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‘And it appears that I have been conspiring with Dr West behind your back.’ Dr Patel held out an envelope to Thea. ‘I have a letter for you, from someone I think you know. It is in Bangla, but I can translate it for you if you wish.’
‘My Bangla’s pretty rusty…’ Thea opened the envelope and a photograph fell out. She bent to pick it up, staring at it in disbelief.
‘You recognise her?’ Dr Patel smiled.
Thea looked again at the picture. A mother with her three-year-old child. The little girl had dark curls and a bright, cheeky smile.
‘I don’t…’ Thea let out a little scream and almost dropped the photo. Lucas felt her sag against him and he supported her to an empty seat.
‘It’s Ayesha.’ There were bright tears in Thea’s eyes as she turned her face up to him. ‘Please, tell me it’s her.’
‘It’s her.’
‘But… Dr Patel, thank you so much. But how?’
Dr Patel sat down next to her. ‘Dr West has been making enquiries on your behalf. He engaged a solicitor in Bangladesh, who traced Ayesha to my clinic.’
‘She’s ill?’
‘Ayesha is well. So is her child. She works at the clinic.’
Thea looked at the photograph again then held it to her heart, her hands clasped over it as if it was the most precious thing in the world. ‘Thank you. Thank you so much.’ Tears spilled from her eyes. ‘Look, Lucas. Look at her little girl. She’s so pretty.’
Lucas thought that he had already shared everything there was to share with Thea, but he couldn’t have been more wrong. This moment was new, and more precious than diamonds.
Dr Patel was laughing as Thea turned to her, a barrage of questions on her lips. ‘Yes, she is happy, and so is her child. She finished her schooling at the women’s shelter and applied to work at my clinic. She tells me that her choice of career is in no small part inspired by the woman doctor who helped her escape her husband. She works as a ward auxiliary, but she studies also. Her dream is to become a qualified nurse.’
‘Oh.’ Thea’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘She did it. She told me that she wanted to be a nurse. Does she need anything? Does she need books, or help with tuition fees?’ She broke off, her attention suddenly caught by something behind Lucas. When he turned to see what it was, he saw Dr Nair staring at them.
He must have heard. Thea straightened, meeting his gaze. There were no words, but it was Dr Nair who looked away first. Despite the group of people who had gathered to talk to him, he turned and hurried out of the auditorium.
* * *
‘Who’s right, Lucas? Dr Patel or Dr Nair?’ Dr Patel had excused herself, to speak to one of the other delegates, but she had promised to join Thea and Lucas for tea later. Thea sat, unable to take her eyes off the photograph of Ayesha.
‘I think Dr Patel’s right. I think that we all have to preserve the good things about our own societies and change what’s bad.’ He shook his head. ‘But it’s what you think that matters. Was what you did wrong?’
It was the question she’d asked herself again and again, and had never been able to answer. Now she could. ‘If I had it all to do again, I’d do it. Being locked up, being shout
ed at and vilified. It was all worth it just to be able to see this photograph. I know I did the right thing. Ayesha wouldn’t have survived much longer if she’d stayed with her husband.’
‘There’s your answer.’
‘I’m so happy, Lucas. I can never thank you enough for all you’ve done.’
He smiled. ‘Why don’t you read your letter?’
‘Not here. Can we go somewhere quiet? I want to read it to you.’
People were still leaving the auditorium and Lucas guided Thea through the crush of people in the lobby and into the lift. Suddenly they were alone.
He reached for her, catching her hand in his and drawing it slowly to his lips. Maybe it was the movement of the lift that propelled her into his arms. Maybe it was just that the world was tilting and Lucas was the only constant thing she could find.
‘Where are we going?’
‘No idea. You were the one standing by the lift buttons.’ He wrapped his arms comfortably around her waist.
Thea twisted to see the floor indicators. ‘Penthouse lounge.’
