Page 53 of They Found Us

Katie begins by explaining why the Martelé wanted us dead. That it was them who kidnapped her back in London and that I had killed their leader, so this was their revenge. She explains how I had planned it all to keep her safe and that she had no knowledge of it until it happened.

“I was heartbroken. I lost everyone I loved. I wanted to tell you, but I had to keep you safe. If you had known, you would have been in danger.”

“There must have been another way. You could have gone to the police, couldn’t you?”

“Dad, please let me finish,” Katie pleads. “There was no other option. But now that things have changed, we have been able to return.”

“But are you safe now?” Heather asks.

“Yes, we are safe now,” I reply.

“You did this!” Katie’s dad stands in anger. “You put my daughter’s life in danger. Then you took her away!”

Marco steps forward, ready to restrain him. I put my hand out for him to stand down and give him the nod to bring down the boys. I think we need to diffuse the situation before it gets to be too much.

“Dad, please. Leo did all this to protect me. He saved me.”

Katie’s mother then starts to argue with her dad. “Can’t you just be grateful to have your daughter back?”

“Mummy?”

Mark’s voice interrupts the arguing. He runs to his mother, and Katie picks him up and gives him a cuddle. Katie’s parents watch in shock.

“Mum, Dad. This is your grandson Mark.”

Katie’s mum starts to cry, and the angry red drains from Katie’s dad’s face.

“And this is Zander,” I say, having taken him from Van’s arms.

Heather immediately goes to Katie and Mark. Tears stream from her eyes.

“Hello, Mark.” Heather sniffs through tears.

Marks shyly hides his face in Katie’s shoulder, probably a little taken aback by Heather’s emotion. Katie wraps her free arm around her mother.

“Mark, this is your grandma. She’s not sad. She’s just very happy to meet you.”

Mark lifts his head slowly to look at her.

“It’s okay, Mark. It’s a lot to take in for me too.” Heather smiles at my eldest son.

“Would you like to hold Zander?” I say to let Mark have a minute to adjust.

“I’d love to.” Heather takes Zander from my arms, and her face lights up. “He’s got your nose, Katie,” she says as she kisses to top of his head. “Look, Paul. Look how much he looks like Katie when she was a baby.” Heather turns to Paul, who is still staring at the situation in front of him. His mouth opens slightly, like he’s not quite believing what he is seeing.

“Come on, Grandad. Come and meet you grandsons,” Heather pushes him.

For a minute, I think he is going to refuse, but then he laughs.

“Grandad. Me, a grandad.” His face breaks into a big smile, and he stands and joins us.

Zander is then passed between each grandparent, both of them wanting to hold him as much as possible. They both slowly gain Mark’s trust and have him showing them his latest favourite toy, a train that Alga and Serigo got for him when we arrived.

After a few hours of catching up, Mark is playing in the garden with his new grandad, and Zander is being given copious amounts of cuddles.

I can see my wife is getting tired, so I interrupt. “We know this has been a lot to take in. It will take a long time for us all to adjust. But we would both be very happy if you would be part of our future, especially the boys. I have booked you in at a nearby hotel, and we would like it if you would join us again tomorrow.”

Katie smiles at me, appreciating my words. Paul and Heather are grateful for my invitation and excitedly promise to return tomorrow. I’m relieved that Katie’s parents finally know the truth, and I’m happy it went as well as can be expected for Katie. Hopefully she can start to relax more now.

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