‘How about I do it?’ Hudson offered.
Nadia felt her mouth open but no words came out. She found Archie’s number, pressed the call button and handed it to Hudson.
It was better that she didn’t talk to Archie right now. The whole time she was on board Hilda, on their way to the scene, she’d not only been scared stiff that she was going to find out that it was Monica who needed their help; she was terrified that she’d been the one to do this. Her walking away had led to her sister coming to the country to look for her. Her inability to forgive her sister or Archie for everything that had happened had been the reason Monica was out there somewhere and endangering herself and her baby. Nadia had left her family behind and forged a new life without them in it. And for the very first time, she questioned her own actions.
Hudson made the call, succinct and clear, but Nadia gestured for him to pass the phone before he hung up. Archie would want to know some of the extra information and now that he had the basics, Nadia felt capable of that much.
Her voice shook as she told Archie, ‘We believe the girl at the scene was Lena’s birth mother.’ She listened to his exhale of relief. ‘The hospital will confirm it for sure.’ She’d heard the paramedics; she’d heard her own crew, their assessments and their observations. But not only that; Brad had found identification, the young woman’s purse with a photograph of a baby wrapped in the same blanket Nadia had seen once before on the day Lena was left here at the airbase.
She finished the call. ‘It’s almost 100 per cent certain that it’s her, Hudson.’ She felt all of her energy drain out of her. ‘Poor Lena, she’s lost her mother; we’ll never get a chance to reunite them and it breaks my heart.’
He put his hands over hers. ‘Mine too. What was the woman’s name?’
‘Marissa. The police say the driver who hit her told them she’d just walked out in front of the car; there was no chance to stop.’
He clasped her hand. ‘Do you know whether she has family?’
‘The police will notify her parents.’
‘I’ll take this case rather than Paige and I’ll start going through the details.’
‘Thank you.’ She appreciated him taking away some of her workload.
‘I’ll be on standby once I’ve gone through the crew’s notes and pieced together what happened. They’ll likely have questions. I expect there’ll be a news segment after police talk to the family; the public will be informed that Lena’s mother was found.’
Hudson’s words washed over her. She remembered the circumstances of the accident. ‘The elderly lady who hit her… she’ll be devastated. I could’ve… I should’ve…’
‘I’ll get all the details from Brad and Kate and follow it up. Don’t worry, she’ll be counselled; she’ll get the help she needs.’
‘What will happen to Lena?’
‘The social workers will handle it all.’
‘I need to see her. Lena.’ She wasn’t sure why. She wasn’t family, she never had been, and yet Nadia still felt an inexplicable bond. ‘I want to tell the social worker, tell Lena.’
‘Okay.’
‘You don’t think I’m crazy?’
‘I think you’re a kind, sympathetic human being.’
‘I don’t feel like it, not today. I leapt onto that helicopter for personal reasons.’
‘Hey, anyone else would’ve done the same. How was the elderly lady? Was she hurt at all?’
‘They took her away in the road ambulance; she was standing, talking at the scene so only seems to have minor injuries.’ She had another thought. ‘Do you think Marissa’s remaining family might take custody of Lena?’
‘I’m not sure.’
‘We need to know the bigger story first. The authorities will need to make sure that it’s the right thing to do.’
‘One thing at a time.’ His hand settled on hers again. ‘What’s happening with Monica? Have you heard anything more?’
‘No, not a thing.’
He waited until she’d had a comforting sip of her coffee. ‘Would you like to tell me about your sister? About what happened between you?’
‘There’s so much to say.’
