CHAPTER 29
Kate stood in the sweltering August Spanish sunshine. Her white wide brimmed hat sheltering her from the suns rays. She had chosen a red sundress for the occasion which had been a favourite of Dans’, although she had to have it taken in, she knew he would have liked her to wear it.
They had already been bused to the airport and filed past the fountain which now stood where exit D use to be. This was where the final bomb had exploded. Kate had felt the pain rushing back as she had approached the terminal building where it happened. Even though it had been completely rebuilt and did not resemble the old one she couldn’t help the anxiety she felt as they drove towards the area. She managed to file past the fountain and place a white and a red rose at the base along with all the other family members. This had taken more than three hours.
Now they stood in a park in the centre of Marbella, ‘Parque Arroyo de la Represa’. Everyone gathered for prayers said in Spanish and English. There was a memorial with a large marble wall listing the names of all those killed. Below this 176 candles in individual Perspex holders were laid out in rows. Each had their own button to light the candle within. These symbolized the children who had lost their lives. One large candle stood tall over the small ones, to protect them. This represented the adults who lost their lives. Jeremy had volunteered this year to turn on the light for this candle. The list of children’s names was being called out and Kate composed herself. She was trying hard not to cry. She had promised Alex she wouldn’t embarrass him.
‘Here goes baby’ she said silently as his name was called and she made her way to light the candle. She pressed the button and placed a single white rose at its base. She stood and blew a kiss to heaven ‘I love you’ she whispered.
Jack and Rose watched Kate walk purposefully through the stifling heat and felt proud of her. She had taken a huge step in coming to this memorial and they were putting a lot of hope and wishful thinking into the meaning of it all. When the ceremony came to an end Kate turned to them.
‘Thank you both’ she kissed them on the cheek and smiled, wiping the tears from her cheeks. ‘I’m glad I came.’
‘There’s nothing to thank us for Katie, you did it all yourself.’ Jack patted her back.
‘Well done love we’re very proud. We know how hard this was for you,’ Rose said.
‘And for you guys too.’ Kate, Jack and Rose started moving towards the car park with the congregation. She looked around the crowd.
‘Where is Jeremy?’
‘He’s making his way back with some of the Detectives. Two of the Irish guys came over to have some meetings and take in the memorial as well.’
‘Is he staying in the same hotel as us?’
‘Yes, I told them we’d see them for dinner later. Will you join us love?’
‘I’d like that, thanks Dad.
Jack squeezed Roses hand, happy their Katie was coming back to them.
They had already been bused to the airport and filed past the fountain which now stood where exit D use to be. This was where the final bomb had exploded. Kate had felt the pain rushing back as she had approached the terminal building where it happened. Even though it had been completely rebuilt and did not resemble the old one she couldn’t help the anxiety she felt as they drove towards the area. She managed to file past the fountain and place a white and a red rose at the base along with all the other family members. This had taken more than three hours.
Now they stood in a park in the centre of Marbella, ‘Parque Arroyo de la Represa’. Everyone gathered for prayers said in Spanish and English. There was a memorial with a large marble wall listing the names of all those killed. Below this 176 candles in individual Perspex holders were laid out in rows. Each had their own button to light the candle within. These symbolized the children who had lost their lives. One large candle stood tall over the small ones, to protect them. This represented the adults who lost their lives. Jeremy had volunteered this year to turn on the light for this candle. The list of children’s names was being called out and Kate composed herself. She was trying hard not to cry. She had promised Alex she wouldn’t embarrass him.
‘Here goes baby’ she said silently as his name was called and she made her way to light the candle. She pressed the button and placed a single white rose at its base. She stood and blew a kiss to heaven ‘I love you’ she whispered.
Jack and Rose watched Kate walk purposefully through the stifling heat and felt proud of her. She had taken a huge step in coming to this memorial and they were putting a lot of hope and wishful thinking into the meaning of it all. When the ceremony came to an end Kate turned to them.
‘Thank you both’ she kissed them on the cheek and smiled, wiping the tears from her cheeks. ‘I’m glad I came.’
‘There’s nothing to thank us for Katie, you did it all yourself.’ Jack patted her back.
‘Well done love we’re very proud. We know how hard this was for you,’ Rose said.
‘And for you guys too.’ Kate, Jack and Rose started moving towards the car park with the congregation. She looked around the crowd.
‘Where is Jeremy?’
‘He’s making his way back with some of the Detectives. Two of the Irish guys came over to have some meetings and take in the memorial as well.’
‘Is he staying in the same hotel as us?’
‘Yes, I told them we’d see them for dinner later. Will you join us love?’
‘I’d like that, thanks Dad.
Jack squeezed Roses hand, happy their Katie was coming back to them.
***
‘Kate darling you look beautiful’ Jeremy and the two detectives were already seated at the dining table when they walked in.
‘Thank you Jeremy.’ Kate smiled affectionately and kissed his cheek.
Jeremy kissed Rose hello and shook Jacks hand.
‘Rose, you know John and Patrick,’ Jeremy nodded at the detectives as Jack held Roses chair for her.
‘Yes, yes. Lovely to see you both again. Thank you for coming over to the memorial. It really is very thoughtful of you.’
‘Kate, you were never officially introduced to these two fine men. John Dillon and Patrick Cleefold, this is the delightful Kate MaGuire,’ Jeremy smiled affectionatly at Kate.
‘Very nice to meet you both,’ smiling Kate shook their hands, removed her jacket and sat down.
Kate wanted to acknowledge why they were all there.
‘I know you gents have been a great help to us all and I haven’t been the most receptive person over the past two years. So I just want to say, thank you. You’re hard work and genuine concern for my whole family is very touching. I really do appreciate it. I just haven’t been able to show it before now,’ John and Patrick looked embarrassed and John opened his mouth but Kate cut him off. She took her wine glass in hand and raised it in a toast.
‘Sorry John, before you say anything I’d like to propose a toast to you both. For going above and beyond. Thank you.’
Everyone around the table lifted their glasses and toasted the two men.
‘Above and beyond,’ they said in chorus.
‘Now, I’m not sure about you lot but I’m starving,’ Kate eagerly opened the menu as she smiled contently.
‘Thank you Jeremy.’ Kate smiled affectionately and kissed his cheek.
Jeremy kissed Rose hello and shook Jacks hand.
‘Rose, you know John and Patrick,’ Jeremy nodded at the detectives as Jack held Roses chair for her.
‘Yes, yes. Lovely to see you both again. Thank you for coming over to the memorial. It really is very thoughtful of you.’
‘Kate, you were never officially introduced to these two fine men. John Dillon and Patrick Cleefold, this is the delightful Kate MaGuire,’ Jeremy smiled affectionatly at Kate.
‘Very nice to meet you both,’ smiling Kate shook their hands, removed her jacket and sat down.
Kate wanted to acknowledge why they were all there.
‘I know you gents have been a great help to us all and I haven’t been the most receptive person over the past two years. So I just want to say, thank you. You’re hard work and genuine concern for my whole family is very touching. I really do appreciate it. I just haven’t been able to show it before now,’ John and Patrick looked embarrassed and John opened his mouth but Kate cut him off. She took her wine glass in hand and raised it in a toast.
‘Sorry John, before you say anything I’d like to propose a toast to you both. For going above and beyond. Thank you.’
Everyone around the table lifted their glasses and toasted the two men.
‘Above and beyond,’ they said in chorus.
‘Now, I’m not sure about you lot but I’m starving,’ Kate eagerly opened the menu as she smiled contently.
***
Kate returned home from Spain and turned her key in the front door.
‘Last time I did this trip I had just lost you guys and hobbled in here on crutches’ she looked up to the ceiling and spoke to Dan & Alex. ‘I feel a little better this time. Dad was right you know. I’m really glad I went.’ She stood in her hallway and closed the front door to the world outside.
‘I’m not forgetting you guys. Don’t ever think that. Ok?’ she implored. Moving into the kitchen she put on the kettle and made a sandwich all the while talking to her two boys. ‘I didn’t like going to the airport but I liked the memorial they have created. Dad’s done a good job hasn’t he? They’ve worked hard on it. I’m getting more involved now. The Spanish police arrested some suspects while we were over there, isn’t that great? They’re not telling us much but it’s certainly a start.’
Kate sat at the kitchen table with her tea and cheese sandwich.
‘I love these times when everything is quite and I get to talk to you two properly I hadn’t realized before how it gives me a nice feeling of peace. Dad and some of the detectives are coming over tomorrow and they’re going to bring me up to date. We are starting another media campaign and I’m going to do some interviews. I hope you’d approve Dan. Jeremy said he felt you absolutely would.’ She finished her supper and put the crockery in the sink.
‘Goodnight you two. Look after each other. Love you both.’ she blew two kisses into the air turned off the light and closed the kitchen door before climbing the stairs.
‘Last time I did this trip I had just lost you guys and hobbled in here on crutches’ she looked up to the ceiling and spoke to Dan & Alex. ‘I feel a little better this time. Dad was right you know. I’m really glad I went.’ She stood in her hallway and closed the front door to the world outside.
‘I’m not forgetting you guys. Don’t ever think that. Ok?’ she implored. Moving into the kitchen she put on the kettle and made a sandwich all the while talking to her two boys. ‘I didn’t like going to the airport but I liked the memorial they have created. Dad’s done a good job hasn’t he? They’ve worked hard on it. I’m getting more involved now. The Spanish police arrested some suspects while we were over there, isn’t that great? They’re not telling us much but it’s certainly a start.’
Kate sat at the kitchen table with her tea and cheese sandwich.
‘I love these times when everything is quite and I get to talk to you two properly I hadn’t realized before how it gives me a nice feeling of peace. Dad and some of the detectives are coming over tomorrow and they’re going to bring me up to date. We are starting another media campaign and I’m going to do some interviews. I hope you’d approve Dan. Jeremy said he felt you absolutely would.’ She finished her supper and put the crockery in the sink.
‘Goodnight you two. Look after each other. Love you both.’ she blew two kisses into the air turned off the light and closed the kitchen door before climbing the stairs.
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