And Then There Was You (13 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

We'd started taking daily walks, some out in the countryside, others in the city or through local villages. It had become something to really look forward to. Not only were we getting to spend some real quality time together, we were also getting to see more of our beautiful country. After spending a little bit of time in Portugal, I vowed to start enjoying more of what the world has to offer, and I wanted to start with what was on our doorstep.

That afternoon we were ambling along the cliff tops in the north of Somerset.

'Eve?' Adam suddenly whispered quietly, under his breath.

I dragged my eyes away from the sea view. 'Yeah?' I asked. 'What's up?'

Droplets of water began to fall from the sky and I looked up; dark grey clouds were moving quicker than I'd anticipated. 'Ooh. Looks like a storm's coming,' I said absent-mindedly.

'As I was saying,' Adam said, clearing his throat.

The rain began to come down heavier.

'Adam, we're getting soaked. We'd better go back to the car.'

'Eve, I'm trying to...'

I turned back to him, and he was crouching down on one knee. 'Adam?' I asked, my heart fluttering in my chest. 'Oh,' I put my hands over my mouth and squealed as he pulled out a little box from his pocket. All the while the rain poured down in buckets.

'Evelyn. Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?'

'Holy crap,' I yelled. 'Yes! Yes! Yes!' I answered as he stood up and pulled me into a long hug.

'The ring, the ring?' I said, eager to get a good look.

Adam laughed and stepped backwards. He opened the box and handed it to me.

'Oh Adam, it's exquisite. It must have cost a fortune,' I chuckled, putting it on my finger. It fitted perfectly, the solitary diamond twinkling even without the sunlight to dance on it.

'Adam I'm so happy. I love you so much.'

'I love you too, Eve,' he said, putting the empty box back in his pocket before he picked me up and twirled me around in the rain, then he put me down and dipped me before he started singing.

We danced together in the rain, Adam’s voice crooning the lyrics of Singing in the Rain instead of Gene Kelly’s, and I felt as though my heart might burst with love for him.

I laughed, watching as he did his little dance routine before we ran back to the car. We fell inside laughing. Eventually we sat, quietly looking at each other. Our breathing had caused the windows to fog up.

He leaned forward and kissed me gently on the lips. A kiss that deepened until his hands were all over me, inside my blouse, unclasping the bra so that my breasts fell into his palms. He bent forward and took a nipple into his mouth, gently toying with it with his teeth. I groaned and moved my hands over him until they reached his hardness, tight against his jeans. Groans of delight echoed through the car while I carefully removed my jeans and panties and then straddled him. It wasn't easy, but the passion was too much to stop and head home. I needed him. He needed me. Simple as that.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

It was surreal waking up with a grin on my face every day. I had become so accustomed to dreading the day ahead and what kind of mood Matt would be in when I woke. But now, Adam was always there with me, always smiling. Always loving. I had fallen deeply in love and it felt amazing. I should've known stormy seas lay ahead. I should have expected it. Life that sweet couldn't really last, could it?

We were awoken by the sound of the phone ringing. Turning to look at the bedside clock, we panicked. It was half past two in the morning, and that was never a good sign.

'What's going on?' I moaned, rubbing my eyes.

'The phone,' he said, jumping out of bed at breakneck speed and rustling through the jeans he'd been wearing the day before. 'My mobile,' he muttered.

'Amy?' he said, trying to sound calm. 'What's the matter?'

He sat down on the edge of the bed and I inched closer, putting my hands on his shoulders. I could feel his muscles tensing.

'Oh God. I'll be right there,' he turned to look at me and corrected himself immediately. 'We'll be right there.' He threw the phone on to the bed and began quickly dressing.'It's Lisa. We need to get to the hospital right away.'

'What's wrong? What's happened?' I cried, moving deftly to the wardrobe to grab my jeans and a jumper.

'They're not sure yet. She was complaining of pain and then she collapsed. An ambulance took her to the hospital,' he said, his eyes welling with tears.

'Oh God, Adam. Don't worry. She's in good hands over there.'

He nodded and ran out of the room, and I followed him the second I had my clothes on.

oOo

It was the smell that got to me again, illness combined with intensive cleaning products. Having rushed out of the house without drinking anything, my stomach rolled over with nausea. But perhaps it wasn't just that; it was the memory of the last time I stepped through those doors. I tried to block it from my mind. I was happy. I didn't need reminding of that awful betrayal.

'Lisa Grove, please,' said Adam to the nurse on reception.

'I'm sorry?' she asked as she checked the monitor and shook her head. 'Nobody by that name has been admitted.'

Adam shook his head. 'No, sorry, not Grove. Lisa Oakwood.'

'Yes, of course,' she said, pointing to the screen. 'She's having some tests done at the moment. If you head on up to the waiting room on the third floor, the doctors will let you know as soon as they can.'

Adam nodded and turned to walk away. I tried to keep up.

When we reached the third floor waiting room, a stunning young woman with a mass of dark curls rushed towards us.

'Daddy,' she cried.

Adam opened his arms wide and pulled her to him. 'Amy, sweetheart. Are you alright?' he asked, as she sobbed.

She shook her head. 'It was awful, Dad. She came into our room c...c-complaining of p-p-pain, and then she just c-c-collapsed.'

I stood helplessly beside them, as he rubbed her back tenderly.

'Don't worry, she's in the best place, right now. She's being looked after here. We just have to be patient for a while, okay?' he asked, drawing away from her so he could see her face.

Her eyes were red and swollen.

I watched as his own lips trembled, and he pulled her back towards him.

A pretty girl with short blonde hair, about the same age as Amy, was standing a few feet in front of us. She was twisting a pretty green cotton scarf around her fingers. I smiled and stepped towards her. 'You must be Clare,' I said quietly.

She nodded. 'And you're Eve?'

I nodded and we both smiled.

'Shall we go and get some coffee for everyone?' I asked, turning and noticing Amy's slightly protruding pregnant belly. 'Or tea?'

Clare let out a deep sigh and nodded. 'I think that's a good idea.'

I rubbed Adam's arm as we walked past them and went to find the nearest cafe or drinks machine.

'I think there's a cafeteria down there,' Clare said sadly.

'Yes, I think so. Are you alright?' I asked.

She nodded, and then shook her head. 'No, not really. It was a bit scary, the ambulance coming and everything. I thought she was going to die. Amy was hysterical.'

'I'm sure she was,' I said as we arrived in a small cafeteria, where the lights were off. 'Looks closed.'

'There's a machine though.' She pointed further down the corridor. 'But I don't want to go back yet, not just yet.'

'I understand. Let's sit for a minute, shall we?'

Clare looked at me gratefully and nodded as we approached a row of four seats. Sitting down, I said nothing for a while, thinking Clare probably needed to process whatever it was that was happening, but she spoke up first. 'I think Lisa might have been ill for a while, Eve.'

I looked up, surprised. 'You do? Why do you think that?'

She shrugged. 'I have this thing.'

'Thing?' I asked, intrigued.

She blushed. 'Her aura was changing colour.'

'Oh. You can see people's auras?'

She nodded slowly. 'I don't tell many people, because they think I'm nuts.'

'I don't think you're nuts.'

She looked at me with wide, watery eyes. 'It's my fault,' she whispered.

'What do you mean, it's your fault?'

Clare broke down in tears. 'I saw her aura changing, and I didn't tell anyone. I should have said something earlier. I could have prevented this from happening,' she gushed.

'Oh Clare,' I said, putting my arm around her shoulders. 'It's not your fault at all. Don't blame yourself. You weren't to know this would happen. Besides, she's in the best possible place right now, isn't she?'

Clare sniffed and nodded. 'I noticed it was different yesterday, and I didn't say anything.'

'Only yesterday?' I asked.

She nodded at me. 'I haven't seen her for a few months, so we drove up from Bournemouth to visit.'

'Then you really couldn't have done anything about it. Please don't blame yourself, sweetie. Amy needs you to be strong for her right now. Can you do that?'

Clare sat upright and nodded, wiping her eyes. 'You're right,' she said.

'Do you want to wait a few more minutes before we go back?' I asked.

Clare shook her head, standing up. 'No, let's go and see if they're okay. Oh, almost forgot the coffee.'

'Don't worry. I hadn't. I'm desperate for one.' I smiled.

Clare smiled back at me. 'I know now why Adam's aura has changed too.'

'It has?' I asked, as I pressed the buttons for a cup of coffee.

'Oh yes, most definitely. It's brighter than it has been for a long time,' she said, as I handed her two of the coffees so I could get a third, followed by a cup of tea for Amy.

oOo

There was little to do but wait for news, so we sat, occasionally dropping off to sleep for a few minutes before some noise or other woke us.

Amy sat beside Adam; they held on to each other's hands tightly. Clare sat beside Amy, holding her other hand, and I sat away from them all, feeling like I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Somehow I felt like I didn't belong there, like a mistress or something. Why I was feeling guilty, I had no idea. Standing up, I walked past them all. Nobody said a word.

I needed some fresh air, so I walked back through the hospital, down several flights of stairs and out into the morning sunlight.  I blinked slowly several times, adjusting to the natural brightness after the fluorescence of the hospital, and went and sat on a bench near the entrance.

Breathing deeply, I shivered and wrapped my arms around myself, wishing that this wasn't happening. That we were still tucked up in bed because Lisa was in perfect health. But that wasn't the case, was it? She'd collapsed. I hoped that it was something easily fixed. Lisa had become my friend; she was one of the most wonderful people I'd ever met, and we'd had so much fun together lately. But she was Amy and Jack's mother. They needed her. And Adam needed her too.

His kids didn't even know me, on the other hand; Adam and I had only been together a few months and hadn't had the chance to meet them yet. It was crazy but they'd just been too busy, and then when they were able to visit, I had to go and do several book signings around the country.

I sighed and looked across the parking lot as several cars came and went. I shivered and was about to stand up when I saw a familiar face in the distance. I recognised it from the photos around the house. He was running through the car park, his face registering shock.

'Jack!' I yelled, but he carried on as if he hadn't heard me. 'Jack!' I shouted even louder.

He turned his head and slowed down before turning and walking quickly towards me. 'Eve?' he asked and I nodded.

'I'm sorry we have to meet under such horrible circumstances.'

He nodded. 'Yes, I know. Is there any news yet? Is she alright? Where's Dad and Amy?'

'We're still waiting. Your dad hasn't seen her yet. Come on, I'll take you to them.'

'Thanks,' he mumbled.

We walked quickly, neither of us saying anything, until I led him into the third floor waiting room.

'Dad,' he sighed, rushing towards his father, who opened his eyes and released Amy's hand as they both stood up. All three of them hugged.

'Mr. Oakwood,' came a voice from behind them.

'Yes,' Adam replied, neglecting to correct the doctor. 'How is she? Is she okay?'

The doctor said, 'She's comfortable. Would you like to come with me?'

Adam nodded and disappeared.

Amy and Jack looked at each other. 'What about us?' Amy said after they'd gone.

'Don't worry, hon,' said Clare. 'I'm sure you'll be able to go and see her afterwards.'

I sighed and sat down, thinking about what the doctor had just said
.
She's comfortabl
e
. Wasn’t that what they said when someone was close to death? I gulped and tried not to think about it as I watched the three youngsters in front of me.

Please don't take her.