42. Iris
Iris
Six months later
‘H appy birthday, darling,’ Sam says, rolling over and throwing an arm over me. He presses a kiss to my cheek and I smile.
It might be the happiest birthday I’ve had in a while, certainly the happiest in the last three years.
‘Are you excited for today?’ he asks.
We’re having a thirty-third birthday celebration for me, combined with a housewarming party.
I couldn’t live in Cobal Gully after what happened, so Sam got a transfer back to Melbourne, and we’re living not too far from where we started in Rosehill.
Sam’s working out of the same station as Brent, who has said goodbye to undercover work after being shot.
He made a full recovery but isn’t interested in going back to it, and his wife is very happy about that too.
He also carries around some guilt over blowing off Matteas as a major player.
It’s something he’ll have to work through in time.
‘So excited,’ I say, and I truly mean it. ‘Although I still feel a bit ridiculous celebrating thirty-three.’
Sam cups my cheek, his thumb gently smoothing over my skin. ‘You almost didn’t see thirty-three,’ he says in a whisper. He’s right. It’s certainly one to celebrate.
Not only are all my Rosehill friends and old colleagues coming, but so is Carly and her family, and I can’t wait to give her a big cuddle. We spent less than twenty-four hours together in the warehouse but it bonded us in a way that’ll mean she’ll always be part of my life somehow.
‘We better get up though,’ I say. ‘There’s a lot to do before people arrive.’
Sam pulls me closer and kisses my lips this time. ‘Do we have a few minutes?’
‘Mummm. Daadd,’ a little voice calls, followed by the thundering sound of footsteps down the hallway.
Sam sighs, and I can’t help but laugh.
‘Guess not,’ he says. ‘Little vibe-killers.’
We sit up in bed as Billy comes barging through the door. Knocking before entering is apparently not a thing in this house yet.
‘Mum. Dad,’ he says, puffing as though he’s run a marathon and not just the length of our hallway. ‘Do we get pancakes for Mum’s birthday?’
I look to Sam and he shrugs. ‘Sure, why not.’
Billy fist pumps the air before running back the way he came. His footsteps pause and his head pokes around the doorframe to the room. ‘Happy birthday, Mummy.’
I smile. ‘Thank you, Billy boy.’ But he’s back down the hall before I finish the sentence.
‘You stay in bed,’ Sam says. ‘I’ll bring you breakfast.’
Since everything happened, Sam and I have been better than ever.
It helps when you’re no longer keeping enormous secrets from one another.
Being able to let go of my secret sleuthing and Sam leaving the taskforce has been freeing for our marriage.
Sam will still need to be there for some upcoming trials.
Eva and Gregor have pleaded guilty to some of the charges and won’t be seeing the outside of a prison.
Eva cooperated with the police, resulting in sixteen more children being found in Victoria, plus some arrests in New South Wales and Queensland.
She’d hoped that would reduce some of her charges, but she had upwards of fifty kidnappings to her name, including Archie’s, whose real name is Zac.
Gregor has admitted he ran the east coast of Australia as part of a larger organisation based in America, but claimed he knows nothing about the people above him. Bullshit. It terrifies me that there are more monsters out there.
Zac was reunited with his biological parents a few weeks after everything went down.
The case worker passed my number on to the family because I’d hoped the boys might want to get together to play when Zac was settled.
We’ve had a little bit of back and forth, and Billy insisted I invite them to the party.
They said maybe, but my hopes aren’t high for Billy.
I imagine their family is coming to terms with a lot right now.
I’m scrolling through birthday messages on social media, mostly from people who I haven’t spoken to in years, even decades, when the kids run in and jump on the bed.
Sam isn’t far behind them, carrying a tray with coffee and a tall stack of pancakes.
There’s a candle on top of the pile, and they sing Happy Birthday to me, including the twins’ toddler mish mash of misheard lyrics.
The kids smother me in kisses before digging into my breakfast in bed. I honestly couldn’t care less though. We’re all safe and we’re all together. It’s a lot more than some parents can say on their thirty-third birthday.
Later in the day, people start to arrive for the party.
We’re having a simple get together. A barbecue, some drinks, and there’s plenty of space and sunshine outside where the kids can run around.
Sam had asked me if I wanted an adults-only party where we could hire a room and put a tab on the bar.
But the last thing I want to do is be separated from my kids any more than I have been already.
Charlotte arrives with Emmett and their kids, Imogen and Jordy.
I’ve caught up with the mothers group a few times since returning to Melbourne, but I’m still shocked every time I see how grown up our children are.
To think we were all introduced to each other when the kids were teeny, tiny newborns.
Katya arrives with her boys, Levi and Oscar, plus an apology from Sloane, who is at home with a sick four-year-old. I can’t believe we’re all back here. We’ve come full circle from the hell that was two and a half years ago, and it’s wonderful knowing it’s all over.
Ryan arrives with his new girlfriend and hands me a large bottle of prosecco. ‘Happy birthday, partner,’ he says, and I pull him in for a hug.
I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without the information he shared with me. I’ll be forever grateful to him, and Tina, who I’m no longer in contact with.
Carly’s family arrives with a far too extravagant gift. I wish they realised they don’t owe me anything, and I’d do it all again in a heartbeat and still expect nothing. Carly caught up on most of her school work and will sit any exams she’s missed.
She’s also slowly rebuilt her strength and fitness to play soccer again, but her dad takes her to and from every practise and match without fail. Her team lost the final after she’d been taken, and she’s determined to be playing in the next final with a different result.
Sam hands me a glass of wine and clinks his own glass to mine. ‘Is this what you wanted for the big celebration?’
I scan our backyard, taking in the group of kids playing together in the sandpit, Carly’s family talking with Charlotte, and all the other friends I’ve collected through this short, precious life. ‘This is perfect.’
My phone buzzes and a private number flashes on the screen.
‘More birthday wishes?’ Sam asks.
I shrug. ‘I guess.’
I take my phone into the house where it’s quieter and swipe to answer. ‘Hello,’ I say, trying to hide the apprehension in my voice. I don’t usually like to answer private numbers.
‘Iris?’ A familiar voice asks.
‘Yes.’
‘It’s Amalia. I’m not sure if you remember me?’
How the hell could I forget? The woman kidnapped my friend’s child.
‘I do. What do you want?’
I’m mad this woman has the audacity to call me, let alone on my birthday. Perhaps she doesn’t realise, although knowing her, she probably does.
‘I want to say thank you.’
My mouth drops open and I say nothing.
‘Knowing Lila’s kidnappers are now dead or behind bars brings our family peace. I know you and your husband played a big part in their arrests. So, thank you.’
I don’t know what to say. I didn’t need her “thank you”, but at the same time, I’m glad I could bring another person some closure. Even if I despise them.
‘I didn’t do it for you,’ I say. ‘But I hope this helps Lila when she’s old enough to process it all.’
I hang up. Amalia came into our lives so quickly a few years ago and turned them upside down in an instant. Today, after years of finding our normal, we’re here. Hanging up on her means hanging up on all of that.
Today is about the future.