Killing Me Softly (19 page)

Lexi laughed as they thundered to a stop outside the barn.

‘Christ, that horse is fast,’ Daemon said, pulling up beside her.

‘I told you I’d win.’

He slipped from his horse and swaggered over to her. ‘No. I think I won.’

‘But you came in second.’

‘Yeah, but I got to watch your fine arse in front of me for the last mile. I couldn’t think of a better prize if I came in first.’

‘Then you don’t have much of an imagination, son,’ Karl said as he came up behind them on Jimbo.

Lexi blushed – she’d forgotten for a moment that they weren’t alone. She covered her embarrassment by sliding off Viking and leading him into the barn to unsaddle and rub him down. Daemon and Karl followed.

‘You did good work out there today, son. Although I shouldn’t be surprised. A man with calluses like you have didn’t get them just strumming a guitar.’

‘His da owns a pub in County Clare and Daemon earned extra money when he was young helping out on the farms.’

‘Is that so?’ Karl asked, glancing between them, his gaze staying on Daemon. ‘I’m thinking though, you’ve done that kind of work on and off over the years to keep those calluses fresh – am I right?’

‘You’d be right. There’s something marvellously grounding about working the land.’ Daemon hefted the saddle off Old Sarge and carted it over to the saddle rack and so didn’t see Lexi’s startled look.

She’d never imagined he still did that kind of work when he went back to visit his da. He was full of surprises and hidden depths. And while she didn’t really like surprises, she was liking his hidden depths more and more.

‘Oh, good. You’re all back.’

Lexi turned to face Bev as she ran into the barn. ‘What’s wrong?’ she asked, noting Bev’s pale face.

‘Constable Creeson is here. There’s been an accident.’

Daemon and Karl came forward, Karl to take Bev’s hand in a steadying grip. ‘What do you need, love?’

‘We have to find Phil. It’s Melissa. She’s been in a car crash.’

Lexi gasped, hand over her mouth, and looked at Daemon, who’d gone suddenly pale.

‘Is she. . . ?’

‘No. No. They’ve taken her to hospital. He said something about an operation but wouldn’t tell me anything else until we’ve found Phil. I tried the Dower House and the studio, but he’s not answering.’

Daemon cursed. ‘I turned the ringer down on the intercom last night when I was working and must have forgotten to turn it back up. Phil and Craig were going to go to the studio to jam.’ He gripped Lexi’s hand as he spoke and turned to Karl.

Karl waved him off. ‘It’s all right, lad. I’ll finish with the horses. You go and find Phil.’

Damon nodded his thanks. Lexi squeezed his hand and he glanced at her, his face grim. She and Bev followed him as he ran outside to find Constable Creeson waiting.

‘I think they might be in the studio,’ he said, not breaking stride. The constable nodded and followed, a look in his eyes that made Lexi’s heart go out to him. He was so young – he shouldn’t have to deal with death and terrible accidents.

They heard the music from the studio upstairs as soon as they opened the door. Daemon didn’t let go of Lexi’s hand as he ascended the stairs and stopped outside the open studio door.

She understood his hesitation. Nobody ever liked to be the bearer of bad news.

The music stopped as they walked in, Phil and Craig turning to look at them, their gazes taking in the constable and Bev and then snapping back to Daemon.

‘Dae? What’s going on?’ Craig asked, putting his guitar aside.

Constable Creeson entered, clearing his throat. ‘I need to speak to Mr Paris.’

‘Melissa?’ Phil said, wildfire panic in his eyes.

‘Your wife’s been in an accident. She’s been taken to the hospital in a serious condition. They’re operating now.’

The Constable had taken his hat off, shifting it from one hand to the other. Phil took a step back, shaking his head. ‘And the baby?’

Bev took Phil’s hand in hers. ‘They don’t know anything more right now.’

‘I knew I shouldn’t have let her go alone. I knew it.’

‘Phil. That won’t help.’

He nodded, face pale. ‘Just take me to her.’

‘You can come with me in the patrol car, Mr Paris.’ Constable Creeson stepped back and gestured to the stairs.

Phil looked like he was sleepwalking as he headed down the stairs, his eyes wide and dazed.

‘Shouldn’t someone go with him?’ Lexi asked.

Daemon rubbed his hand over his face, nodding slowly. ‘You’re right. I’ll go.’ He looked at her. ‘Will you come with me?’

Lexi nodded, eyes filling with tears at the look on his face. ‘Of course I will.’

He took her hand and said to Craig and Bev, ‘I’ll call you when I know more.’

Craig gripped Daemon’s shoulder. ‘Look after him, mate.’ His eyes were full of emotion; filled with all the things that tied the three men, and Phil’s wife, together. Lexi swallowed and looked away.

Craig continued, ‘I’ll call Nigel to let him know and follow in a little while. I’ll also grab some stuff for Lis and Phil to have at the hospital.’

‘Good idea.’

Bev said. ‘I’ll get some food together and come in with Craig.’

‘Thanks.’ With that, his lips pressed tight, Daemon pulled Lexi out the door and down the stairs.

They rushed outside and saw that Phil and the constable were already at the police car. Daemon called out to them, told him they would follow in his car. The constable waved his understanding, but Phil didn’t even seem to register. He just opened the door and hopped into the police car, head bowed, face pale.

Lexi’s heart went out to him. Sorrow was a familiar cloak. She’d worn it for so many years; she was desperately sorry to see it on someone else.

Daemon pulled her to the garage behind the Dower House where he kept his car, and a moment later they were following the police car down the long drive out of StormHaven’s park and out on to the main, narrow road that led into Fellhaven.

Fifteen minutes down the road they passed the car wreck.

Lexi flinched as she saw the skid marks on the road, the damage to the stone wall, the path of the vehicle as it rolled to a crashing stop against the rocks clearly delineated on the grass and soil of the field.

How had Melissa and the baby survived? It had to be a miracle.

Lexi prayed for another one that would see Melissa and the baby through surgery and on the road to recovery soon.

Daemon’s fists tightened on the wheel and he said through gritted teeth. ‘It looks like she was forced off the road.’

‘I hope Phil doesn’t look up and see it.’

‘Fucking oath. I hope you’re right.’

She put her hand on his leg and squeezed. He took one hand off the wheel and placed it over her hand, holding it there against him.

When they got to the hospital, a nurse ushered them into the waiting area and told them that Melissa had sustained a broken leg and arm and multiple bruises and contusions but the most dangerous injury was the one sustained when her head hit the window. She’d gone into surgery to release the pressure on her brain from fluid build-up. The baby was miraculously fine. The doctors were trying to make sure the baby stayed nestled safely inside her until its due date.

‘Oh, thank Christ.’ Phil sank down on to the off-pink sofa.

Daemon sat beside him, saying nothing, just putting his hand on Phil’s back, holding it there as Phil sobbed into his hands.

Lexi stood next to the sofa, uncertain what to do. Should she sit? She looked down at the sofa next to Daemon. The food and coffee stains on it were a history of all the others who had spent endless hours waiting to hear about their loved ones. It was very like the sofa Lexi had once waited on with her parents; then once more, when she’d waited alone. Her stomach lurched at the memory. She wished with everything in her that the news Phil received after the surgery would be far better than the news she’d received the day her parents had died.

Phil glanced up, his face pale, eyes red-rimmed and brimming with tears. He looked shocked and lost. She wondered if she should be here, intruding. Then he held his hand out to her. She took it, and then sat down next to him on the other side of the sofa.

‘What if she doesn’t survive? What am I going to do?’ His voice was barely a rough whisper, the grief tangible.

‘It will be fine. She will be fine. I’m sure.’

‘Do you think so?’

He sounded as if he wanted to believe her words – like they were his lifeline. Even though she knew hope could be so futile and hurtful, she couldn’t bring herself to take his away. ‘I spent a great deal of time waiting for news in hospitals years ago. I know how it works. If things were bad, they would have told us.’

Daemon reached across and put his hand on top of hers, as if he was comforting her instead of Phil. She gave him a questioning look, unable to understand the depths of emotion in his eyes.

He looked back at Phil and smiled encouragingly. ‘Alexia’s right. Lis has a fighting spirit. She loves you and the baby. She wouldn’t want to leave you. I think that will count in her favour.’

Phil nodded. ‘She so wants to be a mother.’

‘I know. She’s been ferociously protective since she got pregnant. Remember how she went through Nigel when he lit up a cigar while she was in the room?’

Phil laughed, the sound spilling out of his mouth on a sob. ‘Yeah. She has a mouth on her when she gets angry. I don’t think Nigel’s had a cigar since.’

‘You know, I think you’re right.’

Phil nodded. ‘She
will
stay with me. She would never forgive herself if she wasn’t there for the baby. She was always talking about the things we would do together as a family and what a good father I’ll make.’ He nodded again, his eyes not quite focusing. ‘She’ll make a fantastic mother. She won’t give up on that. She can’t give up on that.’

‘That’s right. She won’t. You just keep thinking about how much she loves you and the baby. She’ll fight to stay with both of you. That much I am sure of.’

Phil’s eyes focused on Daemon. ‘Thanks Dae. I really needed to hear that.’

They sat there, mostly in silence, with sporadic flares of conversation breaking into the tension. When Phil got up to pace some time later, Lexi held Daemon’s hand, marvelling at how comfortable that felt, just as she marvelled at how Daemon had handled Phil. There were so many layers to him; she was certain she’d only scratched the surface. She had thought getting to know him better would be a mistake, but now she looked forward to finding out more.

Craig and Bev arrived and they all waited together.

Three hours later the surgeon came in looking tired, still dressed in his scrubs. Phil gripped Lexi’s hand, his knuckles turning white as he squeezed.

The surgeon smiled and Lexi felt the relief gush through Phil and into her before he released her hand and stepped forward. She stood back with Daemon, Craig and Bev, giving Phil the space he needed while he took in what the surgeon said. The operation had gone according to plan and Melissa was responding well; she and the baby would be fine.

Daemon and Craig let out whoops of relief and turned to hug each other as Phil shook the surgeon’s hand, pumping it enthusiastically. ‘When can I see her?’

‘She is still in recovery. We want to get her set up in ICU and then you can go in. Probably still an hour or so away. The nurses will let you know.’ He looked past Phil to the others. ‘I’m afraid I can only let you in to see her at first, Mr Paris. Your friends will have to wait at least until tomorrow.’

Phil glanced back at them.

‘That’s fine,’ Daemon said, walking forward and slinging his arm around Phil’s shoulder to give him a manly, rough hug. ‘She doesn’t need to see us – only you.’

‘An hour or so, then,’ the surgeon said with a nod and left them.

Phil was pulled into a bone-crushing hug with Craig and then another with Daemon before he sank, limp, onto the sofa, a relieved yet still worried expression on his face. Lexi knew how he felt.

Bev opened the basket beside her. ‘Well, I know nobody felt like food before, but you should eat and drink something. I’ve got sandwiches and bottles of water.’ Opening the basket, she handed them out. Phil was about to refuse, but she angled him a severe look. ‘Do you want to worry Melissa when you collapse beside her bed from lack of food and dehydration? Eat.’ She thrust a sandwich into his hand and a bottle of water. ‘Drink.’

He nodded, a faint smile on his face as he unwrapped the sandwich and took a bite.

After a while, Phil’s voice broke the silence. ‘We’re not going to be able to finish the CD now.’

Daemon nodded. ‘We know. It can wait. Lis and the baby come first.’

Phil nodded. ‘Thanks mate. You’ve been . . . ’ He blinked the tears away, swallowed. ‘It really means a lot.’ His gaze swung to Lexi. ‘What about you? You can’t sit around waiting for us.’

She squeezed his hand. ‘Don’t worry. I always have plenty to do. Besides, I’d intended on spending all my time with Cat until working with you guys came up, so I can do that now. And I can start cleaning up the tracks we’ve laid down.’ She smiled at him. ‘So don’t you worry about me. You just think about Melissa and the baby and make sure they’re being taken care of.’

He jerked forward and put his arms around her, hugging her tightly. She stiffened at first, but then relaxed enough to put her arms around him and pat his back. She noticed Daemon watching her, seeing a strange understanding in his eyes as she struggled to give comfort rather than push away as instinct demanded.

‘Thanks, AJ.’ Phil kissed her cheek. ‘You don’t know how special you are. I’m so glad you came into our lives. I hope Dae can persuade you to continue working with us. He’s not the only one who needs you.’

She ducked her head, embarrassed he’d read more into her and Daemon’s relationship than there was. Daemon didn’t need her. He wanted her. Just as she wanted him. But there was no need. Need spoke of love and caring and forever afters. Need wasn’t something she could allow into her life. Wants, however . . . She was beginning to realise just how much she wanted to give into those.

Finally, Phil went in to see Melissa. When he came back out an hour later, he still looked pale, but the terrible sorrow and strain had gone from his face. He didn’t smile as he told them that Melissa was being kept in a medically induced coma to help her recovery, so he hadn’t been able to speak to her, but his face brightened when he said, ‘They’ve put a foetal monitor on her stomach to keep an eye on the baby’s heartbeat.’ He rubbed his eyes. ‘It’s so strong. So fast. He’s going to be a little drummer for sure with a steady beat like that.’