Idolize (Dark Storm Book 1) (9 page)

Chapter Eight

Cassi came awake hearing her cell phone ring beside the bed, and grabbed it. It was Sasha, and immediately Cassi’s stomach flipped and her body went cold. She knew it would be something to do with Tommy, as she could hear him screaming in the background.

“I’m sorry to call you so early, but Tommy got up and tried to climb up on the counter. We’re at the hospital. The doctor thinks he’s broken his arm.”

She couldn’t stop shaking, but there was no time for nerves. She enjoyed her respite, but this was reality. “I’m coming now. Which hospital are you at? I’m on my way.” Sasha gave her the address and Cassi knew the place. Cassi got out of bed and grabbed her clothes to get dressed. Where was her bag, and the car keys? Declan turned on the light and came around to her side of the bed.

“What’s wrong?” he said as he rubbed his eyes.

“I’ve got to go. My son’s hurt.”

“Your son?”

She pulled on her jeans and realized the cat was out of the bag now. She could hear the shock in his voice. Cassi didn’t care. She needed to be with Tommy. This was all some stupid schoolgirl fantasy anyway. “I’ve a son, he’s hurt, and I need to go now.”

“What can I do? Are you sure you can drive? You’re shaking, Cassi, listen.”

He held her arms and he was right. She was trembling at the thought that her boy needed her.

“I’ll be fine. I don’t think you turning up at a hospital with me is a good idea right now.” She grabbed her bag and headed to the front door. He followed her out to the car and placed his hand on hers as she opened the door.

“Cassi, take a breath before you drive, for your boy’s sake. Text me when you get there, and let me know if there’s anything I can do.”

He was right. She had to stay calm. Tommy needed her. As she drove down the road, Cassi took deep breaths to relax. It didn’t work. She should have been with Tommy and this might not have happened. Guilt washed over her as tears streamed down her face. She was a mother and she left him for a hot guy. Was she any better than Steve?

She pulled into the parking lot at the hospital and looked for the entrance to the Emergency Department. The triage nurse pointed her in the direction of the children’s section. As soon as Tommy saw her, his good arm went out to her, and tears poured down his face.

“It’s okay, Mommy’s here,” Cassi said, as she cuddled him, avoiding his bad arm.

Sasha stood on the other side of the gurney. She was so pale. Her friend would have done what she could, but this little boy needed Mom.

A doctor pulled back the cubicle curtain and walked over. Cassi introduced herself. He talked about Tommy’s arm and showed her the x-ray. She signed the paperwork and accompanied them as they took Tommy into the operating room. The nurse and doctor were lovely as they let him drift off to sleep.

“You can give him a kiss on the cheek now he’s asleep,” the anesthesiologist said.

She managed to hold it together until the nurse took her out of the operating room, and the tears fell. The surgeon explained what he would do, but her brain couldn’t take it in.

She sat with Sasha as they held hands and waited.

“I’m so sorry. I thought he was still in bed until I heard the crash in the kitchen. He was trying to get to the candy jar.”

“It’s not your fault. I should have been there, instead of off with some guy.”

Sasha stood up and folded her arms in front of her. “No. You’ve been one of the best mothers I’ve ever seen, even though you went through all that shit with Steve. Tommy loves you, and you work so hard. You deserve a little time for yourself.”

They were grand words, but she didn’t believe them right now. In her mind, she’d fucked up. She should call Declan. The picture of concern on his face when she left his place really touched her. He was probably thinking she was lying in a ditch somewhere after swerving off the road.

“I said I’d ring the guy and let him know I got here safe. He was worried I was going to crash.”

Cassi got out her cell and sent a text.

At the hospital. Tommy is in surgery with a broken arm. He should be okay.

Within a minute there was a reply.

Just let me know if there is anything I can do.

Sasha sat back down and squeezed her hand. “Did he know about Tommy before today?”

“No. Oh hell, I don’t know what I’m doing, Sasha.” The tears started up again as she grabbed a tissue from the table. “My life just goes from one mess and one bad choice to another.”

“I know it’s weird, but if this hadn’t happened with Tommy, how would you say things were going with him?”

Even through the tears Cassi smiled at the memory of Declan. “I was having the best time in years. He was caring and funny, and sexy as all hell. I just don’t know what I’m doing. It can’t go anywhere. The longer I pretend it can, the more I’m going to get hurt when I tell him I can’t see him anymore.” Her stomach kept clenching.

“Why can’t you have a new man in your life? You’ve been through crap and deserve some happiness.”

Sasha handed her another tissue now the one she was holding was mush.

“He’s well-known and I’d end up with my pictures on the Internet. If I was seen with him, Steve would find us and I can’t risk that.” She needed to think of Tommy, even if she was falling for Declan or not.

“So that’s why you’ve been keeping him secret. What is he? Some kind of rock star or movie idol?”

Cassi sat there in silence, not knowing what to say. Once she told her, there would be no turning back.

“What the heck, he is. How the heck could you keep that secret from me? Okay, spill the beans. What’s his name?”

Cassi took a deep breath, but when she thought about it, she should have told Sasha before. What if she hadn’t been able to contact her when Tommy had been hurt? She needed to start being rational again.

“His name is Declan Reed.”

Sasha’s mouth hung open. Cassi was tempted to put her finger underneath her friend’s chin and close it.

“You’re fucking kidding me. These messages and everything have been from one of the hottest guys in L.A. and you didn’t tell me?” Sasha was up and pacing.

“At the moment, there’s only one little man in my world, and he’s having his arm fixed up. I shouldn’t be getting involved with someone no matter who they are.”

“Okay, so I am impressed you were with him, and get that Tommy is your life. I just don’t think you should give up on someone just because he’s a star, but obviously cares.”

“I don’t know what I think. It’s mainly physical. That’s not true. I think we are both starting to go beyond that and we’ve only met each other twice.”

Cassi kept looking to the door, hoping the nurse would come and tell her how Tommy was.

“Now you’re trying to make me jealous with the physical bit. What did his text say?”

She showed her the phone.

“He’s offering friendship, and just wants to be of help to you. As far as Steve goes, worry about that later. You’re not on the covers of magazines yet.”

The doctor who performed the surgery came into the waiting room. Cassi’s hands went cold and clammy. It might only be his arm, but the thought that her little boy was in pain was heartbreaking.

“I’m just letting you know Tommy is out of surgery, and everything went well. He will be in a plaster cast for three weeks, but after a day or so in the hospital, he should be able to go home. One of the nurses will come and get you in a minute.”

“Thank you,” Cassi said.

The doctor left and for the first time in the past few hours Cassi relaxed. Her little boy was safe.

Sasha stood up. “I’ll phone work in the morning and say what happened. I’ll tell the boss you’ll be off for the week.”

“I can’t do that. They won’t pay me enough for the hospital bills. They’ll find someone else. You know what he’s like. He replaced the last cleaner because she missed a couple of days. I’m not a great cook like you.”

Cassi knew she was panicking, but she needed to keep things going as they were. That was the way she dealt with things. No more getting side-tracked with hot men. That madness needed to stop.

“I’ll threaten to leave them with an empty kitchen if he is going to get funny.”

“Well, all I want now is to go and see Tommy.”

The nurse came in and Cassi gave Sasha a hug.

“I’ll go home and get some of his things. Give the little pest a kiss from me.”

Cassi followed the nurse down the corridor to the recovery ward. Tommy was still drowsy and pale. There was a plaster cast on his arm, but her little boy was okay. They were moved to a private room, and as the night went on he drifted in and out of sleep with the painkillers on board. Cassi couldn’t help thinking about how much it was all going to cost. Sasha did the right thing by bringing him to the nearest hospital, but there was no way her insurance was going to cover this. For now, she needed to push the thought to the back of her mind and look after Tommy.

When Tommy was awake, the nurses were already falling in love with him. Two said they would adopt him if they could. It was nice to think she was doing a good job bringing her boy up on her own after their bad start. Her phone went with a text. It was Declan.

How is Tommy doing? Which hospital is he in? I’d like to send a gift. Does he like anything special?

She always thought most guys would run a mile once they knew a kid was involved. Declan was taking it in stride. They had no commitment, so she wouldn’t have been surprised if he had said it was over.

He loves the Rory the Raccoon cartoon.

She told him which hospital, and as much as she would love to see him, she hoped he didn’t turn up.

Sorted.

Cassi slept on a make-up bed next to Tommy’s. When breakfast came, Tommy was thrilled to get Cocoa Pops. She rarely let him have them at home. When his food was taken away, the other nurse came in with a large Rory the Raccoon cuddly toy. Tommy whooped in delight. The card said, “To Tommy. For being a brave boy, from Declan.”

“Who’s Declan, Mommy?”

“He’s the friend I went to stay with on the weekend. He heard you were hurt and I said you liked Rory.” She hoped that would be enough for her little boy.

“Will Sasha bring turtle in?”

“She said she would bring it in after work so you can sleep with it tonight.”

She got out her cell to text Declan.

Thank you so much. He loves it. We should be home tomorrow. Everything went well.

She didn’t expect him to reply, but her cell went
ping
almost immediately.

It was my pleasure. Would love to do more. By the way, this changes nothing for me. I still want to see you again, but only if it’s okay with you and your little boy.

She wanted to see him so much she kept forgetting common sense. If he was being a complete ass now, it would have convinced her to walk away, but he was being lovely. She so wanted lovely in her life, especially when it didn’t mind she came with strings attached.

Let me get Tommy home and sorted, then we can work out what to do next. Thanks for the lovely day.

She knew her answer was skirting the issue, but it was all she could offer right now.

I’ll be waiting.

This guy was seriously worming his way into her heart. The rest of the day was spent with Tommy being spoiled by the nurses, and her dozing when he did. At dinner time, they brought in French fries. Her boy was in heaven. The door to the room opened and Sasha walked in holding Tommy’s fluffy turtle toy in her arms. Tommy reached out with his good arm and snuggled it to his chest.

Sasha glanced at the huge Rory Raccoon and picked up the card. She read it, bent down next to Cassi, and whispered, “Oh my goodness. I am definitely thinking this one’s a keeper. His looks are enough, but he seems a real sweetie, too.”

Cassi shook her head, not planning on having discussions about Declan with Tommy so close by.

“It was considerate of him. So what happened at work? Do I still have a job?”

Sasha sank down in the chair on the other side of the bed. “Yep, the boss said it’s fine to take the week off. His niece will work as it’s school break and she wanted the cash for something. You’ll still get paid as caregiver’s leave.”

Cassi was glad there was good news on the money front. “I’m still not sure how I’ll pay for this.”

“I’m sorry. I just brought him to the closest place. I was freaking out so much, I just came here.”

“You did good. They’ve been wonderful and I would have done the same.”

“Audrey says when he’s home, she wants to come and visit.”

“Does she know our place isn’t fancy like the village?”

“She said she doesn’t care, and she asked if she could draw a turtle on your cast, Tommy.”

“Yes, but only when my arm stops hurting.”

Tommy watched cartoons until the nurse came back with more painkillers and he started to yawn.

“I’d better go and I’ll see you at home tomorrow. Do I get a kiss from my favorite man?”

Tommy gave her a kiss and lay back on the pillow. His eyes were drooping before she left the room. Cassi followed her out into the corridor.