All of his memory had returned. As he dried his hands, still feeling dazed, he caught sight of Ava’s disappearing back as she helped push the gurney upstairs. Her brother, Jock, was beside her.

No wonder she had looked through him when he’d told her all hope was gone. She’d had to deal with that final loss of faith.

Others had taken over. He saw a nurse sitting on the chair, pale and stunned. She glanced up and he smiled and shrugged. ‘Things can turn out well if you allow the presence of trust,’ he told her. Like Ava had told him after they’d helped deliver the twins. And hopefully, that would work.

Trust in Ava – that would be what he’d have to do now.

Chapter Fifty

Hana

Hana lay in the dark, listening to babies cry in the maternity ward – not hers, though – with Jock sleeping next to her on the trundle bed in her room. She could hear his breathing, a sound she would never, ever take for granted, and she counted her blessings in a fervent prayer of gratitude.

Her fingers stroked the polaroid photo of India that Ava had taken before they left the special-care nursery, even though it was too dark to see her daughter’s features. She didn’t need to see. Her daughter had blonde hair, and deep-blue eyes like all babies – she laughed at herself. But she bet India would have eyes like her dad’s. She had his beautiful mouth and that funny tip on one ear.

Hana had held her for the start of her life against her skin, warm and so incredibly soft, stickily secured to her until she’d needed to be lifted into the crib in the special-care nursery. And she was so thankful for that brief time of connection that could never be taken away. But India had been impatient to arrive and they would have to be patient before she could stay with them without observation.

Thanks to her darling Jock, who had managed to get here in time through some inventive short cuts and magnificent driving. All that off-road racing had honed his skills – there hadn’t been much time to spare once she’d been woken by her waters breaking.

And thanks to Zac’s gentle handling of her birth.

And Ava. Dear Ava. Smoothing and explaining and making sure she and Jock were involved in all decisions for their daughter’s wellbeing. Gliding in to check on her in the dark, whispering little snippets of what was going on with India as she found out, checking that Hana was well and comfortable and happy. Laughingly telling her that of course it wasn’t strange she was awake after such excitement.