He turned his hand over so that it was holding mine. ‘I’ll stay.’
‘Thank you.’ Was he going to kiss me? He didn’t move, but neither did I. I didn’t want to misread his kindness and embarrass us both, especially when I’d have to keep bumping into him at work. Plus, I was beat. I reluctantly let go of his hand and heaved myself up off the sofa. ‘I’ll tidy this lot away if you want to use the bathroom. There should be a spare toothbrush under the sink.’
I headed into the bathroom after him, but clearly took far too long. When I returned to the living area, Rhys was laid on the two-seater sofa, legs dangling over the arm, a fluffy turquoise cushion behind his head, fast asleep. I whispered his name. Silence. I stood over him for a while, but I could tell from his deep breathing that he was gone. Wandering into the bedroom, I found a soft throw, which I gently laid over him.
‘Good night, Rhys,’ I whispered. ‘Thank you for today.’
16
It was 7.30 a.m. when I opened my eyes to the sound of the alarm. Sunlight flooded through a gap in my curtains, warming my face. Rhys! I sat upright, pulled back the duvet, and padded into the living area, but he was gone. Resting on top of the neatly folded throw was a note:
So sorry to run. I didn’t like to wake you. I’m lifeguarding first thing or I’d definitely have stayed and made you breakfast. I’m not at Bay View for the rest of the week – got a contract elsewhere to finish – but are you free on Saturday night? I’ll pick you up at 7 p.m. and take you out for dinner. Text me if you have other plans, although I’m hoping you don’t. Scribbled my number below in case you’ve lost my business card. Rhys xx
I smiled as I read the note again and again. He wanted to take me out. Out! I’d almost forgotten what that felt like.
✉︎ To Rhys
Sorry I missed you. Saturday sounds great xx
Gillian was waiting for me in the entrance at Bay View. ‘I meant to call you to tell you not to come in today, but I’m afraid I lost track of time. How are you?’
‘Still a bit shaken, but I slept well. How’s Denise? Have you heard anything?’
‘Gavin rang earlier. She’s doing really well, but they’d like to keep her in another night for observation. She’s been asking after you.’
I gasped. ‘Me? Why?’
‘Because you saved her life. I want you to go home and rest then, if you don’t mind, I’d really appreciate if you could visit her this afternoon.’
‘But I can’t just take the day off.’
‘Yes you can. And I’ll make sure you get paid for it. You’ve had a hell of a fortnight with Reggie’s death and finding Denise yesterday. You need a break. She’s on Ocean Ward and visiting starts at half one. Bye.’ She literally shooed me away.
Crap! The She-Devil wanted to see me? Gillian had put a positive spin on it, but what if she wanted to tell me off for interfering? If she really had wanted to end her life, I’d scuppered her plans and she might not thank me for it. I looked at my watch. Five hours to go. By the time I walked home, then caught the bus to hospital, I probably had four hours. What the hell would I do with four hours when everyone I knew would be at work? I needed a distraction, or I’d worry myself into a right state. Cleaning. That would have to do.
Four hours later, the flat was gleaming and I had eight binbags full of clothes, books and oddments to take to a charity shop. I changed my T-shirt and walked round the corner to wait for the bus.
✉︎ To Rhys
Denise wants to see me. On my way to hospital. Really nervous in case she’s angry with me for finding her!
* * *
✉︎ From Rhys
I’ve been thinking about this and I’m convinced that, if she didn’t want to be found, she wouldn’t have done it at work. I bet she wants to thank you for saving her life. You were amazing yesterday. Good luck xx
Arriving at the hospital, I took a few deep breaths to try and calm my nerves. ‘Denise Kimble?’ I said to the nurse at the entrance to Ocean Ward.
‘Bed eight at the far end,’ she said.
Denise’s eyes were closed when I approached. Her face was grey, her blonde bob was dishevelled, and she looked more like a woman in her late fifties than early forties. My nerves stepped aside and all I could feel for her was compassion. I cleared my throat slightly. ‘Mrs Kimble?’
She opened her eyes and turned her head towards me. ‘Callie,’ she whispered. ‘I’m glad you came.’ She indicated the chair beside her bed and I tentatively perched on the edge.
‘Please call me Denise.’ She pointed to her throat. ‘Can’t speak properly from the tube.’
I nodded. ‘How are you feeling?’
‘Embarrassed. Relieved. Thankful. You saved my life.’
‘I thought you might be angry with me, if you really wanted to… you know.’ I bit my lip as she stared at me and my heart thumped while I waited for her to speak.
‘I’ve been very tough on you since I started at Bay View. I’ve been hard on all the staff, but you especially.’ She paused and I wondered if she wanted me to say it was all right, but I couldn’t. It wasn’t all right. She’d been a bully. She’d reduced me to tears on several occasions and I’d lost count of how many times I’d decided to hand in my notice because of her, but I hadn’t been able to bear the thought of saying goodbye to the wonderful residents, so I’d put a brave face on it.
‘Do you know what I admire most about you, Callie?’
My eyes widened. I didn’t think she admired anything about me, never mind enough things to have a ‘most admired’ quality amongst them. I shook my head.
‘Your loyalty and your discretion. You knew who was in that gambling ring, but you avoided trouble and found a way to resolve it. You didn’t tell anyone when you found me in the office with all those pills or when you saw me in The Lobster Pot.’ She smiled weakly. ‘Yes, it was me you saw that day. I know from Gillian that you handled yesterday discreetly too. You have the trust and respect of all the staff and residents. I should have given you credit for that sooner.’
‘I don’t see what there is to gain by spreading rumours and gossip. There’s always another side to the story.’
She nodded. ‘There is to mine, but it’s no excuse for how I’ve treated you. Gavin and I are getting divorced. I can’t have children. He knew that when we met and said he wasn’t bothered, but he’s struggled over the years to deal with it and it’s torn us apart. He’s met someone else. I found out yesterday that she’s pregnant.’ A solitary tear trickled down her right cheek. ‘I’ve recently been diagnosed with depression, and I’m afraid the pregnancy news was a little too overwhelming for me.’
Tears welled in my eyes. ‘Did you mean to…?’
She clasped her hands together across her stomach. ‘I don’t know. I think so. But I’m glad I’m still here. I’m getting some help. It might be a while before I’m back at work.’
‘I’m so sorry, Denise. Is there anything I can do?’
‘There is actually. The Starling Group are expanding which means more staff. We need some team leaders. I want you to go for one of those jobs and show everyone what you’re made of.’
I shook my head in disbelief. ‘You really think I could do that?’
Her hand reached out and grasped mine. ‘I do. I think you’ll be great at it. I’ll give you a glowing reference.’
‘Thank you.’ Then my smile slipped. Was she bribing me? Had she just been flattering me with all that stuff about me being trustworthy and discreet? ‘Is this because of yesterday? You don’t have to. I won’t tell anyone about it.’
She gripped my hand more tightly. ‘I know you won’t, but the reference has nothing to do with yesterday. I’ve already recommended you. I put your name forward after the way you handled Reggie’s death.’ She released my hand as her eyes flicked past me and she sighed. ‘Gavin’s here.’
I stood up, hoisting my bag onto my shoulder. ‘I’d better leave you to it, then. I’m so relieved you’re okay and that yo
u’re not mad at me. I can’t thank you enough for putting me forward for the promotion. If I get it, I promise I won’t let you down.’
‘I know. And I can’t thank you enough for saving my life. You’re an amazing young woman, Callie Derbyshire.’ The tears glistening in her eyes were mirrored in my own.
Gavin appeared by the bed, shook my hand and thanked me again for yesterday. All I could do was nod and smile. If I’d opened my mouth to speak, a sob would have escaped and I’d probably not have been able to stop there.
By the time I made it back to the flat forty minutes later the sobs had started again, and I felt lost without Rhys’s comforting arms around me.
17
The buzzer sounded at about 6.50 p.m. on Saturday. Rhys was early. Not that it mattered because I’d been ready for the last hour, anxiously pacing up and down. ‘Do you want me to buzz you in or shall I come straight down?’ I said into the intercom.
‘Buzz me up.’
My stomach lurched. ‘Tony?’
‘It’s okay. Someone’s letting me in.’
Shit! I stood in my doorway, fists flexing, teeth grinding, while I waited for him to climb the two flights of stairs. ‘What the hell do you want?’
‘I miss you.’
‘You miss the sex, you mean. I doubt you get much at home with a baby and three kids around.’
‘Come on, angel,’ he said seductively. ‘I bet you miss it too.’
‘Don’t call me that. And, funnily enough, I don’t. What I miss is what I’ve been missing all year – a normal relationship where the couple go out and do things together.’
He grinned at me. ‘That’s bollocks and you know it. You were never really bothered about going out. You preferred staying in bed.’ He reached out to stroke my cheek, but I leapt back, crying out in pain as I smacked my head on the doorframe.
‘Don’t you dare touch me!’ I snapped.
He laughed. ‘That’s not what you used to say.’
At that moment, I smelt it. ‘Are you drunk?
‘I’ve had a few.’
‘Then I suggest you go home to bed and sleep it off.’
‘I’d rather go to bed with you and work it off.’ He took another step closer. ‘You look gorgeous tonight.’
‘That’s because I’m going out. On a date. Like normal people.’ As soon the words were out, I knew I shouldn’t have said anything.
Tony’s eyes narrowed and his lips curled into a snarl. ‘You little slapper. Didn’t waste your time finding your next lay, did you?’
‘It isn’t like that.’
As he moved closer, I stepped back into the flat and grabbed the door, but he had his foot and hand jammed against it and it wouldn’t budge. Oh my God! My heart thumped. I’d never been scared of Tony, even when he’d confronted me in the summerhouse, but I was now.
‘Please go.’
‘Not until I’ve got what I came for.’ He lunged forward and grabbed me, crushing his lips against mine before I had a chance to scream. He pushed me back against the wall, cracking my head on the corner of the intercom, pinning my arms by my side. The intercom buzzed. Tony moved his mouth from mine and onto my neck and I seized my opportunity. Banging my head back against the intercom, praying I’d catch the button, I yelled, ‘Rhys! Help!’
Tony stopped slobbering on my neck. ‘Who’s Rhys?’
‘Let go of me. You’re hurting me.’ I tried to squirm free but, at five feet four, I was no match for his height and strength.
‘I said, who the fuck is Rhys?’
‘I am!’
I sank to the floor, gasping, as Rhys hauled Tony off me.
‘The gardener?’ cried Tony. ‘You’re screwing the gardener?’
‘She asked you to leave,’ Rhys shouted. ‘Get out! Now!’
Tony laughed – a bitter and cruel sound. ‘I’m not taking orders off a slapper or the gardener.’ He sneered at Rhys. ‘Liked what you saw when you found us in the summerhouse? Fancied a bit yourself, did you?’
Clinging onto the door handle, I managed to haul myself to my feet. ‘Please just go, Tony.’
‘I’m not going anywhere. Or at least not until I’ve done this.’
Rhys stood no chance. He was looking at me, eyes full of concern, when Tony’s fist caught him on the cheek, splitting it open, sending him straight to the floor.
‘Tony! Stop it!’ I screamed, dropping to the floor beside a dazed Rhys. ‘He’s bleeding.’
‘You’re not worth it,’ Tony spat. Then he clattered down the stairs, out of the building and, with any luck, out of our lives.
‘This wasn’t quite how I envisaged our first date,’ I said as we walked across the floodlit hospital car park towards Rhys’s van a few hours later. He’d had his cheek glued and I’d needed six stitches in the back of my head where I’d struck the corner of the intercom. ‘Assuming it was meant to be a date, and not just a night out as friends.’
Rhys took my hand. ‘It was meant to be a date. If you wanted it to be, that is.’
I nodded. ‘I did. Sorry I messed it up.’
Rhys stopped walking and turned to face me, still holding my hand. ‘You didn’t mess anything up. Tony did. And not just with you. I think his whole life’s going to get pretty messy when the police catch up with him.’
I’d felt so sorry for Tony’s wife and children, but there was no way I could let him get away with assaulting us both like that. If Rhys hadn’t shown up, we could have been facing attempted rape, or even… I shuddered at the thought.
‘I never imagined that Tony could be violent like that,’ I said. ‘Then again, I never thought he had a wife or kids. I guess I didn’t know him at all. I think I know you better after two weeks than I know him after a year.’ I smiled at Rhys and added, shyly, ‘I look forward to getting to know you even better.’
‘Same here. There’s something I’d like to know about you right now, though.’
‘What’s that?’
‘How it feels to kiss you.’
I smiled as I tilted my head towards his. ‘Like this.’
Rhys lowered his head until his lips met mine. I closed my eyes as they lightly brushed against mine then parted to kiss me properly. Every part of my body felt on fire at his touch – a sensation I’d never felt before. So this was what real chemistry felt like rather than lust. I liked it. A lot. Rhys moved his hands into my hair and I touched his face at the same time. We both winced and pulled away, laughing. Then we both winced at the laughter, because that hurt too.
‘Come on,’ Rhys said, ‘let’s get you home.’
‘A quick question before we do. Where were you going to take me tonight?’
Rhys smiled. ‘Moor View Farm.’
I grinned. ‘Is that your mate Kev’s place?’
He nodded. ‘The sunset would have been pretty spectacular tonight, but I’ll take you another time.’
‘I thought you said that you’d only take someone special there.’
‘That’s right.’
‘So that would mean…’ Despite the pain in my head, I couldn’t stop smiling. ‘That would mean you think I’m special.’
Rhys grinned too. ‘I think you might be.’
As he bent down and kissed me gently again, I had a feeling he might be pretty special too. Thank goodness it had been his cheek rather than his mouth that Tony had hit.
18
Three Months Later
‘Callie Derbyshire, are you staring at my grandson’s bottom again?’ Ruby asked, feigning shock.
I turned round from the window of the residents’ lounge, giggling. ‘Busted. But it’s so tempting when he’s bent down like that.’ I couldn’t help myself. The last three months with Rhys had been so amazing. He’d shown me what a relationship should be like: a partnership with kindness and respect.
I nodded in the direction of Brenda Simkins who, despite her winsome claims at frailty, had somehow managed to turn one of the rather large armchairs to an angle where she could enjoy the pe
rfect view. ‘It seems I’m not the only one,’ I whispered to Ruby.
‘Oi, Brenda! Enjoying the view?’ Ruby called.
Brenda shuffled awkwardly in her chair. ‘I was trying to work out what the young man was planting,’ she said.
Ruby laughed. ‘If you could manage to raise your gaze from my grandson’s posterior, I think you’ll find that he’s weeding, not planting.’
Brenda squirmed again and pretended to drink from her empty cup of tea.
‘You’re a wicked tease,’ I told Ruby.
‘I’ve got to get my kicks somewhere. That darned Iris Davies is spending far too much time in Reggie’s brother’s company, so I’ve got nobody else to torment.’ Ruby helped herself to another chocolate Hobnob from the tea trolley and settled into her favourite armchair. ‘I can’t bear the sight of those two together, fawning over each other. It’s quite disgusting at their age.’
‘Ruby! How can you say that? Love knows no age. I think it’s really romantic. Childhood sweethearts finding each other again in their seventies.’
‘Childhood sweethearts? Pah!’ She waved her hand and shook her head. ‘They were in the same class at school when they were seven. That’s hardly the same as being childhood sweethearts, is it?’
I picked up the last few dirty cups and saucers off the coffee table and added them to the pile on the trolley. ‘That’s not the way Iris tells it.’
‘Yes, well, she’s a liar, isn’t she? And she cheats at dominoes. And cards. Not quite as innocent as she looks, you know.’ She tapped her nose, knowingly.
‘You’re becoming very cynical, Ruby. Anyone would think you didn’t believe in love, which clearly isn’t the case given how supportive you are of Rhys and me.’
‘That’s different. You two were made for each other. Anyone can see that.’
Making Wishes at Bay View Page 10
