Copper Creek: The Complete Boxed Set

by Smith, Wendy

  “Adam,” she cries, raking her fingers through my hair again. The act pulls me in closer, and the taste and scent of her send my senses into overdrive. I can’t respond. This is heaven. My heart is whole, and now I get to spend every second I can showing Lily just how full it is.

  I back off, planting kisses on her inner thighs, raising my eyes to meet her gaze. Her eyes are wide with anticipation, and she cries my name again and again when I raise a finger, drawing circles around her clit.

  “What are you doing?” She gasps.

  “Making you wait.”

  “Why?”

  I stop, crawling up her body until I look her in the eyes. “Because I want this to last as long as possible. I want to enjoy you as long as possible.”

  Her lips twitch. “You can enjoy me as often as you want. I think I’ve waited long enough.”

  My mouth claims hers as I taste her tongue.

  She’s right. I push into her, unable to hold back any longer.

  I can’t keep my girl waiting.

  22

  Lily

  Twelve years ago

  I no longer fear death.

  Nothing I say has gotten through to Mum, and I’ve been here weeks, or is it months?

  My once tight clothes now hang off me as the weight continues to drop off. My stomach is rock hard and bulges a little. I wonder if the same thing that happens to starving children I’ve seen pictures of is happening to me.

  Mum remembers to bring me food every two to three days. I’d be dead already if it wasn’t for the bathroom with the little hand basin. It takes a lot of effort to get there, but it’s the only source of water I have.

  When she does bring food, I try to make it last, but it’s hard. With every bite I know she’s added something to it, something to keep me weak as she “protects” me.

  There’s no point fighting her. I stopped arguing a long time ago. She thinks she’s doing what’s best, and I can’t persuade her otherwise.

  Pain in my stomach grips me and I cry out to an empty room, maybe even an empty house. Mum won’t hear me, and while I might not be scared of dying, what I want is to curl up in a ball in her arms and go to sleep. But there’s no chance of that.

  I don’t know how long I suffer, but there’s blood on the mattress, too. It’s confusing. My periods have long since stopped, and I assume it’s the fact that I’m no doubt suffering from malnutrition.

  All because my mother couldn’t bear the thought of losing me.

  Light floods the stairwell and hope grows that she’s come to help me. She appears with a tray of food. I don’t know how much time has passed as I float in and out of consciousness.

  “Here you go,” she says. She’s thin, and I don’t think she’s taking any better care of herself. She’s certainly in no kind of mental state to look after me. What if she forgets I’m here?

  “Mum, you need to get help,” I croak.

  “You’re safe here.”

  The pain hits and I cry out, clutching my belly.

  Her eyes dart around me, and her gaze lands on the mattress. “What’s wrong?” There’s panic in her voice.

  “I don’t know. I’m in agony,” I sob, but there’s not a lot of moisture in my body. Getting to the basin has been so hard the past two days.

  “You’re bleeding.” Her voice is soft and scared.

  “Mum, you need to call an ambulance, get a doctor, something.” I’m grasping at straws.

  As she places her hand on my stomach, her eyes fill with sadness. “I’ll go and do it now.”

  Hope builds in me alongside the crushing discomfort that builds to pain again. I close my eyes, unsure of what is happening to my body, of what my mother will do, if I’ll make it out of here alive.

  I was a fool to think I could ever leave this place, get away from her and the town belief I’d end up the same she did. So much of her sewing work came to her because people were sympathetic and wanted to make sure her daughter had enough to eat. Where did they all think I was now?

  Adam. I twist the ring around my finger, the one I was supposed to wear on my wedding day. The finger that it once fit snugly on is so much smaller, but the ring holds on and gives me faith that everything will be okay.

  At least I hope so.

  All I can do is wait.

  * * *

  I wake squinting in the bright light that floods the room, I look around. I’m not at home anymore. The walls are white, the furniture’s white—everything is white.

  A hospital.

  I’m in a hospital.

  My heart soars at the thought of freedom, but the pain grips me again. It’s not as severe this time, and I take deep breaths until it passes.

  “They managed to stop labour.”

  Shifting my focus to the voice, I see a man I don’t know in the doorway. He’s tall with greying hair and a short, neatly trimmed beard, and he has kind eyes.

  “Labour?”

  He gives me a small smile and approaches the bed. When he extends his hand toward me, I automatically reach out to shake it.

  “Hi, Lily. How are you feeling?” He must be a doctor.

  I lick my lips, letting go of his hand. “Umm a bit groggy. I feel like I’ve slept, but I’m still tired.”

  He nods, and I return to the unanswered question. “You said they stopped labour?”

  In return I receive another nod. “It wasn’t easy, but you responded to the medication. The doctor will be through shortly to talk to you.”

  This isn’t the doctor? “I don’t understand. Who are you?” He must have me confused with someone else, surely. My head’s still fuzzy. He said labour?

  There is that smile again, the one that told me he has a great deal of sympathy for me, but doesn’t give me anything else to go on. “My name’s Joseph Waterson, and I’m the case worker who’s been assigned to you. The medical staff managed to stop your labour, but your pregnancy is along enough that the baby’s viable.” His smile grows. “But it’s obviously better for both of you if your baby stays inside. At least for a while longer.”

  Baby? My heart races now. It’s like a lightbulb moment as I realise what that hard lump in my belly is. And if the baby is viable …

  “What’s the date?” I ask, my mouth dry.

  “Sorry?”

  “Day, month. What is it?”

  He frowns. “October twelve.”

  My eyes sting with sudden tears. “Six months,” I whisper.

  “I’m here to talk to you about how you move forward. You’ll be in here for some time, and we need to make sure you’re taking care of yourself.”

  “Taking care …” I stumble on the words. “Do you have any idea what I’ve been through?” The tears roll down my cheeks, and his eyebrows twitch in confusion.

  “Lily, I’ve been brought in because your mother said you haven’t been taking care of yourself. Not eating, not sleeping, and we’ll need to talk about your toxicology results.”

  My head spins. “You don’t know. How can you not know?” I roll onto my side, burying my face in the pillow.

  “Know what? What do you need to tell me?” He’s confused, I can hear it in his tone, and it sinks in that Mum’s lied to them, spun a story to get herself out of trouble. She’s still got enough sense to do that.

  “She drugged me to stop me getting married. I’ve been trapped in that house for six months, and no one came looking. She’s sick. She needs looking after.”

  Through my teary eyes, I look at this man whose expression has switched to one of horror.

  “If there are drugs in my blood, they’re her prescription meds. All the crap that doctors have given her over the years. Some things helped, some didn’t, but she had them all. God knows what she gave me.” I swallow. “The only reason I’m here is because my pain and bleeding forced her to do something.” I close my eyes. “I didn’t even know I was pregnant. I thought I was dying.” Opening them again, I look at the only person I’ve seen other than my mother in six m
onths. “What chance does my baby have now?” Adam’s baby.

  “I … I see.” He’s clearly shaken. Who wouldn’t be? What a weird tale. Does he even believe me? Would I believe me?

  He blinks a few times, as if he’s trying to process what I’ve said.

  “Where’s my mother?”

  “You had to be airlifted. You’re in Waikato Hospital,” he says quietly. “She said she would follow as soon as she could.”

  My stomach tightens. “Someone needs to go and check on her. How long have I been here?”

  “Two days.” His voice drops to a whisper. I’m free and still no one has worked out what happened. She could have done anything by now. I’m angry at her, but scared for her too. I want her to be punished. I want her taken care of.

  Mum.

  * * *

  By the morning, she’s in custody.

  I don’t know how to feel. She hurt me and my baby, but she’s still my mother, and I love her no matter what.

  My baby.

  The knowledge I’m pregnant is still sinking in. I need Adam—where the hell is he? Why did he never come for me? So many questions.

  To give me some freedom, I’ve been taken off the IV fluids for a while, and I leave the room, walking down a corridor and surrounding myself in the glorious hum of hospital background noise. It doesn’t matter what they’re saying or doing, just as long as I’m not alone anymore.

  Down the hall, there’s a small communal area with a television on the wall and a phone on the table. I sit on a chair beside the phone and look at it for a moment. As much as I want to speak with Adam, it scares me that he doesn’t know where I’ve been all this time and doesn’t seem to have made any effort to find me.

  I pick up the phone and dial, closing my eyes as the line rings.

  “Hello?”

  Damn it. Adam’s mother.

  “Hi, may I speak to Adam?” I ask.

  “He doesn’t live here now. Who’s calling?”

  My stomach sinks. If he isn’t there, where is he? Is he as heartbroken as I am?

  I have to tell her—it might be the only way to get hold of him. “Mrs Campbell, it’s Lily.”

  Silence greets me.

  “Lily Parker?” I try again.

  “I know who you are. What I don’t know is why you’re calling for Adam when I’m sure you know he’s not here.” Over the years her accent has been softened by living in New Zealand, but when she’s irritable, her American heritage is as clear as a bell. It doesn’t help that she’s always scared the shit out of me.

  “I … I’m sorry, but I didn’t know. Do you have a number I can reach him on? I need to speak to him urgently.”

  “Shame it wasn’t so urgent when you hurt him so much six months ago. Goodbye, Lily.”

  “Please, Mrs Campbell.” I look up at the ceiling.

  “What could you possibly want after all this time?”

  “My mother … my mother has been keeping me prisoner. I just got out.” This whole thing must sound like an insane excuse, but what else is there to say?

  “How stupid do you think I am?” the other woman hisses.

  “Please, Mrs Campbell. I’m pregnant and alone.” Tears roll down my cheeks. “I need Adam. They’re putting me on a nutrient drip to try to save the baby, get him big enough so he can be born.”

  “I suggest you get the father of the baby to help then. You’ve done enough damage to my family.”

  “How heartless can you be?” I scream into the phone. “This is Adam’s baby.” I slam the receiver down and look up, spotting Joseph in the doorway.

  “Are you okay?” he asks.

  “I just tried to call the baby’s father.”

  “Oh? Does he know what happened?”

  I shrug. “I don’t know. His mother said he doesn’t live there anymore. She thinks I’m lying about everything. I missed my wedding day because of this, and Adam must think I’m the most heartless bitch that ever lived.”

  Joseph places his hand on my shoulder. “I’m sure we can find a way to get through to her, make her understand what happened. Now the arrest has been made, it’s likely to make the newspapers.”

  I grimace. The thought that all of Copper Creek will know just how crazy my mother has acted doesn’t sit well with me. As it was, the kids at school had teased me for years, ‘Crazy Parker’ they called her, not bothering to laugh behind my back.

  “Do you have any family to stay with, Lily? I mean, you’ll be in hospital for some time to come, but someone who can help you with the baby?”

  I shake my head. “No. My dad bailed years ago—I wouldn’t have a clue where to find him. It’s been me and Mum for as long as I can remember. I don’t really want to go back to the house.”

  Joseph frowns. “I don’t really want to tell you this, but there’s no house to go back to.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Your mother stopped paying the mortgage at some point, possibly even before she did this to you. The bank has control of the property. They’re trying to sell it.”

  The sick feeling in my stomach grows. I might not want to live in the house, but my mother has just lost her only asset. I’m not even sure if there’ll be any money left after the sale.

  What the hell am I going to do?

  23

  Lily

  Now

  I fought to get rid of the dreams.

  With Adam back, I sleep a lot better. I’ve had a month of peaceful nights for the most part. But when the dreams come back, they’re more vicious than ever, reminding me of a time I’ve tried so hard to forget. As my life comes together, my dreams leave me falling apart.

  I wake, unable to breathe, and I claw at the air to get release. Panting, I sit up, clutching the sheets to my chest. Beside me, Adam sleeps peacefully, and I envy him the sleep he enjoys.

  Gazing at him is calming, knowing he loves me as much as I love him. I spent so long wishing I could stop my feelings, but despite thinking he’d walked away and never looked back, part of me always wanted him to return. For so long I wished he’d come and rescue me. I guess I finally got my wish.

  There are nights when he doesn’t sleep in peace. When he seems to be disturbed, waking and wanting me with desperate need. I respond as we take what we need from each other.

  Afterward he holds me tight, as if terrified to let go, and I cling to him just as fiercely. Part of me believes if I close my eyes, even for a second, he’ll turn out to be a dream and disappear into the night, never to be seen again.

  He will at some point. The army won’t let him stay away forever.

  “Lily?” Adam stirs, his eyes opening a notch. He raises his arm, pulling me back into bed. “It gets cold without you,” he mumbles.

  I smile as he drifts off to sleep and stroke his face before closing my eyes again. He seems reluctant to let go of me even for a moment. Maybe he shares my fear. I think he needs me as much as I need him.

  In the morning I wake to gentle kisses, enveloped in his strong arms. This is what I want every day.

  “Hmmm,” I nuzzle his chest.

  “I love waking up with you,” he murmurs.

  These kisses are sweet; the passionate ones happen in the night. Most of the time our mornings are G-rated, just in case Max walks in. He hasn’t jumped into my bed at night since Adam arrived, nor have we had night visits from Eric.

  My life, especially during the day is infinitely more peaceful with Adam back in it.

  “We should get up. Max will want breakfast, and I could do with something to eat.”

  Despite my protests, Adam took us to get groceries and filled the freezer. We’ve never had so much choice. I’m still cautious, still scared that this will all end in an instant and we’ll be back to where we were. He tells me off for not eating enough, but it’s habit. I still have my son to support.

  Our son.

  “I might let you get out of bed.” He kisses my cheek and I linger a little longer before pulling away and
getting out of bed. I open the drawer, pulling on a bra and slipping a T-shirt over my head while he whistles. “If only I could keep you naked all day.”

  “Unfortunately, there are things to do. The shearing’s underway. Eric will take care of it, but I want to check in to make sure everything’s okay.”

  Adam sits up and grabs a shirt from his bag beside the bed, tugging it on as I pull on my jeans. “I hate Eric doing this shit for you.”

  I shrug. “He gets a better price if we do both flocks at once. He benefits from this too.”

  Adam stands and walks to the window, pulling the curtains back. Sunlight floods the room.

  “It’s such a gorgeous day out there. Does Max play sport?” he asks, taking in the view. Not that it’s that exciting—the dusty brown yard, with green paddocks behind it.

  “A little. He loves anything where he gets to run around.”

  “I’ll have to get Max a baseball mitt.”

  “He already plays softball at school.”

  Adam turns and rolls his eyes at me.

  “Isn’t it basically the same thing?” I ask, walking toward him.

  I squeal as Adam leaps at me, pushing me backward and pinning me to the bed. “Do you really want to discuss all the differences?”

  “Not really.” I laugh. “I’ll bow to your superior knowledge. But just so you know, kids still play rugby here.”

  Adam drops his head and nips at my neck. I sigh, my body stirring. Hell, all he has to do is look at me for that to happen. All the feelings I’ve suppressed for so long have been woken. I’d missed the days in my early twenties when other women my age were going out, having fun, and falling in love. Instead, I’d brought up Max, struggling with a special needs child, and all of a sudden I was thirty. Now, I’m enjoying making up for lost time.

  “I don’t care what Max plays,” I whisper, “as long as I get to play with you.”