THE TROUBLE WITH PAPER PLANES(86)

Alex had taken a walk down to the cafeteria to see if he could find us some food, so I sat down beside Bridget. She put her arm around me and leaned her head on my shoulder.

“I think the waiting is the hardest part,” she said quietly, so as not to disturb Maia.

Jas let out another yell from down the hall.

“Or maybe the second hardest part.”

I took another sip of my coffee. I was about maxed out on the stuff. Any more and the ratio of caffeine to blood in my system would be nearing critical mass. I had to make this one last.

“Em was such a beautiful baby.”

I glanced down at her. I’d been wondering if this was bringing back memories for her.

“All soft blonde curls and big eyes,” she smiled. “But my favourite part of her was the little spot on the back of her neck. It was so soft and she smelled so good. I couldn’t stop kissing it.”

I reached down and set the coffee cup on the floor beside my chair and turned to her, pulling her into my arms. She settled her head into my neck and we sat there like that for a good few minutes in silence. I could feel the pain, seeping through her, into me. I had no idea what it was like to lose a child, but I imagine it’s like losing a part of yourself. I desperately wanted to ease that pain, tell her that it was possible – only possible – that Maia could in fact be Emily. I wanted to see the hope in her eyes again, because I hadn’t seen it there for so long.

But I didn’t want to cause her any more heartache. It was also possible that Maia was not Emily.

I drew away from her, and she wiped her eyes. I had no idea she’d been crying, but it didn’t surprise me.

“You okay?” I murmured. “Can I do anything?”

She shook her head, smiling through the tears. “Just memories. You know how it is.”

Yeah, I knew. I gave her another brief hug, then she settled in the chair beside me again, and we both stared at Maia, still sleeping on the chairs opposite us.

“She looks peaceful,” Bridget said, echoing my thoughts.

“She does. She hasn’t been sleeping well lately. I guess it just all caught up with her.”

I reached down and picked up my coffee again, cradling the cup in my lap.

“You two are perfect for each other.”

I looked over at her, my heart racing. It’s not that I’d been worried about what she thought, because she’d been so great about everything, and she liked Maia. I guess I just needed to hear her say it.

“She’s brought you back to us,” she said, meeting my eyes. “Because I know how much you’ve been hurting all these years, and I know how much you miss Em. But you need to move on now, and Maia arriving when she did was more than just coincidence, I’m sure of it. Sometimes, signs are just people who turn up right when you need them most. You just have to open your heart and your mind, and the possibilities are there.”

I swallowed the lump that had lodged itself in my throat. She had no idea, but I agreed with her now. Wholeheartedly.

I heard footsteps coming down the hallway and Alex appeared around the corner with a bag and a grin.

He waved the bag at us. “Score. Sandwiches, muffins and those big cookie things.”

Before we had a chance to respond, a yell erupted from the room down the hall, long and low. It didn’t even sound human. Then, seconds later, a baby wailed.

My heart felt like it was going to burst. I looked over at Maia, and she bolted upright. She stared at me, her eyes wide and frightened, as though she couldn’t remember where she was.

I started to pray silently.

Please let everything be okay. Please let everything be okay.

Minutes later, a door burst open down the hallway and I poked my head around the corner to see Vinnie lumbering slowly down the hall towards us. He was clearly exhausted, and he looked like he’d been crying.

“She’s here!” he cried, dissolving into my arms as he reached me. “She’s here and she’s perfect. She’s just perfect!”

“Is Jas alright?” I asked, refusing to be happy until I knew for sure everyone was going to be okay.

“She’s fine,” Vinnie sobbed, grabbing for my arm as I propped him up. “She’s sore, but she’s fine. She’s a f*ckin’ superhero!”

“Oh darling!” Bridget cried, throwing herself into his arms as the three of us stood there in the hallway. “Congratulations!”

Alex clapped him on the back, grinning with relief. “Congrats, Daddy! That’s awesome!”