Page 107 of Love Bomb
“If you want a family,” she pointed at Rona with the knife, “why are you still with her?”
“I’m just doing a job,” Bain said, keeping his voice as reasonable as he could manage. “Rona hired me to blow up the folly. I’m earning money for you and the wee one.”
“I-it’s t-true,” Rona said. “J-just a j-job.”
Bain wasn’t sure it was wise for her to enter the discussion. They weren’t exactly dealing with a woman who had a good grasp on reality, and Rona seemed to trigger Sandra’s more erratic behavior.
“She’s paying you?” Sandra asked anxiously.
“It’s a job.” Bain nodded.
“But what about the cèilidh?” Sandra’s eyes darkened in anger. “You were behind the coat rack with her. I saw you.”
“I was confused,” Bain said.
“He d-dumped me as s-soon as the b-baby arrived on his d-doorstep,” Rona said, clearly gaining strength. “A father should b-be with his s-son.”
Sandra looked hopeful again. “You dumped her?”
“How could I stay with her when I have a baby with you?” He was so close now. One more step and he could grab her. He kept a wary eye on the knife as he softened his voice. “I’ve been a fool. It took holding that wee baby for me to realize everything I was giving up. I’m so sorry, Sandra. Please forgive me.”
“He’s a b-beautiful boy, Sandra,” Rona said, and Bain could hear the truth in her voice. “He needs his mother. He needs both of you.”
For a second, Sandra looked hopeful, then her features hardened again. She wiped her face with a sleeve before her eyes darted between them.
“You’re trying to trick me. You just don’t want me to kill her.” She took a couple of steps back. Too damn close to the Semtex.
“No!” Bain yelled before fighting to speak in a more reasonable tone. “Come away from the wall, Sandra. I don’t want any accidents happening, and if you bump into the wall, our wee baby won’t have any family left.”
“He isn’t trying to trick you,” Rona said earnestly. “He’s trying to save you. Let him. Think about your son. Think about how much you love him because we all know you love him very much.”
A gasping sob left Sandra, and she stumbled a couple of steps forward.
Bain let out a wavering breath. “Come to me, Sandra,” he coaxed. “Let’s get this mess sorted. I’m so sorry I didn’t listen to you,” he said, meaning every word. “I’m sorry for everything that’s happened to you.”
For the depression after her baby, for losing the man she loved, for being so lost that she’d latched onto a stranger.
“I’m so sorry, love” he said again. “Let me help you.”
“If you’re really his father,” she said, through her sobs, “what’s his name? I never included it in the letter because I knew you already had it. So, tell me now, what is it?”
“It’s Alvin.” Bain’s shoulders sagging with the relief of knowing the answer. Matt had told him after he’d tracked down Sandra’s doctor. “Our son is called Alvin,” he said.
Sandra collapsed into tears, dropping the knife and falling to her knees. Rona was there before Bain could get to her. She wrapped the woman in her arms and rocked her gently.
“It’s okay,” Rona soothed. “It’s okay. We’re going to make sure you get well again. Everything will be fine.”
Sandra curled into Rona, losing herself in her grief, and together, the women wept.
Blinking back his own tears at the sight, Bain picked up the knife and the stun gun before his eyes met Rona’s.
And in that instant, he knew he’d never loved anyone more.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
There was a crowd outside the folly. It seemed that half the town had turned up to watch the drama unfold. Bain did his best to shield the women from curious stares as he led them across the empty area marked off by the perimeter cones.
Sandra still clung to Rona, who had her arm around the woman and was talking to her in low, caring tones. Bain couldn’t hear what was being said, but he didn’t have to. He knew Rona was aching for Sandra just as much as he was.
