Her Guardians Lost (Her Guardians Trilogy #2) (21 page)

“I just get a sense for people, I think. I was a child, but I could see it in you…even then.”

Simon smiled and touched my shoulder. “You were such a sweet child, Cassie. In a sense, you reminded me of my sister.” He frowned. I could tell the memory of that night was as fresh for him as it was for me.

“Were you with him when it happened?”

He shook his head. “No. It was considered too dangerous. The men robbing the bank were armed, so he made arrangements for another officer to take me home. Little did I realise that would be the last time I would see him alive.”

I smiled gently at him. Briefly staring back at Terrance’s grave, I wondered what his life would have been like now if our hands had touched. I know I would have foreseen him get shot that night, and I would have done anything in my power to prevent it.

I suddenly wondered something. “When did you remember?” I gazed upon his face and saw a hint of guilt spread across him.

“To be honest, it was at the hospital when I saw your uncle. I knew I recognised him from somewhere and it bugged me all day. I started doing some digging and I found out about your mum and dad. I’m so sorry I didn’t realise. I tried telling you, but there never seemed to be the right moment. I have something for you, though. I brought it with me today.”

I stood up and watched as Simon walked towards his car. I followed behind him, wondering what it could be.

He opened the door with one swift tug and quickly rummaged in the back. He suddenly pulled out a teddy bear.

“Mr. Wigglesby!” I cried as I raced towards a smiling Simon and grabbed the teddy bear.

“I knew it had a funny name like that, but I couldn’t remember what it was.”

I felt the euphoria wash over me as the tears stung my eyes. I couldn’t help it. I grabbed Simon in my arms and hugged him for dear life. “Thank you so much for looking after him for me.”

Simon pulled away and I saw the emotion in his eyes. This was obviously affecting him as much as it was me. “I’m sorry you didn’t get him sooner. I found him on the floor of the hospital that night and I recognised it as yours. I asked the nurse where you were and she told me your uncle had taken you home. I didn’t know what else to do so I asked my uncle to look into it for me, but then he got called away.” Simon paused, swallowing hard. “Well…you know the rest. By the time everything had happened, I had kept the bear for so long, I didn’t know what else to do. To be honest, I was a little selfish. I had just lost my sister, then my uncle. Mr. Wigglesby seemed to offer me solace somehow.”

Seeing the smile on his face as he stared at the bear had me wondering. Without thinking, I handed the bear back. “Here, you keep him. You’ve had him longer than I have, so I think he needs you more than me.”

Placing his hand on the bear, he pushed him back towards my chest with a shake of his head. “No, Cassie. I don’t need him anymore. He needs you now—and I think, if you’re honest, you need him now, too.”

So Simon knew I was sad, but he didn’t question why. All I could do was smile and offer him another hug. He accepted it and we stood there for a while, sharing our losses with each other.

We pulled away from each other and he told me he had to get back to work. I wasn’t sure what was going on between Simon and me, but we just seemed to get closer and closer. The lives we had lost, the moments of grief and joy…we shared them. I knew Simon was my dearest friend. He certainly had me as a friend for life.

With a contented sigh, I looked down at Mr. Wigglesby, then nuzzled into his fur. He felt just how I remembered from all those years ago. I smiled at him and flicked his nose with my finger. “Well, let’s be going, Mr. Wigglesby. Poor Simeon is waiting in the car for us, and I’m dying for you to meet him.”

I swiftly tucked him into my chest and walked back towards the car. Although this was a sad day, I couldn’t help the overwhelming feeling of gratitude. I had great friends and family who would do anything for me, no matter what. How could I not be grateful for that?

As I got to the car, I swiftly pulled the handle and slid myself in. “Sorry I took so long. I didn’t mean to.”

Simeon shook his head with a wink. “That’s okay, Cassie. Did you manage to do what you had to?”

Nodding, I stared down at Mr. Wigglesby with a smile. “Yes, thank you.”

“Who’s this you got?” he asked, pointing towards the teddy.

For some strange reason, I fell silent. I wanted to tell him the name, but I couldn’t get the words out. In the end, I just said, “He’s a teddy bear. Simon gave him to me.” It confused me as to why I felt the need to hide what he was to me.

“Are you ready to go?” Simeon asked, breaking me out of my trance.

“Oh, yes—sorry. It’s been quite a day. I just hope I did her justice.”

Grabbing my hand, he tenderly kissed it. “You did really well, Cassie. I’m sure her mother would be really proud.” Pausing for a moment, he smiled cheekily. “Listen, if you behave yourself and are really good, I may let you shine my truncheon later.”

All sad thoughts were gone as my mouth curved up into a wicked grin. Slapping his hand away, I tut-tutted. “You’re disgusting, Simeon.”

He shrugged indignantly. “Well, it worked, didn’t it?”

“What?”

“You don’t feel so sad now, do you?” He smiled, making it all better.

Letting the warmth of his presence wash over me, I sighed. “No. Not anymore.”

“Good,” he said, starting the car. “Maybe my magic is working, after all.”

I shook my head and stared out of the window. The rain was starting to fall, bringing a new sadness that Stephen couldn’t be here with me.

The car ride was silent as I sat and thought about all our memories. Stephen was one of those people who were unforgettable. Everything I wanted wrapped up in one package.

“I know you think about him a lot.”

Turning toward Simeon, I nodded, then turned to stare back out of the window.

“If it makes you feel any better, I know for a fact that he’s always thinking about you. He will never leave your side, Cassie. I can guarantee it.”

Sighing, I closed my eyes, gripping them tight so the tears didn’t run. “I know, Simeon. Thank you for telling me. I just miss him so much.”

I fell silent again, staring out of the window as I felt Simeon gently grip my hand. I was more than willing to take his support.

Once at the pub, most of us sat down for a drink. Callum and Paul had to go to work, and Simon had to visit his mother in the hospital. It was just me, Simeon, Billy, Chris, Lisa-Marie, and Catherine. It was hard being there. I even ordered a glass of wine instead of my normal brandy and coke because, for some reason, it felt as though I was tainting his memory by drinking that in here.

“I hear you’re getting married in a few weeks.” Lisa-Marie smiled at Billy and Chris.

“Yes…only three weeks, four days, and twenty hours to go.” Billy held up his glass and took a drink.

“You’re not counting at all, are you, Uncle Billy?” I chuckled.

Seeing Chris roll his eyes, I nudged him. “I was thinking about your wedding the other day. I thought how cool it would be if you got married inside that phone box. You know, the one where it all started?”

Laughing, I took a swig of my wine, realising they weren’t laughing with me. Putting my drink down, I studied their faces. They both looked at each other, then at me, then back at each other, a smile on their faces.

“That’s a brilliant idea,” Chris said.

“What? I was only joking. You can’t get married in a phone box.”

“Why not? I heard a couple got married on a roller coaster once. Why not a phone box? We can still have the blessing in the church, but the wedding can be in the phone box.”

Billy looked like he’d just won the lottery. “It’s a brilliant idea.”

I sat there with my mouth open. “You’re serious about this, aren’t you?”

Catherine seemed to jump up and down with excitement. “I think it’s a fabulous idea.”

“You have to come, sweetie,” Billy said.

“Oh, can we? We’d love to.”

“Yes. I’ll give Cassie an invite and she can give it to the two of you. The more the merrier.”

I was wondering if I had suddenly entered the Twilight Zone. “But you can’t arrange for the minister to come to a phone box to marry you, can you?”

Waving his hand in the air, Chris said, “My brother can marry us.”

“What?”

“He’s been ordained. He wanted to perform it anyway. What do you say, Billy? Shall we get hitched in a phone box and have my brother perform the ceremony?”

Billy threw his hands in the air, laughing. “Oh, hell. Why not?”

Shaking my head, I decided that whatever makes them happy, makes me happy. Raising my glass, my lips curved into a smile. “To the phone box!” I shouted.

“To the phone box!” everyone else chimed in.

“And to Lisa Bellmont, God rest her soul.”

Everyone looked at Simeon, who had reminded us of why we were there. I didn’t think we meant to do it on purpose. We just seemed to get carried away with wedding talk. We were supposed to be saying farewell to a little girl who was ripped from this life way too early.

“To Lisa Bellmont,” I said, a hint of sadness in my voice. It wasn’t easy having to say goodbye to someone so young, but I knew she was being taken care of now.

“So,” Simeon began. “A phone box, eh? That brings on a whole new meaning of ‘giving someone a ring’.” He curved his lips into the cheekiest smile, setting everyone to giggling.

Billy’s eyes widened even further. “How ironic is that? It’s almost fate. The only problem I have is I can’t be the one to take any photographs.”

“I’m sure we can find you someone, Billy. You must know a lot of other photographers in your line of work.”

“I’ve actually found one already. His name is Alexander—second best to me, of course.”

Everyone laughed, but I sat there, rooted to my seat. All the colour had drained from my face as the name was whispered in my ear.
Alexander.

“Cassie, are you okay?”

Blinking rapidly, I looked up to see everybody looking at me, worried. “What?”

Leaning over, Billy touched my face. “Are you all right? You look pale. It’s almost as if you’ve seen a ghost.”

“You
can’t
see ghosts, can you?” A little crease in Catherine’s face could be seen as she waited for my answer.

I could finally breathe again. Catherine’s question had stopped me from panicking “No,” I replied, smiling. “I can’t see ghosts.”

“I bet that would be cool, though, wouldn’t it?”

I looked at Catherine for a moment before replying. I couldn’t see how anyone would find seeing a ghost as cool. “I think it would frighten me to death, Catherine. So I think I’ll stick with what I have, thanks,” I chuckled.

Billy still looked concerned. “Are you sure you’re okay? Are you worried about tomorrow?”

I had told my uncle about the court appearance. He had dropped everything so he could come with me and hold my hand.

“I’m sure I’ll get by.”

Simeon took my hand. “I’m sure you will. I’ll be there for support, too.”

“Are
you
going to be okay with tomorrow?” I asked him. Simeon, as Stephen, had been called to give evidence because Stephen was there the night of the assault.

“I’ll be fine. I have it all in here,” he said, pointing to his head and winking. “I’m not about to let that bastard get away with what he did. Don’t you worry.”

Gasping, I nudged his hand. “Stephen! Naughty language.”

His smile was playfully wicked. “I’m sorry, Cassie. Maybe you can punish me later.”

I shook my head. I knew he was trying to be playful so that he could put me at ease a little. It just felt wrong doing this with him.

“Why do I feel like we all should leave?” Lisa-Marie’s smile was playful as she looked at the two of us. “Or maybe you two should leave and get a room.”

Simeon’s eyebrow rose at me. “Stop it.” I nudged Simeon over so I could regain my space. It was hard having him here and pretending he was someone he wasn’t. Billy and Chris knew, but Lisa-Marie and Catherine didn’t.

“All you can do tomorrow is tell the truth. I know it will be hard, but once it’s over and done, you can move on,” Lisa-Marie said, giving me a small smile.

I knew Lisa-Marie was right. I needed to get past it so I could move on with my life. Stephen was just completely taking over at the moment. What happened to me seemed like a long time ago compared to the raw memory of Stephen. I knew one thing for certain, though. I would be glad once I gave evidence and it was all over. I could only tell the truth. If that wasn’t good enough, so be it.

“I know. I’ve met with the lawyer and he seems friendly enough. He’s confident that with all the evidence against him, a conviction is in the cards. He did warn me of some difficult questions, though. I’m not looking forward to that part.”

Lisa-Marie rolled her eyes. “I think it’s disgusting. Any woman who dares have a sex life is a slut in their eyes. I think it’s terrible that what woman do in their personal lives is brought up inside a courtroom, like it’s sordid. If a woman says no, it’s no. End of story. We do have that right.”