Songbird Caged

by Lisa Edward

  “That depends.”

  “On what?” he asked, hopefully.

  “On whether you’re going to leave me here, freezing my butt off.”

  He took two steps forward, and wrapped the towel around me, enclosing me in his big arms.

  “But,” I said.

  He slumped. “There’s always a but with you.”

  “We have to go back to how things were before Paris. We can cuddle, but no touching, or kissing on the lips. Agreed?”

  He shook his head stubbornly. “No, not agreed. I want to keep moving forward, not go backwards.”

  “I can’t, Cole. We can be good friends again, or nothing. Riley is due back soon. He said it could be in as little as a month, and I have to wait for him. I owe him that.”

  He moved away despondently. “Fine, have it your way, as always,” he grumbled under his breath. “I’ll go and put the coffee on.”

  I came out fifteen minutes later, dressed and ready to go. I’d decided on a jersey-knit, taupe dress, with capped sleeves and a sweetheart neckline. To finish it off, I put on a gold chain lariat necklace that Cole had bought me in Paris, and high, nude-coloured stilettos.

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake,” Cole exclaimed, turning his back to me and lacing his hands behind his head. “You don’t play fair. If I’m not allowed to touch you, you can’t dress like that.”

  I chuckled. “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s just a dress.”

  He turned to face me, his eyes sweeping over me from head to toe, then back up again. He came over to my side. “I’m going to have to put a paper bag over your head, or something.”

  I slapped him on the shoulder playfully, making him shy away.

  “You’re not funny, you know.”

  His eyes were laughing as they met mine. He sighed heavily then ran the backs of his fingers down my cheek and along my jawline until they reached the gold chain around my neck.

  His eyes flicked up to meet mine, his gaze becoming serious before returning to the chain. His fingers hooked lightly under the delicate gold links, and slowly followed them down my cleavage, brushing against my breast.

  I closed my eyes. I wanted to focus all my attention on the warmth of his touch against my skin, and the way it made me feel. It would be the last time I would allow him to touch me this way, and I wanted to remember it.

  “You’re trembling, babe,” he whispered.

  I hadn’t realised. I also hadn’t realised that I was holding my breath, every nerve on full alert. Or that a solitary tear had escaped, and was running down my cheek.

  I opened my eyes and met his. His look was so compassionate that it made me want to cry harder.

  “No tears, babe,” he murmured as he kissed them away. “I get it, okay?” He ran his hands into the sides of my hair, holding my head in place so I had to look at him. “I’m not going to put you in an awkward position anymore, where you have to fight with yourself.”

  I was relieved that he understood how draining it was to resist him twenty-four, seven.

  “Hotshot said he should be home in a month, so I’ll back off until he’s home, and you can decide who you want.”

  I smiled, and let out the breath I’d been holding.

  “But, on the off-chance that you may not choose me, I’m not going to sit around and wait.” He looked at me pointedly, trying to drive his position home.

  I understood perfectly what he was saying. I knew he would be having sex with random girls like he always did, the thought of which made my stomach churn. But what choice did I have? I couldn’t ask him to wait for me to make a decision that may not be in his favour when it came to the crunch.

  The question was would I choose him?

  I had no idea how I would feel about Riley once he was back, and we were together again. I may realise that my feelings for him weren’t as strong as they were before, and want to be with Cole. Then again, one look at Riley and I may be totally smitten, and ready to get married. I really didn’t know.

  I nodded, indicating that I understood what he was telling me. “Please do me one favour though. Don’t take them to my apartment while you’re staying there, and please, please, please don’t bring them here.” I looked down, and swallowed hard. “I couldn’t go through another Paris.”

  WE ARRIVED at the nursing home and made our way through the foyer, past reception, and headed up the passageway to Pops’ room.

  “Excuse me.” We heard someone calling out to us, her shoes making a little tapping sound as she ran after us.

  We turned to see Pops’ nurse approaching. She batted her eyelashes at Cole for a moment¸ before turning to me.

  “I’m sorry, but if you’re here to see Victor Michaels—” She glanced at Cole again, obviously aware of who he was and which resident he was here to visit. “—it’s family members only.”

  “Why?” Cole asked, frowning.

  She hesitated, looking at me again, before turning back to Cole. “I’m afraid he’s not been well. He has had some tests and has been put on medication, but he’s quite weak. We thought it best to limit his visitors.” She smiled flirtatiously at Cole again. “But of course, you can go in. Your father is already with him.”

  I turned to Cole. “It’s okay, I can wait out here. Just let him know I’m here, and I hope he feels better soon.”

  “You can tell him yourself.”

  Cole turned to the nurse. “It’s okay, Tara’s my wife so she’s family.” He squeezed my hand. “Let’s go, babe.”

  I couldn’t help the gasp that escaped me when I saw Pops laying in his bed. He looked so frail, nothing like the man I had danced with only five weeks ago. Most of his face was covered with an oxygen mask, and there were tubes and wires attached to machines that were monitoring his vital signs.

  I hesitated at the door, not sure if I should go in, but Cole refused to let go of my hand and dragged me with him.

  He looked at me with steely determination, and I knew I needed to be there for him. He needed someone to lean on, and that someone was me.

  As soon as Pops saw us enter his room he lifted his hand to wave weakly, then pulled his mask off.

  “Cole, my boy, thank you for coming to visit me.” He tried to sit up, but Cole leaned over the bed to hug Pops instead.

  The old man’s arms looked like toothpicks wrapped around Cole’s broad shoulders, and I could feel my eyes welling up. I silently chastised myself. No crying allowed.

  I held back for a moment while Cole shook his dad’s hand then stepped back, so I had a clear line of vision to Pops.

  Pops gave me one of his cheeky, winning smiles, and my heart melted. I bit my lip, and sniffed back a tear before going over to him.

  “My dear girl, come over here and give me a hug. It’s my birthday, you know.”

  I hugged him loosely, not wanting to squeeze too tight, but was surprised by the strength he still had.

  “I know it’s your birthday. I was hoping for a dance, but I guess I’ll have to take a rain-check.”

  He laughed, his cheerfulness turning into a deep cough that lasted a full five minutes.

  At the sound of Pops’ coughing, Cole and his dad came rushing back over from the corner they had been talking in. Cole looked pale and drawn, and his dad wasn’t much better.

  “My dear girl, what happened to your arm?” Pops asked, as if he hadn’t just been coughing up a lung.

  I held up the plaster cast. “Oh, nothing much, just an accident.”

  “What type of accident?” he asked concerned.

  That was it. I couldn’t hold the tears back. This man who looked to me like he had maybe a few good days left on this planet was worried about me.

  Cole was behind me. He rested his hands on my shoulders while kissing the back of my head.

  “Tara was attacked a couple of weeks ago as she was leaving work. The guy knocked her out, and broke her wrist in the process.”

  Cole’s arms were now wrapped around my shoulders, squeezing me tight. “But she
’s okay now, aren’t you, babe?”

  I turned my head to look over my shoulder at him. “Thanks to you.” I placed my hand on his cheek, and kissed his lips softly.

  The look of surprise on Cole’s face made me realise what I’d just done. I bit my lip and he chuckled. “Just can’t help yourself, can you?”

  Pops and Victor were still watching us as I turned back to them. “Cole saved me. He came out and chased the guy off, then called the ambulance and sat with me in the hospital all night. That’s why Cole left Hawaii early to come home. I was in a pretty bad way.”

  Victor nodded, his eyes smiling. “I knew it had something to do with you. Every time I went to find him he was on the phone.”

  “Who were you on the phone to?” I asked, turning back to look at Cole.

  “Everyone,” he said. “I was calling you, then when you didn’t answer I called Jay and Marcus. I was calling the police everyday as well, to see if they had any leads.”

  “Oh.” I felt really guilty. I hadn’t realised Cole had spent so much time on the phone, instead of enjoying his holiday with Prue. “Sorry I spoilt your holiday with your future bride,” I said with a smirk.

  “You’re not still going ahead with that ridiculous arrangement are you?” It was Pops, and he was extremely agitated. “You know, I’d hoped to see my grandson married and settled down before I left this world.” He set his jaw firmly. “But if it’s to that gold-digger I’d rather not be around to see it.”

  “Dad, please,” Victor said, resting his hand on Pops’ shoulder.

  “No, I’ve been quiet long enough. Every family has a skeleton or two in their closet. Don’t make Cole have to sacrifice his happiness for the Michaels’ name. She’s not the right girl for Cole. You know that as well as I do.” He rested his own hand over Victor’s. “I know you love Lucinda, and she has protected you through this, but you have to know that this is wrong, that she won’t make him happy.”

  “I agree,” I chimed in, although I suddenly had the feeling I didn’t know the full story.

  Both Victor and Pops looked at me.

  “Cole should be allowed to choose who he spends the rest of his life with, and it should be with someone he loves, not someone he is being forced to marry.”

  “And who should that be?” Pops asked me with a sly grin.

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. But I’m sure when he meets her, he’ll know she’s the one.” I smiled. “Just as long as she makes him happy, and doesn’t try to stop us from being friends.”

  I squeezed Cole’s arms that were still wrapped around me, and looked over my shoulder at him. “Isn’t that right, babe?”

  He gave me a half smile. “That’s if Hotshot still lets you see me once he gets back.”

  “Who’s Hotshot?” Victor asked, puzzled.

  “Tara’s fiancé.”

  Victor raised his eyebrows. “Fiancé?”

  “Yes. Tara’s engaged to a soldier who’s due back home in the next couple of months. So, that’s going to change everything, anyway.” He gave a forced chuckle. “Maybe I should just go ahead and marry Prue.”

  I gave him a cross look. I didn’t approve of his defeatist attitude.

  “What?” He shrugged. “It won’t matter to me who I end up with. You’ll be married, and probably living in Sydney anyway.”

  I couldn’t talk about this anymore. The thought of being married to Riley and living in Sydney, which I still strongly didn’t want to do, confused the crap out of me. But the thought of Cole being forced to marry Prudence Harrington, to live with her and sleep with her, just made me angry.

  Victor must have been able to read my expression, so he changed the subject by asking about our time in Paris. What could I say about Paris? It was beautiful, we had a wonderfully romantic time, and then Cole ripped my heart out and flushed it down the toilet.

  Pops sighed. “What happened?”

  We were both silent.

  “What did you do?” he asked Cole.

  This was my queue to go fetch coffee for everyone. I really didn’t need to experience again the gut wrenching heartache of our last night in Paris. Grabbing my purse, I headed for the door.

  “You can tell them as much or as little as you like,” I said, turning to Cole. “But I don’t need to relive it.”

  By the time I came back with a cardboard tray filled with three cups of coffee and one cup of tea, I could tell Cole had pretty much told them everything.

  He was sitting in the armchair by the window. He had his elbows resting on his knees, his hands balled into fists under his chin.

  Victor and Pops were both looking at him like they couldn’t believe what they’d just heard.

  I handed out the foam cups and sat up on the end of the bed.

  “My dear girl,” Pops said, finally breaking the silence. “I am so sorry for my grandson’s conduct, it must have been terrible for you.”

  Looking down at my cup, I tried to smile, but I could feel tears pricking my eyes. As much as I had tried to push the memory and the feelings away, they kept breaking through the wall and twisting my insides again and again.

  “Babe.” Cole started to stand.

  “Don’t.” I placed the cup back down on the tray. “I need a minute.”

  Then I dashed out.

  I stopped when I reached the passageway, leaning my butt up against the wall, hands on knees. I needed to control my breathing before I started crying like a big baby.

  “Are you okay?” I heard a soothing voice ask.

  Looking up, I found a very attractive man with short cropped blonde hair and a stubbled jaw. He was dressed in pants and a business shirt, with a stethoscope slung around his shoulders. His intense hazel eyes were studying my face.

  “I’m fine,” I replied, straightening up and indicating to Pops’ door. “I just needed some fresh air, that’s all.”

  He smiled and relaxed his gaze. “Are you related to Mr Michaels?”

  “No, just a friend of his grandson. It’s his birthday, so we came to visit him.”

  “Hmm,” he said cheekily. “I’m pretty sure we said family-members only.”

  I bit my lip and shrugged, making him laugh. “But the occasional ring-in won’t hurt I guess. So, just a friend of his grandson then?”

  We introduced ourselves, then Dr Andrew Brightman ushered me back into the room.

  Cole jumped up as soon as he heard the door open, but gave the doctor a steely stare when he saw him enter behind me.

  I raised my eyebrows at Cole and he sat back down in the chair, frowning at his hands in his lap.

  Doctor Andrew went about examining Pops, and I busied myself browsing the books on Pops’ bookshelf. He had some real old classics in worn leather covers, as well as biographical books of famous musicians, and modern classic novels.

  I pulled a leather bound copy of Pride and Prejudice off the shelf. I hadn’t read it since I was a teenager. I turned to Pops, holding the book up, and asked if I could borrow it.

  “You can have it, my dear girl, I won’t be reading it again.”

  Cole had been watching the doctor, but turned to look at me when he heard me speak.

  “It’s probably a first edition. He has quite a few.”

  I checked in the cover. “Oh, I can’t take this, I didn’t realise.”

  I went to put it back on the shelf.

  “Don’t be silly,” Pops said, between taking deep breaths so the doctor could check his lungs. “I’d rather it went to someone who will appreciate it.”

  I looked at Victor; he nodded. Cole was nodding too. I didn’t know what to say, it was no doubt worth a lot of money, but the sentiment behind the gift was what had me speechless. He was such a kind, generous man, and he had welcomed me into his life like I was one of the family.

  Cole cleared his throat, snapping me out of my thoughts. “When you’ve finished checking out Tara, maybe you could finish checking on my Pops?”

  Poor Doctor Andrew returned his attentio
n back to Pops, with a slight blush in his cheeks. He tapped his back a few more times, checked his blood pressure and was done.

  As he was leaving, he handed Victor his business card. “If you have any questions or would like to speak to me, please give me a call.”

  Then he handed me one of his cards. “Or if you’d like to go out for dinner, I’m available any time.”

  I couldn’t help the smile that wanted to spread across my face. It was quite brazen of him, and Cole looked like he was ready to charge the guy and tackle him to the ground.

  “Thank you,” I replied, before slipping the card into the front of the book.

  We said our goodbyes, and Victor reminded us that we were expected for dinner the following weekend for Prue’s birthday.

  “It was Tara’s birthday last week, too. Maybe we should make it a double celebration,” Cole suggested with a wry smile.

  “Oh, can I come?” Pops asked, rubbing his hands together like he was up to something.

  Victor laughed. “If you’re well enough, and the doctor gives you the all clear, I’ll come and pick you up myself.”

  I leant over to Pops. “We can sit in the naughty corner together.”

  He laughed. “I bet we have to eat dinner out in the kitchen!”

  I gave the gorgeous old man a hug, and without thinking, grabbed Cole’s hand to leave the room.

  I hoped Pops would be well enough to make it to dinner the following weekend. I had noticed on Dr Andrew’s business card it had his specialty listed as oncologist, which could mean only one thing. Pops had cancer.

  IT WAS a bittersweet day, when I picked Kelli up and drove her to the doctor’s for her first ultrasound scan. I knew she would have given anything to have Cooper there, to hold her hand and see the images of their baby for the first time. But as a substitute, I was determined to make it as memorable as possible.

  Kelli was shown to a cubicle, where she could get changed into the extremely unattractive hospital-type lavender gown before going through to lay on the table.

  The ultrasound technician asked Kelli a few questions about her pregnancy before squeezing some cold gel onto her stomach, and spreading it over with the scanning implement.