Read Online Run to Him by Nadine Dorries - Free Book Online

then, Callum, I am officially the one looking after you and handing you over. I’ll pop outside. Say goodbye, you two lovebirds.’
    Once again, Fionnuala and Callum were alone.
    ‘Will you still tell your da about us?’ Callum looked sheepish.
    Fionnuala had no need to even think about her answer. ‘I will, later. Tonight when they are all in bed, I will talk to my da.’
    For the first time, Callum looked as though he were about to cry. ‘This is the last time, Fionnuala, I swear. Having to leave you is killing me.’
    She couldn’t reply. The tears ran down her cheeks. It was killing her too.
    *
    He had been standing at the bus stop for an hour. Fred had wanted to meet Fionnuala tonight and walk back home with her. He had thought that the best way to talk to her was when they were alone and, as the house was always busy, he would never find a minute there in the midst of the bedlam known as their kitchen. If anyone went into the parlour, seven pairs of small ears were glued to the door. No, there was definitely no such thing as a secret on Waterloo Street. What Fred had to say was for Fionnuala’s ears only. He had almost broached the subject with her this morning, but had decided against it, just in case his words didn’t come out right. After all, he didn’t want to spoil her Christmas Day, or make it unnecessarily stressful for her. No, he was right to have left it until now.
    He would tell her tonight that he and Maggie knew all about Callum and he would say, why didn’t she run around to Nelson Street and fetch him home, to have a bit of supper with them all?
    Callum was the son of a man who had been his friend on the docks. A man he had walked to and from work with, every day for years. A man he had watched hit by a flying rope on the end of a crane and killed instantly, with his own eyes. Callum was the son of his late friend and, a thief or not, Fred would not dishonour the memory of his friend in that way. Callum would be welcome in his house and if necessary, Fred would steer Callum onto a straight and narrow path and get him taken on down at the docks, into his own gang where he could keep an eye on him, because that’s what Callum’s own da would have done.
    As Fred squinted down the road, he saw the lights of the bus rise over the brow; he heard the squelch of the tyres against the slush and snow and his heart beat a little faster, just as it always did when he was about to see one of his daughters, after a day apart.
    *
    Callum sat next to Fionnuala on the bus. His arm was around her shoulders and they hugged each other tightly, both dumbfounded at the turn of events.
    The policeman had been using the police phone at the hospital entrance as they walked up to him. Fionnuala, struggling, but managing to hold her distress and tears in check and Callum, walking with shoulders bent, tormented with remorse at what he had done. As Callum began to speak, the policeman held up his hand, indicating that Callum should wait a moment.
    ‘Aye, Sarge, well, there’s no problem my end. I’m sure he will be mighty delighted now… Yes, indeed. Thank you, Sarge.’
    The policeman put the telephone down and grinned. ‘Well, ’tis true, people do go soft at Christmas. The man whose car it was has rung the station and when he heard that you were hurt, and could have run away but chose to stay and help the people on the tram, he dropped the charges. He thinks you suffered enough, spending Christmas Day on casualty, being checked out. You are free to go, lad.’
    At that point, Fionnuala felt faint with gratitude.
    *
    They had lit the fire in the parlour and were all gathered around. Fionnuala and Callum were sitting, like a king and queen, in the middle of the sofa, and the seven girls were grouped around on the floor. They both had trays on their laps filled with a Christmas dinner, which they were tucking into, while the girls giggled and plied Callum with questions. Fred had sent around for Annie O’Prey to