Даниэла Стил - Finding Ashley [calibre]

“It’s addictive,” he said to Hattie. He was about her age. “I’m a doctor, and my family want me back in Holland, or Europe at least, so I’m closer to them. Maybe when I’m old. But for now, this is what I need to do.” He had a slightly disheveled look, intelligent eyes, and a kind face.

“Me too,” Hattie said simply. She was sure now that she was on the right path.

She spent two hours with them. They told her that they would get in touch after the review board evaluated her CV. They would contact her if they wanted references, which would mean that she had passed to the next phase of the process.

“How often do you send people?”

“Every three or four months we send another team out, of varied nationalities and abilities, nurses, doctors, technicians. A team just left a few weeks ago. The next one will leave in about two months.” It wasn’t long enough to get released by the order. Final confirmation would come from Rome in a year, or even two, but she could start the process.

“Will it matter if I’m not released yet?”

The Dutch doctor answered her. “That’s between you and your order, it’s not our concern. All that matters to us is that your medical certificates are in order, and they appear to be. Everything looks up to date. And of course your references matter to us too. We’ve only just started signing people up for the next team. We’ll note your preference for the children’s camp, but we can’t promise that’s where you’ll end up. It’s all about what they need on the ground.” She nodded. That made sense to her. He mentioned salary then. She had been about to ask him. It was low, but enough for her needs in Africa, and about what she expected.

At the end of the interview, she thanked them, and the three of them shook hands. Hattie felt calm, and strong and sure. She felt absolutely certain she was doing the right thing.

She didn’t tell anyone she’d been there, and she waited until she heard from them again three weeks later. They were ready for her references. She had passed the first phase. They wanted to know how soon she’d be able to leave after she was approved.

“Very quickly,” she said. But it meant that she had to start dealing with the paperwork, and they gave her a list of vaccinations that she’d need.

She hadn’t said a word to Mother Elizabeth yet, or to her sister, but she knew she had to now.

She was quiet at dinner that night, and avoided the mother superior’s eyes. She asked to speak to her after dinner.

When she walked into her office, looking serious, Mother Elizabeth knew. Sister Mary Joseph was still standing when she spoke to her.

“I’ve made a decision about the leave of absence you offered me, Mother. It’s a generous offer. But I’m sure. I want to be released from my vows.”

“Do you know what you want to do now?”

“I’m going back to Africa, with a United Nations medical team. I spoke to them a few weeks ago, and I just passed the first phase of the application process. I’ll need references from you and the bishop’s office.”

“When would you leave?”

“I don’t know yet. In about six or eight weeks. I’d like to start the papers for Rome before I go.” Mother Elizabeth nodded and had tears in her eyes.

“I’m very sad to see you go, and sadder to see you leave the order. But I have a feeling this is the right thing for you. It’s what you love, and they run excellent facilities and teams. Does your sister know?”

“Not yet.” Hattie looked equally serious, but there wasn’t a tremor of doubt in what she said. “If I may, I’ll go to see her this weekend.” The superior nodded.

“You can stay here until you take off for Africa. We’re going to miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too, Mother. I hope I do a good job there.”

“You will. You did before. You have a gift.” There was no reproach in what she said, no bitterness. She came around the desk and hugged her and looked into her eyes. “You’re going to do a wonderful job. We’ll be praying for you.”

Hattie was too moved to speak. When she left the mother superior’s office, there were tears rolling down her cheeks. As she gently closed the door behind her, she had no regrets.

Chapter 16

Norm came in from his office later than usual on Friday evening. He was working on plans for three new clients, for houses he was going to build for them in the spring. He liked two of the architects involved very much, and was struggling with the third one, a bossy woman from New York. He looked tired when he sat down at the kitchen table. He was too tired to make dinner and Melissa made a salad and put two steaks on the grill for them. He told her about the progress they’d made that day. They were all going to be handsome houses, showplaces, and each one very different.

It had snowed a lot in the last few weeks, and the remains of the children’s snowman were still standing. Melissa had been trapped in the house reading on most days.

“Have you heard from your sister lately?” he asked her when they finished dinner. “Is she okay since the retreat?”

“She’s acting weird,” Melissa said, looking faintly annoyed. “I haven’t heard from her much recently. I hope she hasn’t done anything hasty. She’s still impulsive, even at her age. She called me yesterday. She’s going to come up for the day tomorrow, so I’ll catch up on her news.”

“She’s probably still trying to figure out what to do. It’s a big decision.”

Melissa nodded. Hattie had been quiet, but Michaela was calling her regularly, once or twice a week, just to chat. Melissa loved it. They both did. She had said that Marla was back on location, in the wilds of Scotland somewhere, freezing, working on her latest film.

They went to bed early that night, and were both in a deep sleep when the phone rang at two a.m. Melissa answered it because the phone was on her side of the bed, but all she could hear was sobbing. There was no other sound at the other end, just jagged crying and sharp intakes of breath. Melissa was afraid it might be Hattie, having some kind of breakdown over the decisions she was making, or with flashbacks from the rape. She had mentioned having nightmares ever since she spoke to the police.

“Who is this?” Melissa said calmly and clearly, as Norm sat up next to her, looking concerned. He couldn’t hear the sobbing, but the look on Melissa’s face and her voice told him something was wrong. “Who is it? Hattie, is that you?”

A thin voice finally came through the phone. “It’s Michaela. It’s Marla…she…”

“All right, sweetheart, take a breath. Try to be calm and tell me what happened.” Her voice was instantly gentler, and she was relieved that whatever the problem was, it was Marla, not one of the children. Maybe she was sick.

“It’s Marla…she’s still in Scotland, there was a storm. They were night shooting. There was some kind of explosion in the scene. They finished it, and it was too snowy to drive back, so they took a helicopter to get them back to the town where they’re staying. There was a huge gust of wind, and the helicopter flipped over and hit electrical lines. It burst into flame, and crashed…they were all killed…Marla’s dead…oh, Mom, I loved her…she’s dead…how can that happen? Why did they take the helicopter in a storm? All three stars, the director, and the pilot were killed. I have to go and get her. David says he’ll stay with the kids. They want me to identify the body.” She started sobbing again, as Melissa looked at Norm and shook her head and mouthed “Marla.” But he still didn’t know she was dead. He had never met her, but Melissa had raved about her after meeting her in L.A.

“I’ll come with you,” Melissa said immediately. “Do you have a ticket yet?”