Mitesh took them to the airport. They ran the gauntlet of check-in, security and passport control before reaching departures, where they stood beneath the large screen that listed departing flights.
“There it is,” said Jess pointing at the board “Dubai, gate twelve.” But Simon was looking elsewhere and he took her by surprise.
“This is where I love you and leave you.”
“What?”
“I’m on the Doha flight, en route to Malta. I have some business to do there.”
“Oh. Really? I assumed you were coming back to London.” She couldn’t keep the disappointment out of her voice and it made him look uncomfortable. “Who’s going to watch my back?” she said, in an attempt to make light of it.
“I don’t think you’ve got much to worry about in Emirates Business Class.”
“I can’t thank you enough for what you did for us.”
“You already did.”
“Yes, I know. But it would be great if you came over to visit. I’m sure Leila would love to see you.” He shifted his feet. “Look. I understand if you can’t. I guess you have a busy workload, beating up bad guys and rescuing damsels in distress.” She was gushing now and conscious of it. “Sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”
“I know what you meant,” he said, amused by her embarrassment. She wrapped her arms around his chest, he squeezed her shoulders and they kissed on both cheeks.
“Go on, then. Before I get all tearful,” she said, waving him away.
“Bye, Jess. See you soon, I hope. Give Leila a big hug from me.” He turned and walked away, leaving her feeling strangely lost and vulnerable again, but with a sudden thought.
“Simon?” she shouted, and he turned at the sound of her voice. “Your business in Malta. What’s her name?” She grinned wickedly. He broke into a wide smile and her heart skipped.
“Theadora!”
***
Michael was waiting for her amongst the crowds in arrivals, holding hands with the most beautiful girl in the world.
“Mummy!” Leila ran up and threw herself at Jess, who dropped her bags and lifted her up high.
“Hello, sweetheart,” she said, twirling her around and kissing her. “Goodness me, I’ve missed you.” Jess was bursting with love and happiness for her eldest but wanted to know more. She put Leila down safely down on the floor and crouched down in front of her. “How are your baby sisters?”
“I’ve been looking after them for you.”
“I’ll bet you have.”
“They were naughty once but I had a talk with them and now they are much better.”
Jess hugged her again and looked up at Michael.
“I’m in trouble, I understand?” he said in his typically languorous way. She kissed him on both cheeks.
“What would I do without you?”
“Your own thing, I expect. But then, you do that anyway.”
“Is everyone all right?”
“Yes of course, Keira and Sandy have had a great time. They’re all waiting for you at Chalton.” He grabbed the handle of her suitcase. “Come on. Let’s go home.”
***
Michael felt somewhat outnumbered, surrounded by seven women; Jess, Leila and the twins, Sandy, Keira and Emma, all seated around the long kitchen table, tucking into a casserole Sandy had prepared. But the guests were ready to go by eight, and although the girls had been given special dispensation, the twins were already worn out.
“I’d like to know how you got on with Lisa,” said Michael as they embraced by the front door.
“You mean Alisha?”
“Yes, of course. I’m always getting names mixed up.” She saw the irony in his statement but had no doubt it was meant to be light-hearted.
“There’s nothing to worry about, Michael. Just as you said. I do want to share it with you. I just need a bit of time to come to terms with it all.”
“You’ll be a bit jet-lagged too, I expect.”
“I’m just pleased to be back home.”
***
Jess and Leila put the twins to bed and then they sat up on Jess’s bed reading a picture book, though this time Leila did most of the reading. She had come on so much in a fortnight, Jess thought proudly. School beckoned.
“Do you remember Simon?” she asked at one point and Leila nodded gently. Jess could tell her daughter knew who Simon was, but she was hardly effusive. She hadn’t discussed with Simon the circumstances of their long journey from Amritsar to Kathmandu; somehow they just hadn’t got round to it. But having now been there herself, in the Himalayas, it shed a whole new light on how traumatic it must have been, for Leila especially, even with someone as capable and caring as Simon Rutherford. “Well, he sent you a big hug and he’s going to come and see us all soon.”
Leila looked genuinely pleased. But, Jess thought, she wanted to know more about what had happened and resolved to ask him when she got the chance. And then, in a moment of doubt, had to consider the notion that she may never see him again, that he would slip back into the shadows of his sinister world and disappear. She hated the thought of it, but had to concede it wasn’t something she could control.