Sacrifices of the Siren [Sirens and Sailors 6] (Siren Publishing Allure) (13 page)

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Catalin,” she replied, handing Blandon some cake.

His stomach churned and he felt sick, but didn’t want to offend the kind lady by refusing.

“Had you known them long?” Dr. Jay asked, biting into the cake.

“Oh yes. Years before they adopted the little one. They doted on little Owen. They had been trying to have a baby of their own for several years but couldn’t reproduce. Owen was their pride and joy. Goodness knows what will happen to him now.”

Blandon felt a spark of heat shoot through his whole body and he choked on his tea as his eyes widened. He recovered himself quickly and stared over at Dr. Jay.
Did she just say what I think she just said?

He watched Dr. Jay take a deep breath before he spoke. “Did Owen survive?”

Blandon held his breath, not daring to hope for the answer he wanted to hear.

Catalin wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and then looked back at the doctor. “Owen? Oh he wasn’t in the accident—just his parents. I was looking after him while they went shopping. It was such an awful day, raining non-stop, it was. I offered to have him in case he caught a chill in the damp. I just held him and cried when the police came to tell me what had happened. Little Owen was as good as gold, just kept gurgling up at me. He didn’t understand, bless him.”

“Where is he now?” Blandon blurted the question out, looking around the little house. He half hoped to see the little boy crawl into the room as they spoke.

“They had to take him to the orphanage while they look for new parents. It was so sad. I couldn’t keep him, not with my heart problems. I’m too old now anyhow. He was becoming more active by the day—he needs a young couple to look after him, not an old lady like me. I do miss him terribly, though.” Tears rolled down Catalin’s cheeks and she wiped her eyes with her handkerchief.

“Do you know which orphanage they took him to, Catalin?” Dr. Jay asked gently.

She sniffed and managed a weak smile for him. “I’ve got it written down somewhere,” she said, placing her cup and saucer on the tray as she slowly stood. “Now, where was it?” She strolled over to the sideboard and searched in one of the drawers. Then she tried another. “Here it is,” she said triumphantly as she waved a sheet of paper in the air.

Dr. Jay whipped out his notebook and jotted down the address. “Is it far?”

“It’s about an hour, I believe,” she said, placing the paper back neatly in the drawer.

“How long ago was he taken there?” Dr. Jay asked thoughtfully.

“Just after the accident, so nearly two weeks ago. The funeral was only last week, but they didn’t think it appropriate to take him. He wouldn’t have understood anyway,” she replied sadly. “Are you going to visit him, doctor?”

Dr. Jay nodded. “I’m going to try to. His mother, his
birth
-mother, is very ill. I want to be able to assure her that Owen is all right. She worries about him,” Dr. Jay explained kindly.

The older lady clasped her hands to her mouth as she sat down. She looked horrified. “That poor girl. Gechina worried about her all the time, you know. When they went to see little Owen at the hospital just after he was born she wanted to meet the young lady, just to reassure her that he would be well-loved and looked after. She told me the staff refused to let her see her. She wanted to take Owen into her so she could say good-bye but she wasn’t even allowed to do that. Gechina felt so guilty. One of the nurses told her that his mother was only a young thing and didn’t really seem to understand what had happened to her. She had been brought in by a much older woman who said that as soon as the baby was born she wanted it taken away so its mother couldn’t see it. The staff took pity on the poor girl and let her hold him as soon as she could. She had a very difficult birth, from what I understand.”

“Yes, she did,” Dr. Jay said as he stood up to go. “She’ll be pleased to hear that Owen went to a lovely couple, though.”

The old lady jerked her head up as though suddenly getting an idea. “I’ve got something for Owen, a toy he left behind. Would you give it to him? He always used to cuddle his bunny when he was tired. He had it with him when we heard about his parents, but he must have dropped it on his way to the car. I found it on the path after they’d taken him. I’ve washed it.”

“Of course.” Dr. Jay waited while she went back to the sideboard and opened the cupboard. She lifted out the toy and then her hand fell on something else. With a nod she picked that up, too.

“When you see his mother would you give her this? It’s the hat Owen wore just after he was born. He wore it home from the hospital. I’ve no idea where it came from, but she might like it.” She handed the doctor the small, fluffy yellow bunny and a tiny blue knitted hat.

“Thank you, Catalin, that is so kind of you. I know she’ll treasure it,” Dr. Jay said with a smile.

“Take this, too,” she said, handing a photograph to Blandon. It was the one he had been staring at on the top of the mantelpiece. It depicted a tiny baby with a shock of dark hair. He was bundled up in a pale blue blanket, and was smiling cheekily at the camera. His eyes shone brightly.
Just like Melantho’s.
It was in a pretty silver frame with tiny beading around the edge.

“Thank you so much.” Blandon hugged the picture to his chest. He didn’t quite know what to say. His heart leapt and he managed a smile.

Catalin winked at the young man and shook the doctor’s hand as they left. The sun was beginning to set as they made their way down the winding path.

“We’ll head for the station and see if there are any trains leaving for East County this evening,” Dr. Jay said. “We probably won’t get to the orphanage until tomorrow anyway, but we’ll get as close as we can.”

“Do you really think they’ll let us see him?” Blandon asked, his pulse racing with excitement.

“Hopefully.” Dr. Jay grinned.

Luckily they managed to catch the last train of the day heading for East County. Catalin was right. It took about an hour to reach their destination, mostly through open countryside, which was hard to see as it grew darker. Twinkling lights heralded their arrival to the urban county though, and large buildings towered into the skyline. Blandon shuddered.

“Mel would hate it here,” he mused as the train drew to a halt.

“Yes she would. She belongs on that island,” Dr. Jay agreed as they walked along the deserted platform.

There was a large map on the wall of the station, which Dr. Jay studied, looking for the correct street for the East County Orphanage. “Westward Street. It’s not far,” he said with a frown. “Shall we take a stroll and find it? They probably won’t let us in tonight but we’ll know where to come tomorrow and we can find somewhere nearby to spend the night.”

“Great idea.” Blandon was happy to be doing something proactive. “I can’t wait to show Mel this photo. And she’ll love the hat.” He smiled, imagining her face light up when she saw their gifts.

“I just hope it doesn’t upset her even more,” Dr. Jay warned. “It could bring up memories she’s trying to keep hidden.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” Blandon admitted sadly.

Westward Street wasn’t far from the station and they soon found the smart, concrete building. It had lots of windows, and looked very much like an office block.

“Let’s see what we can find out,” Dr. Jay said mischievously as he rang the doorbell.

“I’m Dr. Jasun. We’ve come on behalf of Dr. Ernaut at the Harborside General Hospital,” he told the woman in a navy shift dress who answered the door. He showed her his identity card and she smiled.

“Yes, Dr. Jasun,” the lady replied politely, “do come in.” She led them to a small waiting area with padded chairs and a big window, which looked out onto the car park. They had only been there a few minutes when an older lady came to greet them.

“Dr. Jasun? I don’t believe we’ve met. My name is Argi. I’m the General Manager. How can I help you?” The lady was middle-aged and had her hair tied in a neat bun. She wore a green floral dress, which bellowed over her ample figure.

“We’re looking for a little boy called Owen Oramuno. I understand his adoptive parents passed away recently following a car accident.”

“Owen is here. He’ll be having supper right now. Do you need to see him or shall we talk in my office?” Argi smiled kindly.

The building was beautifully clean, although rather sterile, and the staff seemed friendly enough. Blandon and Dr. Jay followed her down the corridor.

“We’ll talk first. I wouldn’t want to disturb his meal,” Dr. Jay said with a smile.

Argi showed them into her large office. She had a wooden desk with four soft chairs facing it. In one corner was a little play area with a child-size table and chair, jigsaw puzzles, paper and crayons, and next to it a large yellow plastic tub full of soft toys. Along the wall nearby was a bookcase which was stuffed full of books for all ages. A couple of soft child-size armchairs stood in the opposite corner of the room.

The room smelled fresh and slightly floral. It was neat but also homey.

Blandon and the doctor sat opposite Argi and explained the whole sad situation.

“I see,” she said when they had finished.

“Do you know how long Owen will be staying here?” Blandon asked, chewing his lip.

Argi shook her head. “We haven’t got anyone for him yet. He’s at a bit of an odd age—most couples are either looking for a baby or a young child. Toddlers are harder to place.”

“Our aim at this stage is just to reassure his mother that he is safe and healthy,” Dr. Jay clarified.

“Of course, doctor. Well, they should have finished supper by now, so why don’t we go see if we can find him?” Argi led them back down the corridor and into a large lounge. A huge television was mounted to one wall, and lots of soft chairs and a couple of sofas faced it. Some older children were squabbling over the use of the remote control, while others lounged around reading.

“Sort yourselves out,” Argi chided them good-naturedly.

There came a chorus of ‘yes, ma’am’ and they quietened down to watch a film.

A door leading from the lounge took them into a playroom for younger children. There were three members of staff playing with about eight youngsters. A couple were learning to crawl, encouraged by a young lady in a purple uniform-dress. Another lady was helping some children play a board game while a male member of staff was helping a couple of boys with some building bricks.

Blandon’s eyes settled on a little dark-haired boy who was sat by himself at a little table drawing.

Argi introduced the staff to the doctor and Blandon, and explained that they had come to visit Owen. At the mention of his name the little boy looked up from his picture and beamed at them. Blandon felt his heart melt and he longed to give the little lad a big cuddle. Instead he went over to him and crouched on the floor next to his little chair.

“Well, he certainly looks healthy enough,” Dr. Jay said to Argi as Blandon introduced himself to Owen.

Owen grinned at him. He chattered away merrily while Blandon smiled at him. He showed Blandon his picture, which, apparently was his house with its huge garden. He told Blandon about his swing and something about going up and down. The young sailor didn’t understand all that Owen was saying but it didn’t matter. He got the gist and it was lovely just hearing his little voice.

Blandon took the little fluffy rabbit which he had commandeered from Dr. Jay as soon as they left Catalin’s house. He had carefully secreted it inside his shirt. As he held it up to Owen the little boy shrieked and grabbed for it. Blandon felt his heart lift as he handed over the beloved toy which Owen immediately put to his mouth for a sloppy kiss and then hugged it to his chest. Blandon smiled.

Owen’s podgy little fingers found the camera around Blandon’s neck and he gave an excited “oooh” sound. Blandon tried to explain that it was for taking pictures, and showed him the photograph he had of the little boy. Blandon thought he could see a spark of recognition in the young one’s eyes as he stared at it.

“Can I take a photo of him?” Blandon asked Argi, who was happily talking to Dr. Jay all about the little lad.

She frowned thoughtfully for a minute.

“It might help his mother to come to terms with it all,” Dr. Jay murmured, “and it would prove to her that we have actually seen him and he is as well as we’re promising.”

“All right then,” Argi relented.

Blandon pointed the camera at Owen who was still clutching the rabbit and automatically gave a big cheesy grin.

“Thank you,” he said to Argi and Owen afterward.
Melantho will love this!

It was hard for Blandon to say good-bye to Owen, but he found himself promising to see him again real soon.

“Well, that went better than expected,” Dr. Jay said with a grin as they left the tall building.

“I can’t believe I’ve got a picture of him. He’s beautiful.” Blandon sighed as he hugged both the camera and the photo.

“We’ll stay here tonight and head back in the morning,” Dr. Jay said, looking around. “I just want to find somewhere with a computer so I can see how Mel’s doing.”

It was quite dark now and all the shops had closed for the night.