Inseparable (22 page)

“Hey Liligirl.” Abby smiled, her green eyes looked so full of life, which was ironic, all things considered. “How’s Dane?”

“He’s good.” I said, glancing over my shoulder at him. “You haven’t been to see me.” I said, almost suspiciously. She rolled her eyes at me.

“Lil, I’m always going to be here for you. Anytime you need to talk, I’ll come.” She began. I sensed there was more coming. “You need to move on, Lil. I can’t be the main part of your life anymore. Your focus needs to be Dane, just as his focus is you.” Her words came out softly, but I felt as though she was shouting them at me. What she was saying made a lot of sense to me, which was partly what made hearing it that much harder.

“So, what are we talking? Once or twice a week?” I asked hopefully, not wanting to let go of her completely. I wasn’t ready for that. Abby sighed, and grinned.

“Sure Lil, once a week, then.”

I showed mom and Anna around town, including, at Anna’s insistence, the spot where Dane had broken my toe. Mom had looked slightly annoyed when she’d found out I hadn’t tripped over, but Dane had in fact, broken it. We went back to my place for a coffee, before mom and Anna got ready to head back home.

“Thanks for coming, mom.” I said, giving her a hug. Anna stood by, rolling her fourteen year old eyes in embarrassment. I laughed, positive that I was once like that.

“Come here, Anna.” I said, holding my arms out. Reluctantly, she hugged me. “Call me when you get home.” I said as they both got into the car. I waved as they took off down the street, suddenly feeling homesick. Trudging back inside, I tried to focus on catching up on some of the schoolwork I’d missed out on over the last few weeks. At least my professors had been pretty understanding in giving me an extension when I was able to produce a medical certificate, thanks to another friend of Fraser’s.

It didn't take me long to give up on my work. Picking up my phone, I called Gem, something I should've done way before now, but had been so preoccupied with everything. She had left me several messages, and thinking back about how it looked to her, one day I'm here and the next I'm unreachable, I was surprised she didn't call the police.

"Lily! Where the hell have you been?" She demanded, both annoyed and worried. "I've been trying to call you for days!"

"I am so sorry, Gem, I should've called you and I completely forgot." I said, feeling like an idiot. I explained everything to her, from racing to New York and finding Steffy, right through to my dreams and Abby.

"Wow, that's…I don't even know what to say." She gasped. "I saw on the news about the girls they found, and it made me think of Dane, but I never for a second thought it might be Steffy." The court case meant the media weren't able to mention Steffy by name, but I wondered how long it would take for the whole story to break.

Gem and I spoke for a while longer, arranging to meet for a coffee the following week to catch up. After our conversation, I went into the kitchen to work out what there was to eat.

Opening the cupboard, I cursed myself for not shopping while in town with mom and Anna. The only thing in the whole house that was edible was some instant noodles. Even I couldn’t get them wrong. Parking myself in front of the television, with my bowl of noodles, I watched old episodes of Friends, while wondering if four in the afternoon was too early to go to sleep. Just as I was about to give up and go to bed, my cell rang.

“Hey.” I smiled into the phone, caller ID already telling me it was Dane.

“Hey sexy.” He said. “I miss you.”

“Miss you too.” I laughed. “How’s Steffy? You’re back at your parents’ home now?” I asked.

“Yeah. We just got back. I was thinking I might stay here for a few more days, just to make sure everything is okay. I keep thinking as soon as I leave, something’s going to happen, you know?” He sounded stressed. I wondered if this was part of the guilt he was feeling for being home when Steffy had been kidnapped.

“Stay as long as you need to.” I said, trying my best to reassure him. An idea was starting to form in my head. His parents only lived half an hour from here. What was to stop me from driving to see him? The idea of actually meeting Steffy face to face was completely daunting for me, but something I really wanted to do.

“I have to go, Dane. I will call you soon, I promise.” I tried to keep the excitement out of my voice, so as not to give away my plan.

“Okay Lil. Love you.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

After calling Kella, and getting permission to borrow her car (and getting his parents address from Fraser), I quickly packed a bag and jumped in the car. The drive to his parents was actually only twenty minutes, so it was even closer than I thought.

The entire drive I kept imagining the look on Danes face when he saw me. For the briefest moment, it crossed my mind that maybe he wouldn’t appreciate me turning up at his parents’ house, but I pushed those thoughts out of my head.

As I drove through the streets of Templeton, I took in the big houses and sprawling green lawns. This is where Dane grew up. I passed the elementary school he would’ve gone to, and the high school he would’ve graduated from.

Down Elizabeth Street, Dane’s parents’ house was on the corner. High fences surrounded the front yard. The house itself looked massive, something you’d expect in a TV show. The electronic gates required me to announce my arrival. So much for the big surprise.

I parked on the corner, and walked up to the gates, pressing the small intercom button. I recognized Dane’s fathers’ voice right away. He sounded guarded, as if he had been fielding calls from the media all day.

“Hi, Mr. Hanson. It’s Lily Somerton, Danes, uh, friend?” I squeaked, suddenly extremely unsure of how to announce myself.

“Oh! Lily! Come in.” He gushed. The gates opened, and I walked through them, and down to the concrete path that led to the front door. Before I could knock, the door opened, both Dane’s parents appeared, smiling, and happy.

“Lily.” Mrs. Hansen hugged me. “Dane didn’t tell us you were coming to visit! Is he with you?” I looked at her strangely. As far as I knew, he was here, with them. At least, that’s what he told me half an hour ago.

“No, I came here to surprise him.” I said, smiling at her. She took my hand and led me inside. Their house was lovely. It made Dane’s place back home look like a tiny little shack. We walked into a living area that looked as though it was rarely ever used.

“Sit down and I will get us some drinks. Tea? Coffee?” She asked. Danes father came in and patted his wife on the arm.

“You sit down with Lily, and I will get the drinks. What would you like, Lily?” He asked me.

“A coffee would be lovely, thanks. White with one.” I added, as I sat down on one of the cream leather couches. “How are you guys? And Steffy?” I asked, trying not to jump on the thing that was bothering me most. Where was Dane?

“We’re good, Lily. Really good, and Steffy is getting better every day. It is so good to have our little girl home.” She said, smiling.

“So, Dane’s not here?” I asked quizzically. His mother looked puzzled.

“He left the cabin yesterday, heading home.” She said, her face clouding with worry. “I hope he’s okay.”

“I spoke to him just before. Maybe I got my wires crossed.” I said, forcing a smile. Something was going on, but I didn’t want to stir up trouble until I knew what it was.

“Maybe.” His mom agreed, not looking convinced.

“Mom?” Both she and I turned. Steffy stood in the doorway, wrapped up in a robe. She glanced at me, a small smile on her lips.

“Steffy, come here.” She patted the couch next to her. Steffy hesitated, then joined her mother on the couch, glancing curiously at me. “Steffy, this is Dane’s girlfriend, Lily.”

“Hi Steffy.” I said, smiling as my heart pounded. I couldn’t quite believe I was sitting here, face to face with Steffy. In the week since I saw her last, she looked remarkably better. Looking at her, you’d think she was just like any other teenager. It was only once you looked past that, and into the fear and uncertainty in her eyes that you realized she had been through something traumatic.

“You’re the one who helped find me,” she said softly, her words barely audible. I nodded, not really sure of what to say. “Thank you,” she added, her eyes sparkling with tears.

“I’m just glad you’re home, safe.” I smiled.

We talked for a little longer, when Dane’s father came in with the drinks and a selection of cakes and cookies. I was surprised at just how comfortable I felt around Dane’s family, even Steffy. We had been talking for nearly an hour, when I finally thought I’d better leave. I still needed to figure out what the hell was going on with Dane.

Steffy reached out her arms and embraced me. I hugged her back, not expecting such a show of emotion from her. “Thanks for coming, Lily, and thank you again for finding me.” She whispered. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dane’s mother lift her hand to her mouth in shock. “I might go and lie down.” She told her mother. We watched as she left the room.

“That was the first time she has instigated any contact with anyone.” Mrs. Hansen cried, wiping her tears away with a tissue. “That was such a big step forward for her.” She walked with me down to the gate. “Thanks for coming, Lily. I know it meant a lot to Steffy finally getting to meet you.” We hugged again. Kissing me on the cheek, she opened the gate and let me out.

The whole drive home was spent with me trying to come up with excuses as to why Dane lied to me. I just couldn’t let myself believe that he had lied to me without a good reason. As I neared home, I found myself driving in the direction of his house. As I pulled up outside, I saw his lights were on.

So he was home. Why had he lied to me?

I was torn between driving home and crying over the possibilities, and running up to his door and demanding an explanation. I had no idea how to handle this. Before I could lose my nerve, I got out of the car, and walked to his door.

The look on Dane’s face when he opened the door and saw me standing there made me feel sick. Someone who looked that shocked had to be hiding something, right?

“Lily.” He said, his face white.

“Hi.” I said. “I went to surprise you at your parents.” I stood there, feeling like an idiot, but at the same time, angry for an explanation. What if this whole thing, him being in love with me had just been an act so I’d continue to help find Steffy? No. Dane wouldn’t do that. I refused to believe he could do that to me.

“Come in.” He stood aside. I shook my head.

“I don’t want to come in, I just want to know why you lied to me.” I said evenly. “Why did you tell me you were at your parents when you obviously weren’t? And before you try and tell me you just left their house, I know you left the cabin for here yesterday.” I so badly wanted to be able to control my emotions in front of him, but I was on the verge of losing it. I brushed past him inside, not wanting to cause a scene on his doorstep.

“If you needed space, all you had to do was tell me.” I said, not looking at his face. If I saw his eyes, I’d cry. There was no doubt.

“Lil, please let me explain-“

“So do it then. Just tell me, please!” I shouted, shocking myself and Dane by the tone of my voice.

“Lil, for fucks sake, let me talk!” He cried, grabbing hold of my hand and sitting me on the sofa next to him. He took a deep breath. “I was at the hospital yesterday, having a biopsy and blood tests. Something I need to have every six months to make sure the cancer hasn’t returned.”

I yanked my hand away, positive I must have misheard. Cancer?

God no, please, not again. I wiped my eyes, determined not to cry. What if he was dying? After losing Abby, I couldn’t handle losing someone else to the same stupid disease.

“Lil. Look at me.” Dane urged. I couldn’t, only able to stare at the coaster sitting on the edge of his coffee table. Dane crouched down in front of me, so he was in my line of sight, blocking the coaster from my vision. My eyes met his as I searched them for answers.

“Lil. I’m fine. I promise you I’m okay. I’m not going to leave you.” He held my hand tightly, with so much pressure my fingers were beginning to go white. I wiggled them softly, until he loosened his grip.

“Why a biopsy, then?” I asked. “They don’t just do that for no reason.”

“Lil, I promise you it’s just a follow up. Every six months.” He explained.” He sat back, as if he were trying to figure out what to say, and my shocked expression probably wasn’t helping much.

“The reason I was away from college last year, was I had cancer. They found a tumor on my kidney at the beginning of last year. They removed the kidney and my lymph nodes, and I had to do the whole radiation and chemotherapy thing.” My mouth was hanging open in shock. That’s why he missed last year? What about the murder rumor? I think I much preferred that to this. “Lil, I’ve been in remission for more than eight months. They got it all, and they are confident it won’t return.”

“How confident?” I asked, remembering a time when they were confident Abby’s treatment would work.

“About eighty percent.” He finally answered. Eighty percent. That was great, if you were talking about a grade, but this was cancer, and cancer always seemed to worm its way into people’s lives and ruin them. For every eighty people that the cancer wouldn’t return for, there was another twenty that it would.

“Lily, please, say something?” Dane begged me. Say something? Like he said something to me? Something along the lines of ‘Hey, I’m recovering from cancer’ would have been good
before
I’d fallen in love with him. Would that have changed things? If I’d known he was in remission for cancer, would I still have let myself fall in love with him?

“Why didn’t you tell me?” My voice was even, and controlled, which was far from how I was feeling inside.

“You lost your twin to cancer. I didn’t know
how
to tell you.” He said helplessly. “At first, I wasn’t sure where we were even going, and then by the time I knew, it was too late. Every moment seemed the worst possible time. Then Steffy happened. I’m sorry, Lil. I’m so sorry.” He was crying now. I reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze. The last thing I wanted was to punish him, but I couldn’t bring myself to say it was okay when I wasn’t sure it was.