Gemini Rain (41 page)

Jean-Pi
erre spoke to David abruptly, ‘y
ou had no right to attack Lauren like that! Why did you do it?’

David couldn’t respond even if he didn’t have a hangover he couldn’t explain his actions.

‘And then there’s this!’ Jean-Pierre pulled the magazine from inside his jacket sharply hitting David’s chest with it.

For the first time since Jean-Pierre started his lecture David looked at him then the magazine. 

On the front was a photograph of Jaqueline Orliac, in another one of her se
ductive pouting poses. Inset was
a small photograph of David, when he read the he
adline his whole world crumbled -
‘How We Made Love Under the Threat of Death.’

His heart was racing, now understanding why Lauren wanted to talk to him yesterday, why she was so angry, why she said those words. His life wasn’t worth the risk she had taken.

‘Papa it’s not true,’ his voice croaked.

Jean-Pierre turned away unconvinced, ‘I asked Lauren to go to Ireland,’ he confessed, ‘she has given up everything for you, for this family and this is how you repay her. Go away David, I’ve tolerated a
lot of the stupid ideas you had
but this is it, go away. I can’t talk to you, not now, not ever,’ he was close to tears.

David turned to walk away, totally dejected but then he stopped, Joel was running towards them waving his arms and shouting to them. David felt his heart come to a full stop, ‘Papa,’ he croaked, ‘I think there’s something wrong.’

They arrived at Lauren’s to find the ambulance already there; Veronique was holding both
Emma
and Keith the three possessed pale faces of shock. The children’s little eyes showed confusion, worry and their cries were now big hiccu
p
ping sobs,
Emma
was holding a large brown envelope when she noticed Jean-Pierre was there she turned to him, ‘This is
a copy of
Mammy’s medical records,’ each word was slowly spoken
with a hic-up
.

As he took it he tightly hugged her, ‘Everything’s going to be alright, I promise you.’

Keith then hugged him but wouldn’t let go. David put his hand on
Emma
’s shoulder but she recoiled returning to Veronique. Everybody stood there in disbelief watching as the ambulance crew rushed the stretcher with Lauren to their car continuing giving her heart massage treatment.

As the ambulance drove away Jean-Pierre turned to Veronique and Joel, ‘Veronique take the children to Gabrielle and stay there until I phone, Joel you come with me to the hospital.’

‘Papa, I’ll go with you,’ David started to get into to the car.

‘No!’ Jean-Pierre bellowed, ‘You’ve done enough!’ but then he thought for a minute adding, ‘As you are the only English speaking member of this family, you have the task of telephoning what’s left of her family to see if they care what happens to her.’ 

David didn’t argue immediately returning to the house and going directly to Lauren’s office. He quickly found her personal telephone directory and began searching for telephone numbers. Coming across Paul’s number he wondered should he telephone him too but opted to leave him until last. Trying Gerard’s number first, he just got an answering machine. He winced as he heard Patricia’s voice. Telephoning
Debbie
and Pat, he took a deep breath as his call was answered, ‘Hello
Debbie
this is David Corvasieur. I’m calling about Lauren…’ 

Debbie
immediately agreed to te
lephone everybody in the family
David said he would call Helene to see if she could arrange for them to fly over as soon as possible.

‘But what ab
out Lauren’s father?’ David asked
her, ‘I’m just getting an answering machine, can you or somebody call to his house?’

‘No problem, I know exactly what to do.
Oh God David I cut her short when we last spoke on the phone, it was only because I couldn’t speak with crying.
’

‘I’m sure she knew that Debbie.  Lauren would understand.’

They agreed David would call back with flight details at 12pm. 

As David hung up he noticed a letter sitting in Lauren’s printer, it was addressed to his solicitor Jacques, as he couldn’t resist taking it from the machine he then noticed there were other pages underneath which were addressed to him.

Reading Jacques’s letter first it was notice to quit the house, he threw it to the side of the desk, ‘I’m not letting you send that Lauren Connolly!’ then he commenced reading the second. By the time he finished he was devastated, ‘how wrong could I be!’

Inside the letter Lauren explained everything
-
her life was laid bare, what she was feeling, her sense of loss for him and for Peter, even apologising because he didn’t agree with her actions. It ended, ‘By the time you get this letter, I’ll be gone. Get on with your life for you and your family, don’t bother trying to find us I don’t know where we’re going! Take Care mister, I love you.’ David looked at the date of the letter, it was dated tomorrow she would have left by then.

Chapter 47

Veronique entered Lauren’s house, the front door was ajar and she called out to David, he was upstairs so she followed his voice as he answered her. Finding him packing one of Lauren’s small weekend cases she explained, ‘Gabrielle is worried for you, it’s nearly two hours since the ambulance left.’

David didn’t look at her but continued packing, Veronique took his expression as guilt having being informed of the magazine feature, ‘Jean-Pierre telephoned, I think you should go in as soon as possible David.’ He didn’t respond as he closed the case. ‘I don’t thin
k that’s needed David,’ she cried
softly.

Immediately he turned to her, ‘Are you willing to give up on her that easily?’

Veronique gasped remembering Lauren saying those words about David on hearing they were refused bail, when she told him this she hugged him closely saying, ‘Go to her David, tell her you love her. You live for each other, you’re
soul mates
.’

As the nurse directed David to the hospital room she informed him that Jean-Pierre and Joel were gone for c
offee in one of the canteens, ‘w
ill I inform them you are here?’

‘No,’ David whispered, he was staring at the machines and the ventilator now attached to Lauren. Turning to the nurse, her face answered the question he dared not to ask her.

‘Your father was talking to the doctor, he will inform you of everything,’ she said sympathetically leaving the room.

David walked over to Lauren’s bed, pulling the chair closer it scrapped along the tiled floor he winced, afraid the loud noise might disturb her and the machines gently beeping in the background. Wanting to touch her, to hold her hand he hesitated but then checked himself, ‘I’ve got to let her know I’m here.’

Gently he took her hand, placing the Claddagh engagement ring back on her finger. Holding her hand to his cheek he started to talk to her, everything poured from him, everything he held back from her for the past week and why. Admitting he read her letter and asking her forgiveness he promised to protect her from her mother and anybody else who tried to harm her. Crying and laugh
ing at the same time he said, ‘y
es, I still don’t agree with what you did but I now understand
why, I love you too Mon A
mie.’

As he said those words he felt a hand resting on his shoulder it was Jean-Pierre, ‘It’s going to be alright son,’ he said reassuringly, ‘but you still don’t know the full truth, do you?’ David looked at him baffled as Jean-Pierre commenced telling him of the events in Dublin and where Patricia, Declan and their Colombian counterparts were now residing. ‘She’s safe David. And she’s with a family who loves and care
s
for her dearly, we’ve just got to get her to realise that.’

Chapter 48

Debbie
and Paul arrived at the Maguire family residence, as the door opened they could see Gerard was drunk, ‘What the hell do you two want?’ he slurred beginning to close the door again.

Paul put his foot in the way so Gerard couldn’t
close the door, ‘It
s Lauren
Mr
Maguire, you got to come to Marseille with us.’

As Gerard drank some coffee,
Debbie
volunteered to pack his suitcase as Paul explained all that happened since Patricia and Declan were arrested. Gerard sneered as Paul explained Lauren’s actions, ‘She took the risk of losing everything, Mr. Maguire but was still w
illing to put herself in danger
can you not comprehend what your daughter has achieved!’ Paul was shocked at Gerard’s lack of concern for Lauren he needed to persuade this idiot how important it
was for him to go to Marseille
he needed to do this for Lauren.

‘Patricia told me everything! She caught Peter and Declan in the act, Lauren
was just protecting Peter’s so-
called good name. Lauren set her own mother up! What sort of child could do that to its own parent? Why should I bother going to Marseille?’

Paul stood up leaning across the table, ‘You’re a fo
ol Mr. Maguire,’ he retorted, ‘d
o you
honestly
think we would just take Lauren’s word against Patricia. We have everything, the tapes, the signatures, names and addresses of contacts, everything! Lauren gave the information to us, she got it from your wife’s computer, Patricia’s computer!’ he shouted angrily.

Gerard was taken aback, finally fully comprehending what was being said to
him, he was silent for a while
, then he dejectedly asked, ‘When is the plane leaving?’ 

The private jet landed at Marseille airport late that evening, Claude and Helene were waiting to bring the five concerned visitors directly to the hospital. 
Debbie
instantly recognised them, ‘What’s the latest?’ she asked as she introduced Gerard, Paul and Marc.

Helene nodded negatively, tears beginning t
o form once more in her eyes, ‘t
he doctors are saying that the machines are keeping her alive, she’s incredibly weak and they can’t understand why.’

Debbie
looked at her husband sadly
both knew a decision had to be made.

As they followed Helene and Claude into the hospital room, David and Jean-Pierre greeted them quietly. David informed them of all information and tests the doctors were performing.

‘They’re baffled as to why she’s so weak,’ he said the
n he turned away as he added, ‘t
hey’re suggesting maybe turning off the ventilator tomorrow to see if she’ll breathe without it.’

Debbie
once more looked at Pat then clasped David’s hand, ‘Lauren has a Living Will.’

‘I know that!’ he gritted.

‘Well then respect her wishes as she would respect yours,’ she urged.

David closed his eyes as he told his family of Lauren’s Will.

Jean-Pierre thought for a moment wisel
y asking, ‘h
as she stated a time frame in the Will?’

David was unsure checking with
Debbie
and Pat, seven days they responded
.

‘Then we will wait for the doctor tomorrow, Mr. Maguire will tel
l them to go ahead with removing the ventilator
and Lauren will make the decision for us. Each person must now let her know that her family and close ones are here for her.’  

David arrived back at the farm the following afternoon, Joel and Veronique forci
ng him to leave the hospital, ‘y
ou’ve got to eat, freshen up and prepare
Emma
and Keith, you’ve got to tell them,’ they persuaded him. He didn’t want to leave but knew
Emma
and Keith were now his responsibility.
Debbie
and Pat agreed to go with him
he knew Lauren would want them with the children too.

Everybody was silent eating lunch afraid to speak; afraid the telephone would ring. Once the chore of refue
l
ling was finished David rose bringing
Emma
and Keith to his bedroom. Sitting them on his bed he looked at them both,
‘
what am I going to say? How will I start?
’
  Thinking back to when Francoise died Pierre and Chantal already knew their mother was dead by the time he arrived in Barcelona. He experienced consoling them but now it was different. 
‘
How am I going to explain to these two young children that the doctors were going to do a test that could mean life or death to their mother?
’