Unexpected Truth

by Cecilia Fyre

  “No coffee,” he said sternly. “Caffeine increases the risk of bleeding.”

  Lea sighed, but she had to smile. It was sweet how he’d memorized the instructions from the gynecologist. “Who’s the doctor now, huh? All right then, make me some tea.”

  Back on the sofa, she closed her eyes, breathing through the pain in her side. Up hadn’t been so bad. Down was definitely worse. Ricco lifted her legs onto the sofa and spread the quilt over her. He frowned in concentration as he smoothed the fabric over her legs, and Lea had to hide a grin.

  A huge wave of affection washed over her. He’d insisted that she would come home with him to recover. The OBGYN had agreed with him and Lea had been overruled. “I’ll cancel everything, I’ll look after you, baby girl,” Ricco had said.

  And he’d meant it. Once they were home he’d shifted around his diary so he could stay in the city for at least a week.

  When he straightened up now and caught her looking he grinned, bashful. “I was making ginger tea, you want that, too?”

  Lea grimaced. “I’m not seasick.”

  “It’s really tasty.”

  “I’ll take your word for it,” she said. “Can I have a decaf Earl Grey instead?”

  “Sure thing.”

  While Ricco busied himself in the kitchen Lea rested her eyes. The last couple of days still felt unreal. She hadn’t changed her mind about not wanting the baby, but she hadn’t wanted this to happen, either. And it had hurt and traumatized Ricco, and that worried Lea more than anything.

  She had no illusions, she knew that not everything would be well between them overnight, just because he was sweet and kind and taking care of her. Many things still remained unsaid, and they would have to address them if they wanted to move forward.

  But she was hopeful. They loved each other, and they both wanted this to work. At the hospital he’d refused to go home even though he’d been sick with exhaustion. He’d climbed into her bed as soon as she’d allowed it. They’d both been conked out on Diazepam and with him there she’d had some of the best sleep of her life.

  Lea's contemplations were disrupted by a meowing near the floor, and the next moment Carl landed next to her on the sofa. She patted his head and he purred loudly, then wedged himself into the space between her side and the sofa. "Silly kitty.”

  Ricco brought two mugs. Lea sat up straighter and he said, “Wait, let me help.”

  He rearranged her pillows and Lea sank back with a grateful sigh. Ricco perched on the edge of the sofa. They sipped their tea. Ricco's face grew contemplative. The hand not holding the teacup worried at the hem of the blanket covering Lea's legs. She disentangled it and squeezed his fingers.

  “Don’t frown, darling. I’ll be fine. I’m healing really well. I will…there won’t be any permanent damage.” She barely managed to avoid what was on the tip of her tongue: I will still be able to have children. While physically that might be perfectly true, nothing had changed. She didn’t want any.

  “I thought you were gonna die,” he said quietly. “And when that cop talked to me, I… I thought I’d killed you.”

  “But honey, you didn’t touch me… you’d never hurt me.”

  He shook his head. He’d not yet worked through the trauma, and it would take time. When he looked up, his eyes were full of tears. “Don’t ever leave me.”

  “Oh, honey!” Lea took the mug from him and put it on the floor. Another stab of pain sliced through her side but she ignored it. “Come here.”

  Ricco hugged her, and Lea wrapped her arms around him tightly. He was shaking. Lea’s eyes filled with tears as she stroked his back.

  They managed to curl up on the sofa, her head on his chest, his hand in her hair. He stopped crying at last, and as his heartbeat returned to normal, Lea relaxed. She was warm and comfortable, and it was good to feel him close. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

  When Lea woke again there was someone else in the room. She rubbed her eyes and focused. Ciaran sat in an armchair and looked up from his iPad when she stretched.

  “Hi.” Lea glanced around. They seemed to be alone.

  “Hey,” he said. “Dad’s gone to run some errands, and I think he’s going by your place to get your stuff. Is it okay I’m here?”

  Lea suspected that Ricco had wanted someone to stay with her. “Sure it is. But you don’t need to sit with me. I’m sure you’d much rather go to your room?”

  He shrugged. There was something like world-weariness on his face. “It’s okay. I used to do it for Dad all the time when his head's bad. Do you want a drink?"

  “A coffee would be amazing.” Couldn’t hurt to try.

  The boy gave a knowing grin. “Dad said you’d try that. You’re not allowed.”

  Lea suppressed a smile. This was one precocious kid all right. “I made you one, remember? And I never tattled. So, as long as we don’t tell your dad…” And when Ciaran still looked unconvinced Lea added sincerely, “It won’t harm me, I promise. I’m a doctor, I know about these things.”

  He thought about that for a moment, then nodded and got up. “Latte?”

  “Yes, please!”

  The anticipation of the hot, frothy treat had Lea excited, and she waited impatiently for Ciaran to get back. While she lay there, shaking off the last remnants of her nap she thought about the changes in her relationship with Ricco over the last few days. He’d dropped everything to look after her, and he’d even talked his son into helping. It wasn’t necessarily an indication that they would work out long term, Lea knew that. But she’d take it one day at a time and enjoy what they had. Even if that was bloody difficult.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by a phone ringing, and she automatically started looking around for hers. But then the ringing stopped. It had been Ciaran’s cell.

  “Hey.” There was a pause while the boy listened. “Yeah, she’s awake. Hang on.”

  He reappeared from the kitchen and handed her his phone. Then he placed her coffee on the table, making a shushing gesture, pointing at the phone. I won’t tell him, she mouthed. Then she raised the phone. “Hey honey. You okay?”

  “Fine.” There was a pause. “But I don’t know which papers you wanted. There’s piles everywhere.”

  Lea tried to visualize her apartment, and the stacks of research papers she’d accumulated. “See the pile by the sofa? There’s a red magazine on top…take all of those. And the bag on the chair.”

  “The chair by the desk?”

  “No, against the wall.”

  There were footsteps, and a rustling noise, then, “Got it. That’s enough. You’re supposed to rest.”

  “All right,” she sighed. “Thank you.”

  “I packed your clothes and the bathroom stuff. Is there” He stopped suddenly, and his breath hitched.

  “Darling, what’s the matter?” Lea asked, sitting up. “Talk to me.”

  “I see you lying there, and all the blood.” A strangled moan came over the connection.

  “Ricco, listen to me." She made her voice as stern as she could. "Sit down, right now!" She waited for a moment. "You found somewhere?"

  “Yeah. I‘m on the sofa.”

  In her mind’s eye Lea could see him there, hunched over. “Good, now listen. I’m fine, I’m healing just fine. You saved me, honey. And now you’re looking after me, and you’re doing brilliantly.” It all came out in a rush, and she took a deep breath. “I love you. I want to be with you. Nobody has meant this much to me in a long time.” There was silence on the other end, but he was listening.

  Ciaran, back in the kitchen, had gone very quiet. Sod it. The boy would have to get used to her and his dad being together.

  “Darling, I know how awful this was for you, and it sucks. I’m sorry to put you through this. But I’m so grateful to have you. You’re doing great. It’s all gonna be fine.”

  More silence. Lea knew him well enough to understand that he needed a few moments to square all this in his mind. That was what he did, bre
ak it down quietly, take it all in steps. When he spoke again his voice was barely a whisper. “I love you, baby girl. We…we can do this.” It wasn’t a question, but he needed her to answer.

  “Yes, darling. We can.”

  “Okay.” Very quietly, “I’m trying.”

  “I know you are. It’ll be fine, you’ll see,” she said. “Come home now, honey. Are you safe to drive?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Are you sure? Maybe call a taxi.”

  “Nah. I’ll have a smoke on your balcony, then I’ll head back. See you soon, okay?”

  “Okay. Be careful. I… I need you, you know.”

  “I need you too, baby girl. See you real soon.”

  “Bye.” She ended the call.

  Ciaran reappeared. “Is Dad okay?” He looked anxious, and Lea felt guilty.

  “He’s fine. It’s just hard on him.”

  Ciaran said, “He’s not so good with problems. He tries to help, but he’s not, you know.”

  Lea wondered what was going through the boy’s head. She felt sorry for him. It was a lot for a kid his age to have to grapple with these issues.

  Ciaran seemed to try out the words in his head before he spoke again. “I know he loves me… but his work, it gets in the way.”

  “I bet it does,” Lea said. “And now I’ve entered the picture, and it probably seems like he’ll have even less time for you.”

  “Oh, I don’t mind you being here,” Ciaran said quickly. “I hope it’ll work out. You’re nice.”

  “Thanks.” This was high praise that was from a teenager.

  “Maybe” Ciaran gave her a nervous glance. Lea waited, but nothing else was forthcoming.

  “Maybe what?” she prompted gently. “You can tell me, Ciaran.”

  “Maybe he’ll slow down a bit now,” he said quietly. “You’re a doctor, and maybe he’ll listen to you.”

  “Ciaran.” She didn’t want to promise him things she wouldn’t be able to keep.

  “Oh, I know you can’t fix his headache. I just wish he’d work less.” He looked at her, hopeful. “Maybe he’ll be, y’know…more interested in his family again, if you’re a part of it.”

  There was a lump in Lea’s throat. Ciaran’s expression was so hopeful, it broke her heart. She didn’t want to dash his dreams. How could she explain to a fifteen-year-old that life wasn’t often fair?

  “Let’s see what happens, okay?” she said kindly. “But I’m hoping your dad and I will spend more time together, and I’d love for you to come over more.”

  That seemed enough for Ciaran. He looked relieved and nodded to himself in the same dreamy way Ricco did sometimes, then returned to his iPad. Lea lay back. Hopefully, she hadn't jinxed things. But it was nice to have the boy's trust. How peaceful life had to be if you could still believe in the goodness of people.

  Epilogue

  He drove on autopilot. Since he knew the city so well, he wasn’t worried about getting lost. The part of his brain not focused on the road turned over the events from the last few days.

  Having Lea back was such a relief. He’d been sure she would die, there, on his bathroom floor.

  It kept flashing before his eyes. Blood, crimson-black, on him, his hands, the floor, her, everywhere, and it wouldn’t come off. He’d scrubbed that floor for what felt like hours, while she slept. He’d thrown out the sheets that had been drenched in her blood, but there was still dried blood on the mattress. He didn’t tell her. But he’d have to replace the mattress the first chance he got.

  He shook his head, trying to dislodge the images, but they just intensified, and were joined by the face of that stupid cop who blamed him for what had happened to his girl.

  His heart raced, his hands gripped the steering wheel so hard, his knuckles turned white. He should stop. Cutting across several lanes of traffic he pulled over, angry horns all around him, but he hardly heard. Putting the Jeep into Park, Ricco exhaled shakily, then leaned his forehead on the wheel.

  He loved her. He wanted to be with her.

  But was that enough to make his demons go away? To give him a reason to come home at night?

  It had never been enough in the past.

  Another memory flashed before his eyes. Blonde hair, sweet, doll-shaped face. Lea had told him Anna came by just before the accident. The box she’d brought still sat on the dining table. He’d briefly peeked inside. It was full of photos and clippings from their time on set last year.

  Ricco hadn’t even said thank you yet. He wasn’t sure he should contact Anna, not with things the way they were. But why the actual fuck not?

  Because…there were a thousand reasons why it was wrong, why it was a terrible idea. He pushed the bad thoughts away.

  He fished his phone out of his pocket and quickly typed a message, pressed send before he could change his mind.

  Thx 4 the pix. Let’s meet up soon. X

  Strangely, it calmed him down. He was disgusted with himself, but the visions of blood and death were gone. He knew exactly what would happen when he saw Anna again.

  Jon was right, he’d never stop until he’d confessed it all. But his friend was wrong, too. Maybe he needed the self-destruction to be alive, to function.

  To have a reason to carry on.

  To be continued in Book 3

  Thank you!

  I hope you enjoyed the story. If you want to know what happens next with Lea and Ricco, the next novella will be out soon!

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  About the Author

  Cecilia Fyre is the pen name of a romance author trying out something new.

  She likes sunny, crisp autumn days. Cups of hot cocoa with little marshmallows floating on top. The roaring of the sea. Laughing until your face hurts. The silence when you curl up with a good book.

  Her stories are about people. Some of them are strange, some think they're boring. They all have secrets, they're all scared sometimes. Cecilia writes about life, about love. About how hard it is to do it right. Usually, there's a happy ending, or at least there might be one, someday.

  But life's not all sunshine and roses, and that's why Cecilia tells her stories.

  In the real world, Cecilia lives in England.

  You can find Cecilia on Twitter and Facebook.

  Also by Cecilia Fyre