Another Chance (19 page)

Cassie was the sole occupant of the waiting room. It was quiet, so quiet the only sound was the clock ticking above her. Her fingernails were ragged, and she looked empty, a shell of her former self. Patrick approached her slowly. “Cassie?”

She didn’t even raise her head, so lost in thought that she was completely oblivious to his presence.

“Cassie?” he said again and knelt in front of her, finally getting her to look at him.

“Patrick,” she whispered.

“What’s going on?”

“Mark had chest pains, they got worse and worse, and I called an ambulance. They thought he was stable at first, but it happened again, so they asked me to wait out here while they take care of him.”

“When was the last time you had an update?”

She shrugged. “I don’t think it was that long ago.”

“When was the last time you spoke to Lauren.”

“The nurse took me to a phone a little while ago when I came out here. I don’t know exactly how long.”

He pulled out his mobile. “How about we call her now. She must be going out of her mind.”

“I should have brought my journal, there’s so much to record.” She sounded distracted.

Patrick dialled Cassie’s mobile and Sophie answered. “It’s been an hour since we heard anything, what’s going on?” She demanded as soon as she answered the phone.

“I’m calling because I’m with your mother. The doctors were taking care of Mark while Cassie sat in the waiting room, but I’ll try to get a medical update okay?”

“Okay. Is Mum all right?”

“Not really, but I’m here now and I’ll take care of her. Go give Lauren a big hug and tell her I’ll call with news as soon as I have some.”

“Thanks, Patrick.”

A nurse went past, and Patrick called out to her to stop. “I need an update on Mark Burrows, can you get me one?”

“Are you a relative?”

“No, but I have been one of his doctors these past few weeks. His partner is sitting here with no news so can you get some for me?”

She stared at him, and he had to show her his ID card for Auckland hospital before she disappeared to get his update. It didn’t take much longer for a doctor to appear and Patrick knew from the expression on his face what the news was.

“I’m so sorry, Miss Warren but Mark’s gone. We tried so hard, but he was so weak from his illness, and he fought it, he really did, but it was just too much for him.”

Cassie let out a sob, Patrick thought he had never heard anything so heart wrenching. It sounded as if her own heart had been ripped out as she cried out in pain.

“Cassie,” he said softly.

Her legs wavered underneath her, and he caught her just before she fell. “Cassie.”

“I just hoped,” she whispered.

He held her tightly, so she couldn’t move and fall. “I know.”

“Can I see him?”

“Come through.”

Patrick followed her through the doors. Mark lay still on the bed and she went to his side, taking his hand in hers. “You weren’t supposed to leave me yet old man. I love you so much.”

“He loved you too,” Patrick whispered, standing behind her. “He loved you more than anything Cassie.”

“We talked about getting married. Before he went to Dubai, he said when he got back we could get married, but then everything turned to crap.”

“I’m so sorry Cassie.”

“He was just the perfect person at the perfect time for me. How often does that happen?” She kissed his hand. It was already growing cold, and she squeezed it as if she wanted the last bit of warmth out of it for herself.

She covered her face with her other hand and Patrick heard a sob escape her. “Let it go Cassie, don’t hold it in now. That’s not what Mark would have wanted.”

Patrick put his arms around her, pulling her into a hug while she sobbed. “I’m so sorry Cassie. I really am. You two didn’t deserve any of this.”

He waited until she calmed. “I should go and get Lauren and Sophie. They’re waiting for an update.”

“Yes please,” she whispered, “I need Sophie.”

“Will you be all right here for a little while?”

“I’m with Mark, I’ll be fine. Thank you, Patrick.”

He kissed the top of her head. “You’re welcome sweetheart. I’ll be back as fast as I can.”

Patrick got to the house and took a deep breath. Telling Lauren her brother had died would be difficult. He had learned how to deal with patients in his basic training but never had to tell a patient their loved one had died in reality. Maybe he would have to switch out of doctor mode and tell her as a friend.

She was waiting with Sophie on the couch in the living room and looked up as he walked in the door. “Patrick?” She whispered.

He closed his eyes and shook his head. “Sorry love, Mark’s gone.”

Lauren clutched Sophie as the pair burst into tears. “If you want to grab your things, I’ll take you to the hospital to see him.”

She nodded. “Okay. I’ll just grab my purse. Sophie, get a jacket.”

Sophie paused to hug Patrick. “Hey sweetie, let’s go see your Dad.” The words caught, but he couldn’t think of that right now. No matter his suspicions, Mark was her father tonight.

Back at the hospital, they found Cassie still sitting beside him, holding his hand in hers. She was calm and looked up as they walked through the door. Patrick hated that her eyes were dead. Emotionless as if on automatic pilot.

Sophie went straight to her mother, hugging her until Cassie let go so Lauren could step in to say goodbye to her brother. “He looks so peaceful,” Lauren said.

“He knows how much you all loved him.” Patrick came up behind them, and Sophie pulled him into the hug with Cassie. It was awkward, but he let go of anything other than compassion for the family that had lost a loved one.

Somehow after leaving the hospital they got through that first night, there had been very little sleep as they all spent most of the night sitting up and talking, but when sleep did overtake them, Cassie curled up her bed which still had the indent of Mark’s body. Sophie soon joined her with Lauren taking Sophie’s bed for the night.

Cassie stroked the bed sheet where Mark had lain, it seemed impossible that he would never occupy the space again, but it was true and she would have to accept it. She moved closer until her head was on his pillow and finally fell asleep.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Mark had insisted that the funeral not be depressing. There was plenty of music and laughter as Mark's friends recounted stories of their younger days.

Cassie closed her eyes through most of it, her own memories flooding back. How they deserted his birthday party to make love for the first time, his delight at moving in to be with her and Sophie, whom he had loved as his own, Sophie asking to call him Dad. The last one caused her to open her eyes. At her side was Sophie’s biological father, Patrick and Cassie wondered how much longer she could keep that fact from him.

Sophie sat on the other side with Lauren next to her. Cassie felt weird listening and watching the funeral go on around her. It was as if it was happening to another person. She swallowed down the nausea and resisted the urge to lean on Patrick’s shoulder even when she felt faint. And then it was his turn to speak.

“My name is Doctor Patrick Cross, and I’m an old friend of Cassie. I ran into Cassie and Mark at the hospital when he was going through his diagnosis and since then have spent a significant amount of time with them while Mark’s illness ran its course. Mark and Cassie had something special. It was obvious they adored each other, forming their home together with Sophie and looking forward to spending the rest of their lives together.”

He paused. “Sadly, that was not to be. I’m so sorry to see Mark go, over the past few months we became friends. We hung out together, watched sport together, even got drunk together to Cassie’s irritation. She dedicated that time to his care, being there when he needed her and did an amazing job of holding everything together.”

Patrick met Cassie’s eyes, which were brimming with tears. “Cassie, I understand how hard this is for you and for Sophie. Mark loved you with every fibre of his being and you loved him right back. I’m sure everyone here has some idea of how much you’re hurting, and we’re all so sorry for what’s happened. Stay strong, you can get through this, and I’ll be there if you need me.”

She nodded and when he sat down she hugged him while he kissed the top of her head. Patrick felt Sophie’s hand on his shoulder and winked at her over her mother’s head. Everyone wanted to talk to Cassie at the wake afterwards, and Patrick bided his time while one by one people came up to give her their condolences.

He felt a hand slip into his and looked down to see Sophie smiling at him.

“Hey.”

“Hey. Thanks for everything you said, it was nice.”

“I meant every word, Sophie. You two need anything, and I’m there.”

“Thanks, Patrick, you’re awesome. Will Mum be all right?”

“Your mum will be fine. She’s strong, Sophie, but she needs us now more than ever. So we have to be strong for her too, and for Lauren.”

“Lauren likes you.”

“I like her too, she’s a good woman.”

“No. I mean really likes you. She asked Mum if you had a girlfriend.”

Patrick looked up and saw Lauren watching him. He hadn’t even noticed her paying attention to him. She was gorgeous, but she wasn’t Cassie. If what Sophie said was true, he’d have to find a way to subtly let her know he wasn’t interested in her. “That’s nice, Sophie.”

“Mum said she didn’t know but that you always had girls wanting to go out with you. Is that true?”

He pulled a face, not about to admit that he’d never had trouble finding women to screw to a ten year old. “You’re far too young to talk about this stuff with.”

“I’ll be twelve in six months. I know about boys and girls, Mum told me.”

“Twelve, huh?”

That made things even more interesting. Cassie had told him Sophie was ten, but she was eleven and basic biology told him a whole new story. “When’s your birthday, Sophie?”

“September. You could come for the party.”

He grinned. “I could. If you invite me.”

“Maybe Mum will be more happy by then.”

“Maybe sweetheart. Hey I might just get going, your mum is busy, and you need some time alone.”

“You’re not staying tonight?”

He tousled her hair. “Not tonight but I’ll talk to you really soon. You have email right?”

“Yep!”

Patrick handed her his mobile. “Put your details in here and I’ll email you to check how you and Mum are doing.”

“That would be awesome.”

He bent to kiss her cheek and waved at Lauren who waved back. “I’ll talk to you soon kiddo.”

“You bet.”

Making his way out to the car, he tried to process what he’d just learned. He and Cassie had been together in December. If Sophie was eleven, she had been born nine months afterwards. It all made sense though he didn’t understand why Cassie hadn’t told him. She had enough to deal with right now, he would just let things play out. “Hey,” a voice came from behind.

It was Mark’s friend Ian. Cassie had introduced him at the wake, and he had not been pleased to see Patrick. She had told him afterwards that Ian had always looked at her like a piece of meat. “Why did Mark put up with it?” he had asked.

“He picked up on it a few times. Made it clear that I wasn’t available in any way. Mark had such a good heart that he always let him back, it was one of the few things that annoyed me about him.”

“Ian? Isn’t it?” Patrick asked.

“It is. I wanted to come out here and tell you to back off.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Cassie’s not yours. You might have been around for her and Mark while he was dying, but you’re not muscling in on her now.”

Patrick shook his head. “You’re not in any position to tell me what to do. I’ve known Cassie since we were children. If she decides she doesn’t want me around I’m sure she’ll tell me.”

“If you don’t leave her alone, I’ll make sure you’re out of the picture.”

“Are you threatening me?”

Ian shrugged. “Take that as whatever you want. You’ll never be good enough for Cassie.”

“Let me guess. You are?”

“What she needs is someone who will love her. Look at you. Hot shot doctor from Auckland, probably surrounded by pussy. How long are you going to stick with her?”

That was it. Patrick rounded on him. “Ian, I love Cassie. I’ve loved her since we were seven years old and if I have to wait for the rest of my life for her I will. There is no way that I’m going to let anyone tell me to stay away from her. No matter what you say she’s not going to be interested in you either.”

“Given time she will.”

“Go near her and you will have to deal with me. It doesn’t matter I don’t live here, you go anywhere near her and upset her while she’s going through this and I will sort you out.”