The Christmas Vigil

by Chris Taylor

  Dragging in a deep breath, he forced his heart rate slower and then jogged up the steps to his house. In the early years of their marriage, he and Alex had lived in a luxury condominium overlooking Bondi Beach and although it had three bedrooms, there was no back yard to speak of. With a seven-year-old and an eighteen-month-old, the condo had outlived its usefulness. Now, with another baby due any minute, he was glad they’d made the decision to sell.

  They’d bought a house not far away and had managed to retain most of their ocean view. The house was older, but beautifully renovated and boasted the biggest back yard in Bondi. They’d lived there since Bella’s birth and Brandon delighted in calling it home. Now, as he crossed the wide front porch that wrapped itself around all four sides of the house, he dreaded entering his home.

  Alex glanced up from her place on the couch and immediately looked alarmed. “Brandon, my goodness! What happened? You look awful! I told you it was too hot to go for a run.”

  He shook his head, struggling to find the words. What could he say? What could he tell her? Alex’s Dad had died years ago. She loved Brandon’s father like he was her own and the feeling had always been mutual. Now he was about to tell her the fine, upstanding, much-admired patriarch of the Munro family and pillar of the Grafton community might be dying—and even worse, that he could be a liar and a cheat.

  At his continued silence, Alex’s frown deepened and she struggled awkwardly to her feet. The baby bulged in front of her and he was reminded of how close the birth was. It wasn’t the time to be upsetting her. Her blood pressure had been up the week before, higher than it had been all through her pregnancy and her doctor had warned her to take it easy.

  Watching her, he drew in a breath and then slowly let it out. He couldn’t do it to her. He couldn’t take the risk. It was important she remain calm and relaxed—that’s what her OB had said. Brandon sure as hell didn’t want to be the one to make things happen before they were ready.

  Decision made, he shook his head and turned away, determined to spare her the upset and pain his revelations would bring. Unfortunately, she was having none of it.

  “Brandon Munro, stop right there and tell me what the hell is going on!”

  He tensed and halted mid-stride. His legs turned to concrete. Taking another moment, he filled his lungs to capacity and eased around to face her.

  “Brandon, you’re scaring me. Please, tell me what’s happened.” She had her hand on her belly and his heart clenched in fear.

  “It’s… It’s nothing to get worked up about, sweetheart. Please, sit back down on the couch. The doctor told you to stay calm. It’s best for you and the baby.”

  Alex’s eyes narrowed in warning. Knowing what was to follow, Brandon braced himself for her outburst.

  “Don’t talk to me about what’s best for me and the baby. Tell me what’s wrong this minute! Tell me, before I really get upset. Something has happened. I can tell from the way you look. Now, stop being silly and just give it up.”

  His shoulders slumped on a sigh. He should have known he wouldn’t be able to keep it from her. “Okay, okay,” he muttered, “but I want you to sit back down, first.”

  She stared at him a moment longer and then nodded and resumed her seat, her frown of concern still firmly in place. Taking a seat beside her, he took her hand in his. She snatched it back and her hands went to cover her mouth.

  “Oh, my God! It’s my mother, isn’t it? She’s had an accident, hasn’t she? I told her not to go mountain climbing at her age, but would she listen? Of course not! She thinks just because she’s in her seventies, she should still be able to do what she pleases, even if it’s something as foolhardy as—”

  “It’s not your mother. She’s fine. At least, I think she is.”

  Alex groaned with relief. “Oh, thank goodness! You’re sure?”

  “Yes, I’m sure.”

  The frown was back between Alex’s eyes. “Then who is it?”

  Knowing it was better to get it over with, leaving nothing out and as unemotionally and concisely as he could, Brandon told her.

  * * *

  “Dammit, Alex! You’re coming with me. I’m not leaving you here on your own. The baby could come any minute.”

  Alex bit back an impatient sigh and tried not to roll her eyes. They’d been arguing ever since Brandon told her the news. Now he was in their bedroom throwing clothes into a suitcase. She watched him with her arms crossed awkwardly over her belly and silently counted to ten.

  “Brandon, be reasonable,” she said, making an effort to keep her voice neutral. “If you go by car, it will take you all night to get there and that’s if you drive straight through. Book a flight and don’t be silly. You need to be with your family.”

  “You’re my family, too. Or have you forgotten?”

  “Of course not and I love you for wanting to stay close, but Lily’s not far away. She’s already on standby if the baby decides to come, and Emma and Peter are two doors down. If anything happens, I’ll call them. They’ll get me to the hospital on time.”

  Brandon shook his head, his face grim. “No. I’m not leaving you here to deal with the birth on your own. Don’t you remember the last time?”

  Alex closed her eyes and nodded. “Of course, I do,” she said softly. “But it doesn’t mean it will happen like that again. Besides, I was in labor with Bella for thirteen hours. If it does happen like that again, there’ll be more than enough time for you to fly back from Grafton.”

  The stubborn look on Brandon’s face didn’t ease. Alex sighed quietly, knowing it was his fear that something might go wrong in the labor ward that had him so adamant about not leaving her behind. She didn’t blame him. It must have been difficult for him to watch while she’d labored for so many hours, weak and exhausted and downright sore. She should have been pleased that he cared—and she was.

  But it was important for him to be with his family and she was in no condition to fly. Grafton was at least an eight-hour drive away and who knew how much time Duncan had? Marguerite needed her children and it was important for Brandon to see his father—whether he wanted to or not. The Munro family were closer than any she’d ever encountered and Brandon would never forgive himself if his father died before he got there, despite how torn he was right now.

  He was angry and hurt and bewildered. He was struggling to reconcile what he’d been told by Clayton with the father he admired and respected and loved. She knew exactly how he was feeling. She wasn’t quite as quick as Clay to conclude Duncan’s guilt, but no matter where the truth lay, there was nothing either of them could do about it, except pray and offer love and support to all those affected.

  She walked up behind him and with difficulty, put her arms around his waist. Leaning her forehead against his back, she breathed in his familiar, comforting smell. They’d been married for more than a decade and she loved him now even more than she had then. It was up to her to make him see he needed to be with his family. He needed to be with his mother and brothers and sisters and he needed to visit his father and make peace the best way he could—before it was too late.

  His shoulders slumped on a sigh. He turned around to face her and took her gently in his arms. Tilting her chin up with his fingers, he leaned down and kissed her softly, tenderly on the mouth. When he spoke, his voice was thick with emotion.

  “I love you, Alex Munro. You can’t imagine how much.”

  She reached up and cupped his cheek with her hand. “I think I can. I love you just as much.”

  He rested his chin on her head and breathed in the scent of her hair. They stood in silence, drawing strength from each other. It was a long while later when Brandon finally spoke.

  “I have to catch a plane, don’t I?”

  Alex stared up at him and nodded then whispered, “Yes, you do.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Declan

  Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

  The sound of Declan Munro’s phone vibrating against th
e cherry wood coffee table snagged Chloe Munro’s attention. She’d turned it to silent on purpose to avoid waking her husband. He was on his second day of nightshift at the busy Australian Federal Police Headquarters in Civic and he needed every minute of sleep he could get. He’d barely been down an hour. She was determined to let nothing, and no one, disturb him.

  The phone stopped. Less than twenty seconds later, it started vibrating again. Chloe leaned over from her place on the couch and picked it up. The Caller ID read Brandon. She debated about answering it. Brandon was probably calling his brother to pass the time. They often caught up and it wasn’t unusual to hear Declan on the phone to one of his family members three or four times a week. They were a tight-knit bunch who enjoyed keeping in close contact and sharing each other’s lives. It was touching to see the effort each one of them put in, despite the large distances that separated them.

  Of the seven Munro children, Declan and Clayton were the only ones who lived in Canberra. Tom and Brandon lived in Sydney, and Riley lived a good day’s drive away in northern New South Wales. Josie and Chanel, the youngest of the siblings, lived interstate and shared an apartment together in Brisbane. It wasn’t often the nine of them were together in one place and the rare times it happened were treasured.

  Once again, the phone fell silent. Brandon wouldn’t know Declan had pulled night shift. He’d no doubt leave a message and wait for his brother to call. She’d barely finished the thought when the phone rang yet again.

  Three calls in as many minutes. Something was off.

  Either Brandon had exciting news…

  The thought no longer formed in her head and she snatched up the phone and answered. Of course he had exciting news! She couldn’t believe she’d forgotten!

  “Declan, thank Christ you picked up. I’ve been trying to get hold of you.”

  “Sorry, Brandon, it’s Chloe. Declan’s in bed asleep. So, tell me! Is it a boy or a girl? How did everything go?” Her questions were greeted with silence. A moment later, Brandon spoke.

  “Chloe?”

  “Yes, it’s me. I noticed you calling and remembered the baby! That is what you’re calling about, isn’t it? Alex has had the baby?”

  “Um…no. No, she hasn’t and that’s not the reason I’m calling. I…I need to speak to Declan. Is he around?”

  Chloe frowned at Brandon’s somber tone. “He’s on nightshift tonight. He’s having a sleep. Is everything all right?”

  Brandon sighed heavily and Chloe’s concern increased. “No, everything’s not all right,” he said. “In fact, everything’s fu— I mean, messed up.”

  Chloe went cold. She couldn’t imagine what had happened to fill Brandon’s voice with such sadness. He was usually always so cheerful. Now, he sounded upset and distant. A sudden sense of foreboding rooted her to the spot. She opened her mouth, but the words wouldn’t come. Knowing she had to ask, she forced herself to speak.

  “Is it Alex? The baby? Please, tell me they’re okay. Please, Brandon. I need to know.”

  “Alex and the baby are fine. I’m sorry if I scared you. It’s not them. It’s… Are you sure you can’t wake Declan? It’s really important I speak with him.”

  “He’s barely been asleep an hour. He has to be at work by six. I’d rather not disturb him, if I can help it. Can I give him a message when he wakes?”

  Another heavy sigh sounded in her ear. “Tell him…tell him Dad’s in hospital in Grafton. He’s suffered a bleed on his brain. He’s…he’s not doing so well.”

  Shock rushed through her and left her gasping. She shook her head in disbelief. “Oh, my goodness, Brandon. What happened? Is he going to be all right?”

  “The doctors aren’t saying much about his prognosis. He’s been unconscious since he was brought in. They operated on him and stopped the bleeding, but apparently, these things can take time to develop, one way or the other. At this stage, we really don’t know.”

  Chloe could still not believe it. “How’s your mother? She must be out of her mind with worry.”

  Brandon gave a non committal answer and Chloe could only assume he hadn’t yet spoken to her. “When are you heading up there to see him?”

  “Alex has insisted I fly up tonight. She’s too far along to fly with me, so she’s staying put. If she goes into labor, I’ll be on the next plane back.”

  Chloe bit her lip. “I think I need to wake Declan. This is something he needs to know. He’ll want to fly up there with you, if he can. He’ll want to be there for his mom.”

  “Yeah, I think that might be for the best. I doubt he’ll want to work tonight once he’s told Dad is so ill. Clayton’s flying from Canberra into Sydney and will get a connection from there. Declan might be able to get on the same flight.”

  “I’ll look into it right away. You need to be together. Your father and mother need you and you all need each other. It’s times like this that family is so important. Believe me, I know.”

  This time, Brandon’s sigh was filled with relief. “Thanks, Chloe. I appreciate your support and I’m sure the rest of the family will, too.”

  “Give my love to your parents and tell them I’m praying hard.”

  “I will. Please have Declan call me as soon as he can.”

  Chloe ended the call and set the phone back on the coffee table. She was loathe to wake her husband, but she didn’t have a choice. His father was gravely ill, perhaps dying. Who knew how much time he might have left? It was important Declan be there. At the very least, he’d want to know.

  She stood up from where she’d been sitting on the couch and immediately swayed with dizziness. She’d been feeling lightheaded and nauseous for the past few weeks. It would come and go in waves and appear and disappear without warning. She’d put it down to a virus her daughter must have brought home from day care. Even though Jessica hadn’t displayed any symptoms herself, it was possible she’d come into contact with it and had passed it on to her mother.

  Chloe grimaced. It wouldn’t be the first time. At fifteen months of age, Jessie was still in the baby room at the local day care center and seemed to come into contact with more than her fair share of stomach bugs and other viruses. No doubt she’d have a sturdy immune system by the time she started formal schooling. No doubt they all would.

  With the wave of dizziness passing, Chloe walked down the hall toward the bedroom she shared with her husband. She glanced in on their daughter, who’d settled for an afternoon nap not long after Declan had gone to bed. Jessie’s eyes were closed and her breathing was deep and even. Chloe smiled, pleased to see her little girl was asleep. Dinner time was always so much more pleasant when she was rested.

  Chloe continued further down the hall. Her gaze skimmed over the collection of framed photographs that lined either side of the dark-green walls. The twelve-foot-high, pressed-metal ceilings allowed for a veritable gallery of pictures to be hung on display at eye level and upwards. What started out as a hobby was fast becoming an obsession, particularly since the birth of Jessica. Chloe never tired of spending quiet time with her baby and capturing the endless special moments through her lens.

  The majority of the pictures were family photographs. Declan came from a family of nine. She came from a family of six. In addition, there were spouses, children, nieces and nephews… She was never short of subjects.

  Reaching the end of the hall, Chloe drew in a deep breath before she eased open the half-closed door that led into their bedroom. The aged, polished timber floorboards were soft and shiny beneath her bare feet. Despite his fatigue, Declan’s clothes hung neatly over the back of the carved wooden rocking chair that stood in one corner of the room. He’d been a neat freak when she’d met him and three years of married life hadn’t changed a thing. She supposed she was lucky. Plenty of women would envy her having a man who cleaned up after himself—especially when he did it without having to be asked.

  The man in question lay spread-eagled across the king-sized bed, naked apart from his underwear. His arms
were flung out above his head, his lips slightly parted in sleep. His brown hair was mussed and probably in need of a haircut. Secretly, she loved it a little longer like that. It reminded her of the wild streak in him, hidden beneath his designer suits.

  Not many of his work colleagues knew how much he loved to ride his 1199 Panigale Ducati motorcycle at full throttle along the freeway north to Sydney in the middle of the night, dressed from head to toe in black leather. It was his way of relaxing and clearing his head of the daily stresses of working in the Child Protection Unit. She understood his need to indulge in something a long way removed from the often-depressing reality of his job.

  The thought of waking him less than an hour after he went to bed still didn’t sit well with her, but what she’d told Brandon was right. Having their father lying seriously ill in hospital was something Declan would want to know, despite his attempt to catch up on much-needed sleep.

  Chloe sighed. He’d been working so hard lately, with many late nights at the office. He was in the middle of an international online pedophile investigation and they were slowly closing in. It was imperative for Declan’s team of investigators to keep up the momentum and that meant long work shifts. When he did finally make it to bed, his sleep was often broken by Jessie waking in the night, cross and irritable from teething.

  And now Chloe was going to interrupt his slumber yet again…

  She eased herself onto the bed and laid her hand upon his cheek. He stirred and turned his head to press a kiss against her palm. Her belly somersaulted with need, as it always did when he touched her. His eyes fluttered open.

  “What is it?” he murmured, his voice clouded with sleep.

  “I’m sorry to wake you, darling. I-I just took a call from Brandon.”