Just then, Harley clapped Rory on the back. He wiped his eyes and turned away to regain his composure. At last able to choke out an explanation, he brushed a quick hand over his face. “Danged if little Miss Nima isn’t right. Judy’s pregnant. She just found out an hour ago. She’s two months along and, umm....” The big sap had tears in his eyes. “I’m finally gonna be a dad. We’re having twins.”
“Good on you, man!” Rory added.
“Congratulations!” Ember jumped off the back bumper of the medics’ truck. Harley snagged her up into a friendly hug while Alex and Rory both pounded his back.
“How in tarnation did that little tyke know before me and Judy?” he asked hoarsely.
Rory lifted both shoulders. “Nima has an incredible gift.”
Ember held out her hands to Nima and the little girl traded places again, from Alex to her arms. The vision was finally complete. More ambulance sirens arrived with several news vans right behind them, The TEAM’s signal to fade to black.
“Time to move,” Alex ordered. “Come on, boys and girls. Peel out.”
“Ah, Boss,” Rory said as they walked away from the incoming press corps. “I’ve got to tell you. These houses of yours are not too safe.”
“This one will be.”
Ember looked twice. Alex looked too serious for the happy outcome of the operation. The silvery hint at his temples usually made him look distinguished, but tonight he looked older. Sadder.
The vision niggled at her, tapping like an impatient child with more to say whether you want to hear it or not. A game piece was still in play. The operation was not yet over. She could feel it. “Where are we going?” she asked.
He didn’t even glance in her direction. “You’ll see.”
Twenty-One
Anxiety speared Ember’s heart the minute the elevator opened. They were back at The TEAM’s office in Alexandria. Mother welcomed them with open arms. Even she seemed a little sad around the edges.
When they cleared Mother’s welcoming hugs, Alex waved them into the conference room. Kelsey was already there, as sad as Mother.
The door opened farther to reveal David, along with three elegant Tibetan monks dressed in their traditional red garb. He stood the moment he saw her. “Ember. Rory. I’d like you to meet the High Lamas of Tibet. They have been sent to collect Nima Dawa.”
Oh, no. Ember pressed Nima into her arms against her. It was happening. The time to say goodbye was here and now. Her throat clenched tight. She couldn’t swallow.
The elderly gentlemen stood and bowed to Ember and Nima. Ember expected the little girl to cower like she’d done earlier with the monks at Alex and Kelsey’s place, but she clapped her hands in delight. And instead of stodgy old guys who might tolerate a child her age, these guys beamed to see her. Nima wiggled out of Ember’s arms. As soon as Ember set her down, she ran to one of them and climbed onto his lap. Nima looked so—happy.
Alex shook hands with the monks, as did Rory, but Ember stood frozen at the door, unwilling to extend courtesy to the men about to destroy her life. She glared at David. He’d brought them here. Jerk!
Alex waved her into the room. “Come on in, Ember. Take your place.”
So she sat between Rory and Kelsey while Nima played peek-a-boo with the monks.
“She looks like she knows these guys,” Rory whispered out of the side of his mouth.
“Ah huh,” Ember replied woodenly. That’s exactly what it looked like. Nima acted like she’d forgotten who’d shared chocolate and baths and naps with her. She didn’t look back once for Ember. Not even once.
When Kelsey’s soft hand rested on Ember’s arm, she turned away, sure if she looked into those gentle brown eyes, she’d fall apart.
Rory sat quietly at her other side, his fingers entwined with hers under the table. Did he know? Was he in on this? Was he a traitor like David and Alex? She glanced at him. No. He looked as stricken as she felt.
Alex didn’t look any happier, but damn him. He’d done this behind her back. Everything was happening too quickly. She was supposed to have more time with Nima, but no. He’d assigned David and Mother to tie up all the loose ends while she and Rory were shuffled off to the safe house. Damn you, Alex.
“Mother has done a thorough job of authenticating these gentlemen’s credentials,” Alex said quietly. “They are precisely who they say they are. They’ve been sent by the Dalai Lama himself to take Nima Dawa back to her country tonight. They’ve also brought the woman with them who will act as nanny to Nima for the rest of her life. You are welcome to meet her, speak with her, and ask her or them anything you’d like.”
“Is she the same nanny those other guys planned to use?” Rory asked. “Because that woman’s a suspect as far as I’m concerned. She might be in league with the assassins.”
“You are correct, Rory,” David spoke up. “The Dalai Lama sent someone else, one of his most trusted women friends to take over care of Nima. You will probably understand when I tell you she left everything she owned behind in San Francisco and moved into an apartment in the area precisely one week ago in anticipation of this calling.”
“Why?” Rory asked. “Are you saying... Do you mean to tell me that she moved before the Dalai Lama even contacted her? That she knew she’d be needed before Nima and her father had even set foot on U.S. soil?”
David nodded. “The truly faithful have been waiting a long time, Rory. Unlike most of us, they are in tune with the universe.”
Alex interrupted with the introduction. “Ember and Rory, meet Kamalya. Mother spent the afternoon investigating her background. David is correct. Kamalya is as pure as the driven snow in the high Himalayas. She has the Dalia Lama’s total confidence. ” Tears brimmed in his eyes, too. That didn’t help.
Ember choked. She didn’t care about all the mumbo jumbo of miracles and ancient Tibetan folklore. Taking care of Nima was her job. A hole had opened up inside of her, a hole that was sucking the sweetest joy she’d ever known out of her life. The love of a child.
Mother ushered a young woman with long dark hair, dark eyes, and dusky skin into the conference room. The resemblance between her and Nima pierced Ember’s heart. She could’ve passed for Nima’s older sister—or mother. Dressed very conservatively in a long black skirt, a plain white blouse, and a multi-colored wool sweater draped nearly to her knees, she went immediately to Nima and bowed from the waist.
Once again, the girl chuckled with glee. Nima liked her, but Ember didn’t. The strange woman exuded the spirit of a lamb. Who was going to teach Nima to be tough when the next army of assassins showed up? It was a mean world out there. No way could this woman teach Nima how to handle a concealed weapon or shoot straight. She was milk toast. Nima needed real skills in order to survive. By the looks of her, this woman might be able to teach her to knit and crochet when what she really needed was—Mrs. Dillon.
Rory’s fingers locked together with hers didn’t bring comfort. Her heart broke, wrenched out of her chest at the terrible position Nima would be consigned to for the rest of her life—a life without Mama Ember.
No. No. No! I don’t want to do this!
“Is there anything you’d like to ask before they take their leave?” It was David who spoke. “They have a late flight to catch.”
The calmness in his voice irked the hell out of Ember. This was nothing but a business transaction to him. She couldn’t stand the sight of him. Never, David. I’ll never forgive you.
Rory cleared his throat. “I think Ember and I are good as long as we’re sure Nima will be well cared for and loved like she should be. Aren’t we?”
She couldn’t speak. Yes, goodbye was always coming. Yes, she was being emotional and unreasonable, but she’d fallen in love with Nima. There was no way she was okay or good with any of this.
David still acted kind and gentle, like he cared. “Ember? Speak up. Now is the time to ask questions. I don’t want you to think we don’t care about your feelings.”
Kelsey shoved some tissues into her hand. Ember bit her lip and started shredding them. Like hell he cared about her feelings, but she said, “Umm, no. I understand.”
“Let’s get it over with then.” Alex stood. “The sooner we’re done here, the better.”
Her heart climbed up her throat. Like it or not, the time to say goodbye had come. Alex took Nima into his arms first, blinking hard, his fingers splayed in a gentle cup at the back of her head as he hugged her to him. And Nima, in her wise little girl way, patted his shoulder at the same time. Comforting him.
And crack, Ember’s heart broke. She shuddered. The pinch in her chest clamped tighter. Her whole world fell apart.
Alex wiped his face with one quick brush of his hand while Kelsey took Nima from him. Ember untangled from Rory’s fingers and stood, unwilling to sit for her inevitable turn. The need to scream choked her. I can’t do it.
Rory came to her rescue, his hand gently cupping her elbow to pull her into his side. Together they watched Kelsey kiss Nima’s forehead and whisper, “You are such a beautiful child. Please live a long and happy life. Remember how to play. Come back to see us someday.” Another motherly kiss, a hug and a pat, and Ember’s turn had come.
But Harley stepped to her side. He must have known how hard this would be. Mercifully, he winked and took Nima first. “Hey, little darlin’,” he murmured, his forehead to Nima’s and nothing but love glistening in his handsome hazel eyes. “Me and my warrior boys are gonna come see you someday. Would you like that?”
She held her palms to the sides of his face, stretched her neck forward, and placed the softest kiss on the end of his nose. A big old tear dripped out of his eye, and Ember turned her back on the damned tragedy. No! No! No!
“Thank you for telling me they’re on their way,” he said hoarsely. “You’ve darned near made me and Judy the happiest folks on earth. Bye, darlin’.”
Rory clapped his hands once, and Nima fell from Harley’s arms into his with a big smile. Ember pressed her fist to her mouth, stifling the screams of her heart. There was no way she could tell her child of light goodbye.
Rory didn’t seem to care that everyone watched while he wept openly. Tears dripped off his jaw. It was big girl Nima with her hands in his hair who patted his head to comfort him.
Ember melted. This was just as hard on him as it was her. She stepped to his side, her hand in the middle of his broad back so he’d know she was there for him.
He shuddered, struggling to speak. “You grow up to be big and strong, okay, little one? Don’t be too mean or too powerful. Be a nice warrior goddess, okay?”
With two pudgy hands, Nima cradled his face until her nose touched his, and as sweetly as ever, she whispered her favorite word, “Yep.”
He smothered her to him in one last fatherly embrace; his eyes squeezed shut and the pain of losing her laid bare for all to see. “I know you’re not my daughter, but it sure feels like you are. I love you,” he whispered. “I always will.”
And Nima, for the first time in all their days together said, “Love you, ReeRee.”
He turned to share the child they both loved, but Ember stepped back, afraid if she touched Nima again, she’d need to fight the world to keep her. No.
Nima reached for Ember, but she couldn’t take her into her arms. No way. She shook her head in denial of the pain headed her way. Sad cornflower blues blinked in surprise.
“Take her, Ember. Come on, she needs you to tell her goodbye,” Rory whispered gently.
“Umm, no.” Ember shook her head. She bit her lip, reached over and patted Nima’s cheek quickly with just two fingers. “Alex is right. Let’s get this over with. Head ’em up and move ’em out, and all that jazz. Bye, little one. See you later.”
“Mama?”
Ember willed herself not to shatter into a million pieces at that graciously bestowed title she hadn’t earned or deserved. She never should’ve let Nima call her that. This was what happened when you fell in love. You always ended up with empty arms. It always hurt too damned much.
“Go on,” she ground out, her heart clenched as tight as her jaw. ”Be good. Bye.”
“Ember,” Rory pleaded. “Don’t let her go like this.”
I have to. God, it will kill me if I have to hold her only to give her up.
“Goodbye, Nima,” Ember said more firmly. “See you… later. Yeah. See you later.”
Reluctantly, he lowered Nima to the floor. Kamalya stepped forward, bowing to Rory as she took the little girl’s hand. Together, they walked out of the Sit Room.
Ember stood numbly, watching her first and last operation come to an end. The conference room emptied around her. Alex and David thanked the monks for making the long journey and for being understanding of the delay. Ember listened to the buzz of courtesy and polite well wishes as everyone made their way to the elevator. Everyone but her and Rory.
He stood there at her side, probably not understanding why she was being unreasonable, but still there. Didn’t he know? The pain of separation was always better handled like ripping a band-aid off—fast and quick. It had already dragged on for too long. She needed it finished before she had more time to think.
Alex called the elevator for the Tibetan entourage. David chatted quietly with the monks like they were best friends. He looked at Nima, which he hadn’t done all day. She smiled up at him with those sweet, scary blue eyes. He patted her head. A telephone rang and Mother called to Rory from her desk to pick up the call. Ember felt the chill when he stepped away from her.
Nima turned around one last time. Her sad eyes pierced Ember’s from across the work bay, and God. How much could a mother losing her one and only child endure?
Ember fell to her knees, her arms stretched wide, her heart crying out in one last, ‘Please-come-hug-me, baby girl!’
Nima fled the security of her new mother’s grasp and ran as fast as she could, throwing her pudgy little self into Ember’s open arms. She burst into sobs, burrowing her little body into Ember’s arms and whimpering, “Mama. My Mama.”
“I wish I were, baby girl,” Ember sobbed, enfolding the child she loved with all her mind and soul, pressing her back into the gaping hole in her heart. She breathed in the smell of baby shampoo one last time. “I will never forget you. Never ever in a million years. I love you so much.”
They rocked back and forth and Ember didn’t care if the monks made their flight or not. Let them wait. They didn’t count. Neither did David or Alex. Only Nima. Only this one last moment of pure unadulterated love, the precious thing she’d never once known in her life until this damned hard, bittersweet week with Nima. She breathed and breathed the scent of that perfect little girl into the depths of her soul and heart for the last time.
This was always the way the operation would end. She’d just never expected it would hurt so much, like every nerve-ending was being wrenched out of her body with needle-nose pliers. At last she gritted her teeth and smoothed Nima’s hair out of her face. “You have to go, baby girl, and I have to stay, but someday I will come and visit you. I promise. Okay?” she asked, her compromise punctuated with gulps and sniffles.
“’Kay,” Nima sniffled, her lips pursed together in the saddest pout.
“And Uncle Rory will come with me, and you can show us around your fancy temple up high in the clouds, or wherever you’ll be living, okay?” Ember cupped her sweet baby’s face in her hands, her heart broken beyond repair as she offered what little strength she had so Nima could leave in peace.
Nima’s bottom lip quivered as she very seriously repeated, “ʼKay.”
Ember kissed her forehead fervently, instilling all of her love into the only child she’d ever loved. “Now, go be the best Dalai Lama the world has ever seen. Make your Mama Ember proud.”
Nima threw her arms around Ember’s neck and squeezed with all her might, grunting like any little girl who loved her mother with all her heart. She whispered the words Ember never thought could mean so much. “Love you
, Mama.”
Bravely, Ember loosened her grip. Nima ran to the waiting elevator. The doors closed. And just like that—the most perfect little girl in the world was gone.
Twenty-Two
It’s always a bad sign when your child’s caregiver cries the minute she sees you.
“It came on suddenly. Last night he sounded like he had a cold, and today he was tired. But then he started with a fever, and before I knew it....” Mrs. Godfrey blew her nose again.
Rory sat beside Tyler’s bed, watching the little triangular patch of skin at the bottom of his neck suck in with every labored breath. Too congested to talk, Tyler’s wide eyes above the oxygen mask betrayed his fear. He clutched his daddy’s thumb tightly in one sweaty little hand.
“You’re okay, Tyler. Daddy’s here. I’m back and I’m not going anywhere.”
Tyler inhaled a ragged wheeze, and Rory wanted to cry. He and Tyler had been in this same situation too many times in the last four years. His little guy seemed terribly frail in the big hospital bed.
“I’m so sorry,” Mrs. Godfrey said for the hundredth time.
“It’s not your fault, Gwen. Kids get sick. I’m glad you called my office,” Rory said kindly, feeling his pockets for the cell phone he knew was no longer there.
“He’s been such a good boy. He saved all of the cookies we made just for you. He said he wouldn’t eat a single one until you came home.”
“Well, we’ll have a party when he gets out of here—a sugar cookie party. Would you like that?” Rory leaned in so Tyler could hear him better. But his son was very sick. He didn’t care so much about sugar cookies right now.
Rory turned to poor Mrs. Godfrey. “Why don’t you go home and get some rest? I’ll call if anything changes.”
The door no sooner shut behind her than Dr. Brown, Tyler’s pediatrician, knocked lightly and let himself in. “My goodness, have you been in a war?”
“No, sir. Just a tough day on the job.” Rory touched his fingers to the butterfly bandages across his forehead and cheek. He hadn’t had a chance to clean up. The only reason he got Mrs. Godfrey’s call at the office was because his cell phone didn’t survive the blast that should’ve by all rights killed him. The TEAM was his second go-to emergency number. It was sheer luck he’d been there.
Rory (In the Company of Snipers Book 6) Page 24
