. And I promise, not a word to Jared. Do you want to leave it here while you go shoe shopping?”

Niamh shook her head. “I’ve got my footwear sorted,” she said.

Once she got home, she hung the dress in the wardrobe hiding it right at the back. The boxes containing veil and headdress went under the bed. She shut the door and by the time Jared got home, she sat innocently watching the TV.

Jared leaned over the back of the sofa and kissed her. “Hey, hon. How was your meeting?”

“OK. How was the shopping?”

“Busy.” He flopped beside her. “Patrick’s unpacking it now. Did you find anything to wear yet?”

Niamh leaned against him. “I don’t want to talk wedding dresses anymore. I found something to wear. Something old, new, borrowed and blue.”

“Fair enough.” He ran his fingers through her hair, sending ripples running through her. “Old blue jeans, Liam’s shirt and new socks?”

Niamh smiled. “Got it in one.”

“OK. I thought I might wear my uniform, the dress blues. If that’s all right with you?”

She nodded. “You can wear what you like, hon. It’s your wedding, too.” She saw the flicker of disappointment in his eyes and for a moment was tempted to tell him the truth. “But you know what I think about men in uniform.”

He grinned. “You always did have a thing for them. Blue uniform it is. With the hat.”

She kissed his cheek. “Or just the white shirt and the hat.”

He looked at her, his eyes sparkling.

“What did I say?” she asked.

“The honeymoon,” he winked. “That’s what you asked me to wear.”

She closed her eyes, a sudden flash of memory hitting her. She grinned as she looked at him. “But I bet I look better in it than you do.”

His lips caught hers. “Definitely.”