Page 116 of The Stolen Child

‘You were right, as you usually are,’ Sally whispered. ‘Where are we going?’

‘Let me navigate this bit, get us out of Barcelona, then I’ll fill you in.’

Sister Ailsa exited a roundabout heading towards the B20. A little traffic was beginning to enter the city as people woke up to start their days. Sally listened acutely for the sounds of sirens in the distance that might be coming for her. But so far all was quiet. It wasn’t until they’d left the city limits of Barcelona behind that Sally’s heart began to slow down.

‘What happens if the police stop us?’ she asked, her voice trembling with fear.

‘We tell them the truth – that you are Zach’s mother,’ Sister Ailsa said calmly. ‘I have Zach’s birth certificate for you, as you requested.’ She nodded towards her handbag on the passenger’s seat. ‘It was where you said it would be.’

Sally had left several bags of clothes, along with important documentation, with Nicola when she’d left for her three-month job on the cruise ship. She’d asked Sister Ailsa to pick up Zach’s birth certificate. Sally had her own passport with her, of course, but now, with Zach’s birth certificate with her, she could apply for a passport for him too. This gave them options on where they could go.

An image of her mother came to Sally. Lizzie with her striking red hair, talking about her unfulfilled dream to escape England for sunny Australia. Maybe Sally would go there, for her mother – far from Ian’s reach.

Sally knew that none of this would have been possible had it not been for Sister Ailsa. Taking several steadying breaths, Sally struggled to articulate her gratitude to her old guardian.

‘When I saw you standing there, waiting for me . . .’ Sally’s words ended on a strangled sob. ‘I’ll never be able to repay you.’

‘I’m glad you called me. Nicola helped me pull the plan together too. She paid for my flight and the car hire. She’s a kind woman and loves you. And promises to visit you as soon as you are settled.’

Nicola had in fact immediately offered to come to Spain herself, when Sally had called her asking for help. But Sally needed her to stay in London. If Sally’s manager called, to double check Sally had arrived home in London, Nicola would cover for her. Sally would hand her notice in, at the end of the week, stating that she had to take care of her grandmother.

Sister Ailsa turned the car radio on, turning the dial until she found a news channel.

‘Best listen in case there are any reports of an abduction.’

Abduction. Sally’s hand trembled as she stroked Zach’s head. Her poor baby boy had gone through that horror twice now. He stirred in his sleep, but instead of waking up he stretched his arms and snuggled closer to Sally. His vulnerability overwhelmed her, and the love she’d felt from the moment she’d discovered she was pregnant rushed at her again in one torrential force.

But then another image came to mind.

Another mother who had cradled Zach at the poolside yesterday, with such tenderness it had felt palpable.

‘Am I as bad as her?’ Sally whispered. ‘Snatching him from the only mother he remembers and loves?’

‘No! You have committed no crime, Sally. I will never understand how Elsie could have done that to you. She is lucky that she is not behind bars right now,’ Sister Ailsa declared.

‘Trust me, I wish she were,’ Sally said bitterly. ‘But she was right about one thing. Ian would find a way to take Zach from me if he knew I’d found him.’

‘I must admit that keeping the fact that we found Zach from his father cost me sleep last night.’

She reached forward to squeeze the nun’s shoulder. ‘I’m sorry for dragging you into this. I’m lucky it was Sunshine House my mother sent me to. I want you to know that.’

‘You were always special. I’ve always tried not to form attachments with my girls, but some, like you, become family,’ Sister Aisla said, catching Sally’s eye in the mirror. ‘And I saw firsthand what Ian did to you and what Elsie took from you. While I don’t agree with all the lies, I understand the need for them. I reckon the boss would understand too.’ She looked upwards again with a grin.

Sister Ailsa increased the volume as the five o’clock news began on the radio.

‘No mention of Zach,’ Sister Ailsa reported a couple of moments later.

‘You speak Spanish?’ Sally asked in surprise.

‘Yes, it’s a little rusty because I’ve not spoken it for a while, but enough to get us by.’

‘I think we have a little more time before the Murphys wake up. Elsie told me that it’s normally seven before the children stir. So hopefully they don’t know that Zach is gone yet.’

Sally’s stomach cramped and pinched as she tried to imagine the fallout when it was discovered that a child was missing from the ship. There would be a full-scale search. And the need to hide and stay out of sight, away from eagle-eyed citizens who might report that they’d spotted Sally, became overwhelming.

‘It feels too exposed here on the motorway,’ Sally fretted, her eyes wide with fear as she watched cars pass them by.

‘I agree. But I want to get as far away from Barcelona as possible before anyone starts looking. We’ll move to secondary roads by seven, where it will be harder for anyone to spot us. As for where we are going, we are en route to a Benedictine convent in Ronda. A village that sits high on a mountain, remote enough that I am confident you will be safe. I have friends there who will take care of us. It’s a long drive, but, God willing, we’ll get there by this afternoon.’