Read Online There's No Place Like Here by Cecelia Ahern - Free Book Online
Authors: Cecelia Ahern
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I felt Helena deserved to hear it.
“‘The Gardaí today said that they were following leads although they couldn’t confirm ruling out foul play. They ask for anyone with any information to contact the Roundwood or Blackrock Gardaí. The students of St. Kevin’s have all gathered to pray for their fellow students and locals have been placing flowers near the scene.’”
I was silent.
“What’s wrong with your eyes, Helena?” Bernard asked worriedly.
“Oh,” Helena said and sniffed, “it’s nothing. Just a spark from the fire jumped into my eye, that’s all.” She dabbed her eyes with the corner of her pashmina.
“Oh, dear,” Joan said, moving over and peering in her eye. “No, it looks fine to me, just red and watery. It probably just stings a bit.”
“I’m fine, thanks,” Helena dismissed them all, embarrassed by their care, and the others continued chatting among themselves.
“With acting like that you could join my agency,” I smiled.
Helena laughed and fell silent again. I felt I should say something.
“They never gave up looking for you, you know.”
Her mouth let out a tiny sound. A sound that was beyond her control to stop, a sound that had worked its way up straight from her heart.
“Your father championed every new Garda Commissioner and Minister for Justice that took office. He knocked on every door and searched between every blade of grass to find you. He made sure they searched the entire area with a fine-tooth comb. As for your mother, your amazing mother…”
Helena smiled at the mention of her mother.
“She set up an organization to help counsel families suffering the effects of missing loved ones, named Porch Light, as many families of the missing leave their front lights on as a beacon, hoping that someday their loved ones will return. She was tireless in her charity work, setting up bases all around the country. Your parents never, ever gave up. Your mother still hasn’t.”
“She’s alive?” Her eyes widened and filled once again.
“Your father, I’m sorry, passed away some years ago.” I allowed her to process the information before moving on. “Your mother is still actively involved with Porch Light. I attended their annual lunch last year and had the pleasure of meeting her and telling her how wonderful I thought she was.” I looked down at my hands and cleared my throat, the role of messenger not always proving easy. “She told me to continue with my efforts, as she wished I could find her beloved daughter for her.”
Helena’s voice was barely a whisper. “Tell me about her.”
And so I forgot about my own worries and settled down by the warmth of the campfire to do just that.
“I never wanted to go on the camping trip.” Helena was exhilarated and full of emotion after I had filled her with knowledge of her mother. “I pleaded with them not to make me go.”
I knew all this but I listened intently, fascinated to hear the story I knew so well, from one of its main characters. It was like seeing my favorite book come alive on stage.
“I’d wanted to go home that weekend. There was a boy…” She laughed and looked at me. “Isn’t it always about a boy?”
I couldn’t relate but smiled all the same.
“A new boy had moved into the house next door to us. Samuel James was his name, the most beautiful creature alive.” Her eyes were bright, as though the fire’s sparks had leaped in and set her pupils alight. “I met him that summer and fell in love and we had the most wonderful time together. Sinful .” She raised her eyebrows and I smiled. “I’d been back at school for two months and I missed him dreadfully. I begged and pleaded with my parents to let me go home but to no avail. They were punishing me,” she said with a sad smile, “I’d been caught cheating in my history exam in the same week I’d been caught smoking behind the gymnasium. Unacceptable, even by my standards.” She looked around the group, “And so I was
“‘The Gardaí today said that they were following leads although they couldn’t confirm ruling out foul play. They ask for anyone with any information to contact the Roundwood or Blackrock Gardaí. The students of St. Kevin’s have all gathered to pray for their fellow students and locals have been placing flowers near the scene.’”
I was silent.
“What’s wrong with your eyes, Helena?” Bernard asked worriedly.
“Oh,” Helena said and sniffed, “it’s nothing. Just a spark from the fire jumped into my eye, that’s all.” She dabbed her eyes with the corner of her pashmina.
“Oh, dear,” Joan said, moving over and peering in her eye. “No, it looks fine to me, just red and watery. It probably just stings a bit.”
“I’m fine, thanks,” Helena dismissed them all, embarrassed by their care, and the others continued chatting among themselves.
“With acting like that you could join my agency,” I smiled.
Helena laughed and fell silent again. I felt I should say something.
“They never gave up looking for you, you know.”
Her mouth let out a tiny sound. A sound that was beyond her control to stop, a sound that had worked its way up straight from her heart.
“Your father championed every new Garda Commissioner and Minister for Justice that took office. He knocked on every door and searched between every blade of grass to find you. He made sure they searched the entire area with a fine-tooth comb. As for your mother, your amazing mother…”
Helena smiled at the mention of her mother.
“She set up an organization to help counsel families suffering the effects of missing loved ones, named Porch Light, as many families of the missing leave their front lights on as a beacon, hoping that someday their loved ones will return. She was tireless in her charity work, setting up bases all around the country. Your parents never, ever gave up. Your mother still hasn’t.”
“She’s alive?” Her eyes widened and filled once again.
“Your father, I’m sorry, passed away some years ago.” I allowed her to process the information before moving on. “Your mother is still actively involved with Porch Light. I attended their annual lunch last year and had the pleasure of meeting her and telling her how wonderful I thought she was.” I looked down at my hands and cleared my throat, the role of messenger not always proving easy. “She told me to continue with my efforts, as she wished I could find her beloved daughter for her.”
Helena’s voice was barely a whisper. “Tell me about her.”
And so I forgot about my own worries and settled down by the warmth of the campfire to do just that.
“I never wanted to go on the camping trip.” Helena was exhilarated and full of emotion after I had filled her with knowledge of her mother. “I pleaded with them not to make me go.”
I knew all this but I listened intently, fascinated to hear the story I knew so well, from one of its main characters. It was like seeing my favorite book come alive on stage.
“I’d wanted to go home that weekend. There was a boy…” She laughed and looked at me. “Isn’t it always about a boy?”
I couldn’t relate but smiled all the same.
“A new boy had moved into the house next door to us. Samuel James was his name, the most beautiful creature alive.” Her eyes were bright, as though the fire’s sparks had leaped in and set her pupils alight. “I met him that summer and fell in love and we had the most wonderful time together. Sinful .” She raised her eyebrows and I smiled. “I’d been back at school for two months and I missed him dreadfully. I begged and pleaded with my parents to let me go home but to no avail. They were punishing me,” she said with a sad smile, “I’d been caught cheating in my history exam in the same week I’d been caught smoking behind the gymnasium. Unacceptable, even by my standards.” She looked around the group, “And so I was
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