Gemini Rain (39 page)

Immediately the guard turned to David and Jacqueline and ordered them to get up. Xavier s
miled
this is going to be easy he knew David understood English as he
saw David translate
to the French woman yesterday.

David took Jacqueline by the arm and walked
forward. Jacqueline resisted, ‘t
ake it easy Jacqueline
nobody has returned harmed
, they only want to question us,
’ David reassured her with a smile and she relaxed a little.

The sunshine blinded them both as they ent
ered the courtyard
Xavier walked beside David and spoke in English, ‘I have a message for you.’

David stopped and looked at the commander suspiciously.

‘Relax, it
’
s from your girlfriend, she has paid me very well. Do not look around and on my order I want you to run through that open gateway
to your left
.’

‘Why?’

‘She is waiting in a car on the other side, do not hesitate senor, I can only delay my guards for a few seconds.’

David looked toward the
side gate - it was slightly ajar
should he trust this man? Would Lauren be there, would she risk all and pay for his release? It seemed unbelievable but temptation arose in him.

‘Now!’ Xavier pretended to struggle then fe
ll over.

But David hesitated, it seemed wrong, Jacqueline screamed and as David turned to her he saw a man running from another doorway pointing a gun.  The guards were shouting, everything was in slow motion, David looked down to Xavier and saw the commander was now pointing a gun at him.

Two
shot
s
rang out, Jacqueline screamed again and fainted.

Ch
apter 44

‘He’ll be home tomorrow!’ Jean-Pierre greeted Lauren with a wide smile and hugged her. She grimaced with pain as he hugged; her arm was still unbelievably sore. Then
Emma
and Keith arrived out, screaming with excitement.

‘What happened to your head, Mammy?’ Keith asked.

L
auren had an excuse prepared, ‘i
t was raining while I was out jogging this morning and I slipped, hurt my arm too.’

Jean-Pierre grew concerned but knew by the look on her face not to ask. 

Everybody was in the kitchen and greeted her with the same exciting news. Lauren was shocked when Pierre greeted her with a kiss but gladly accepted the peace offering. Under strict orders from Jean-Pierre, nobody enquired about why she had left for Ireland so suddenly and Lauren was grateful she didn’t have to lie, she felt exhausted from lack of sleep and fatigue was starting to win the battle. But she stayed for dinner and when everybody left she waited to talk to Jean-Pierre, she needed to talk to someone. Gabrielle got the hint from Jean-Pierre and brought the children into the sitting room to watch some television.

He left
the room
also saying he would be back in a moment, he arrived back with a first-aid box, ‘Take off your blouse,’ he stated.

Lauren looked surprisingly at him then followed his gaze to her arm, small specks of blood were showing through.

‘Oh shit how long has that been showing?’ she groaned.

‘About halfway through dinner, but everybody ignored it,’ he replied casually, ‘I told them you left on family business and that maybe you could help David.’  Lauren gasped.

‘Don’t worry, everybody knows not to inform David of your little trip,’ he smiled, ‘I’ll leave that to you.’

She took off her blouse and removed the bandage. 

‘Mon Dieu!’ Jean-Pierre’s
expression was one of shock, ‘s
hould I ask how it happened?’

‘No,’ she replied bluntly but then changed her mind, ‘I’m sorry Jean-Pierre it’s just that…Oh, Christ
I feel so tired!’ Lauren cried
inconsolable tears for her loss, of what could have been – Peter, family, friends. Telling Jean-Pierre everything it flowed from her, the grief and despondency. He sat listening never interrupting; a frown was on his face it was the only expression shown
as he fixed a new bandage on her arm
. 

‘You’ll have to tell David when he comes back,’ he said softly.

‘No, not immediately,’ Lauren responded, ‘after his experience in Colombia, I think he’ll have enough to handle.’

Jean
-Pierre thought for a minute, ‘m
aybe you’re right. But he must be told,’ he was serious, ‘and I don’t want it slipping from anybody else about you’re little trip. You must tell him, promise me Lauren. You must tell him.’

Lauren promised but added when she felt he was ready no sooner.

‘You’re a very brave
woman Lauren Connolly,’ Jean-Pierre
admitted, ‘I don’t know if I would have the strength to do what you did, how did you think of helping Paul too?’

‘It was an old phrase
Emma
said to me last night, killing two birds with one stone. Have you ever heard of it? I think it’s an English expression.’

Jean-Pierre didn’t answer her but smiled knowing exactly what she meant.

The following morning, Lauren was still exhausted when she arrived back from leaving Keith and Chantal to school.

Gabrielle came rushing out of the house, ‘David’s on the television! Quick Lauren, the plane has just arrived in Paris.’

Both women rushed in, everybody except for Helene was in the small sitting room, eyes glued to the television. Lauren sat down beside Veronique and smiled. Veronique in turn smiled back and clasped Lauren’s hand, ‘He’ll be home by three,’ she whispered to Lauren.

‘Shh!’ Gabrielle scolded Veronique for talking while she was concentrating on what the reporter was saying. Jean-Pierre turned to them smiling and threw his eyes up to heaven. 

‘There he is!’ Pierre screamed, ‘There’s p
apa!’ he jumped onto his grandfather
’s lap hugging him.

Everybody let out a sigh of relief and then cheered, but Lauren didn’t join in, she was happy and relieved to see his face once more but it wasn’t all she saw. Jaqueline Orliac was clinging onto him and he was returning the hug, shielding her from the glare of the cameras and the screams and flashes of the photographers. Lauren felt her world was collapsing
yet again
into an open grave.

Veronique noticed her friend’s agony immediately ho
lding onto her hands tightly, ‘t
hey’ve just been through Hell together. Don’t worry
my friend
he’s coming home to you.’

Lauren half-smiled hoping with every piece of strength she had left that Veronique was right.

Vero
nique was right about one thing
by 2pm Lauren arrived back with Keith and Chantal only leaving them in school for a half day. And now double the amount of photographers and reporters were outside the entrance to the farm, the local police were finding it hard to control things and called for extra help, soon barriers were set up so the small rural road was clear. Jean-Pierre was annoyed David didn’t telephone but knew a simple telephone call would not be enough for David, he would want more and voices down the line would not suffice. By 3.10pm Jean-Pierre, Joel and Lauren were outside the back garden smoking when they started hearing the furore at the entrance of the farm. Jean-Pierre started walking quickly to the house but Lauren hesitated, he noticed turning back to her.

‘I’m afraid to face him,’ she held her hand up to mouth unable to comprehend why she was feeling this way, tears were starting to well up in her eyes. Jean-Pierre put his arm around her gently telling her to wait for him in the Dining room.

David was exhausted and exhilarated all at once, getting out of the car before it stopped he ran to the screaming children, ‘Oh you’re a sight for sore eyes,’ he exclaimed.

Photographers were shouting up to him to turn around but he ignored them and carried both Chantal and Keith into the house with Pierre and
Emma
clinging onto his waist, everybody was waiting to greet him. He took a deep breath closing his eyes, sensing the familiar smell of home then he looked at his parents, Gabrielle rushed to hug him she was still crying as everybody gathered around to greet the
ir brother home. Veronique showed him how much her new baby girl had grown
Anaïs
gurgled a smile and burped.

‘Thanks for the welcome!’ David laughed, as he looked around
but
the one face he so despera
tely wanted to see wasn’t there.

K
nowing what he was thinking Joel tapped him on the shoulder and pointed to the Dining room, ‘She’s in there,’ he whispered.

Lauren stood at the window watching
David as he hugged the children
she smiled as she heard the family cheer and greet him in the hallway. Why was she so nervous, so afraid to face him? Was this not what she dreamed of
, was this why she felt so exhausted
from the events of the last two days? There was now silence in the house and she heard the door open and close, not looking across she could sense he was there, ‘Well hello there mister,’ she said with ease as she turned to him.

He smiled but there were tears in his eyes, ‘I thought I’d never get to hear you say that again.’

Lauren burst out crying as they both held each other, releasing the tension and anticipation built up inside, everything and everybody was forgotten as their bond re-grew and strengthened. Finally they kissed and it was as if they were never apart, the past two months no longer existed. They stood there together afraid to let go, not wanting to let go then David asked where was his ring. Lauren pulled the chain aroun
d her neck from under her blouse
and showed him, ‘Wear it and never take it off ever,’ his voice was soft but steadfast, she didn’t hesitate.

‘What happened to your arm?’ she asked concerned.

‘Ohh that’s another story for another day,’ he smiled.

‘Snap, I fell while jogging,’ Lauren felt she should explain her bandage before he asked.

Later
David tried to get rid of the reporters and photographers by going down to them. Explaining he couldn’t answer any of their questions because all involved must speak with officials first before anything could be publicly revealed. He begged th
em to leave the family alone; ‘D
on’t you think they’ve been through enough.’ The majority obliged with the rest giving up on their task late into the evening.

As the family heartily sat down to dinner, Helene arrived from her work and warmly greeted David. Lauren was sitting with Gabrielle to her left, ‘Oh Mon Dieu, Jean-Pierre look at what she wearing! Look everybody!’ she was holding La
uren’s hand staring at the ring as e
verybody clambered to see.

David smiled rubbing his chin as Lauren was blushing, how he loved seeing that familiar characteristic in her, ‘Oops,’ he laughed, ‘we forgot to tell you.’

Heartfelt congratulations was expressed by all even Pierre kissed Lauren again, wine was forgotten that night as champagne was the only compliment for the double celebration.

Chapter 4
5

Lauren’s little voice in her
head was working overtime again a
s she drove to Marseille with Gabrielle and Veronique for their ritual weekly shopping trip
,
she kept thinking about the past seven days. 

Having not heard from her father she decided to telephone him but each time she tried the answering machine was turned on. Then the call from
Debbie
was devastating, ‘Tell me its not true Lauren,’
Debbie
cried down the phone line to her, ‘It’s not true what they’re saying about your family. Has Declan and your mother really been arrested?’

Lauren couldn’t say anything to her except the truth, wanting
desperately
to console
Debbie
she told her of Declan’s admission and how Peter was getting out
before he died
, but it only made matters worse. In the end
Debbie
cut her short and hung up. Lauren tried her father’s number again without success so she
dialled
Carl
in
America
but he was out on call, reluctantly she just left a message saying she’d call another time.