Raven (15 page)

“
Well,
whoever he was, he must have been the one that took you to Ben's
practice. We just have to try and find out who he was. We'll ask
around and see if anybody saw anything strange this afternoon.
There's a lot more to this. I can feel it,” said Gabriel as he
drank the last of his coffee and threw the polystyrene cup into the
rubbish bin.

“
Whoever he was, I'm eternally grateful to him, that's for
sure. I don't even care to imagine what might have happened had he
not been there,” said Rose as Gabriel nodded in
agreement.

“
Can I
come home with you, Gabriel?” I asked hopefully. I didn't want to
stay there in that hospital bed. I was reminded of how my mother
had died and I felt physically sick to the stomach at the thought
of having to remain there.

Gabriel
checked with the doctor who said it shouldn't be a problem for me
to go home, as long as I stayed horizontal and was well looked
after. The doctor had known the Tulugaqs for many years and
therefore knew that we were a strong family who cared for each
other deeply. He was confident that I would get even better care
than at the hospital itself so he discharged me
immediately.

Using
his cell phone, Gabriel called both Meredith and Sonya and told
them to go straight home instead of coming to the hospital. Then,
for the first time, I was driven by Gabriel. He and Rose had
struggled to get me into the back seat with my broken leg in
plaster but eventually they managed and we were on our
way.

As I lay
there, barely able to move, I tried so hard to remember what had
happened that afternoon but the memory could not be tempted out of
my subconscious mind. It was deep in there somewhere and I knew it
would eventually come out... most likely during my
sleep.

Laying
on the sofa later, I felt awful that I would miss out on my very
first date with Oliver. Why couldn't I have just walked straight
home? Why couldn't I have gone to see my father's house another
time? Instead I had completely messed up my chances with
Oliver.

As if on
cue, there was a knock on the front door. Sonya stood up and went
to see who was there. At the same time, Meredith smiled at me and
made a quick exit into the kitchen. Clearly, she knew who it
was.

Oliver
rushed into the living room and sat by my side immediately, “Lilly,
are you all right? I was really freaked out when I heard what
happened. What were you thinking going out alone like
that?”

His
reaction actually made me laugh out loud and he suddenly stopped
talking and he looked at me before laughing too. “Sorry, I guess I
sound like Gabriel. I was just worried,” he said.

The fact
that he was there with me helped ease the pain tremendously and I
felt utter relief that he cared that much for me already. And we
hadn't even had our date yet.

“
I'm
glad you're here, Oliver. Thank you for coming,” I said shyly,
nervously running my hand through my hair, which I had completely
forgotten actually looked good.

“
Wow... I've only just had the chance to really look at you.
You look amazing. I love the new hairstyle. You certainly don't
look like someone who has just had a near death
experience.”

I felt
myself blush. “It was hardly a brush with death. I just had a log
fall on me, that's all.”

“
Are
you kidding? Do you know how much those logs weigh?” he
joked.

We sat
together for a few minutes in silence, enjoying each other's
company, when Sonya and Meredith walked in carrying two big plates
of food for us.

“
We
figured you'd both be hungry and seeing as you aren't able to
actually go out, we thought we'd bring the restaurant to you... oh
and we brought you a few movies too, just in case.”

“
Aww
thanks,” said Oliver.

“
We
both have to get home now so we'll leave you to it. Gabriel is over
at Rose's house. He said if you need anything just buzz him on his
cell and he'll come right over. You look after our patient,
Oliver,” said Meredith with a wink and then they were
gone.

They
were well aware that I was supposed to be having a date with Oliver
that night so it was very sweet that they had all left and allowed
the 'date' to happen at home instead.

“
So
how did you know about my little accident?” I asked.

“
Actually I had a few phone calls,” he laughed, “first Ben
rang me as soon as he'd got you to the hospital. Unfortunately I
couldn't get out of work otherwise I would have come straight over.
And then Meredith called me to let me know and then Rose did too!
It appears everyone knows that we're close now,” he added, with a
cheeky smirk.

To hear
him say that we were close, out loud, was just amazing – it really
made my heart leap and certainly helped take my mind off the bad
day I'd had.

As we
sat there on the sofa, me with my leg stretched out in front of me
and my dinner on my lap and Oliver sitting so close to me with his
dinner on his lap, we looked a right pair.

“
So
what are these movies that Meredith mentioned?” I asked as I ate a
mouthful of pasta.

Oliver
leaned forward to pick up the DVDs that had been left on the coffee
table and laughed, “Well, I don't quite know if they're your sort
of thing but there's Twilight, Van Helsing or League of
Extraordinary Gentleman. Not really date movies but if you're into
supernatural stuff...”

I
laughed at the choices, clearly Meredith or Gabriel had been
responsible for them but I appreciated the thought all the same. It
was just a shame I couldn't share the joke with Oliver.

I opted
for Twilight, at least there was a little romance in with the
vampires – it seemed more appropriate than the others and at least
it had a bit of action for Oliver too.

He stood
up to put the film on and then sat back down so we could finish
dinner together. Although the film played on in the background,
there was too much to say to each other to really take any notice
of it. We had a lifetime of experiences to share with each other.
Well, Oliver had a lifetime of experience to tell me about. I, on
the other hand, was a little embarrassed that I didn't have an
awful lot to tell him about me.

He told
me about his parents' death but that he was too young to really
understand what had happened and he admitted to not being able to
remember them, sadly. He still liked to look at their photos but
the memories just weren't there. “But I still miss them, if that
makes sense?” he asked and I nodded with a mouthful of
pasta.

He
talked a little about his brother, whom he was clearly incredibly
proud of. “To become a vet because of what happened to our parents
is just awesome,” he said and to which I wholeheartedly agreed,
“and I think it's fantastic that you're going to be working with
him,” he added happily.

I raised
my eyebrows and he laughed, “Ben told me when he phoned me
earlier... he's really thrilled and wanted to share it with
me.”

“
Do
you realise that you still haven't told me what you do for a
living?” I asked, eager to know everything about him.

He
looked surprised and I felt a momentary stab of guilt for not
asking anybody else. Ben could have told me. I felt a bit silly but
still, I guess it had just never come up in
conversation.

Oliver
explained that when he had left high school he hadn't got a clue
what to do with his life. He wasn't like Ben who had known from a
young age what he wanted to do.

“
All I
did know was that I didn't really want to go to college. I was
never very academic; I was more of a hands-on sort of guy. Gabriel
had always said I was good with my hands and I ought to do
something creative instead, so I ended up working for a
construction company where I am currently learning the tricks of
the trade. My favourite part of it so far is building log homes
like this one. So my long term plan is to start my own wooden home
building company,” he said energetically as if it meant the world
to him. It was exciting to see him so enthusiastic about his
career, especially since he wasn't interested in college like so
many other kids these days.

I told
him I was impressed. He was even cuter when he blushed.

Having
grown up in this house and raised by Gabriel since he was just a
boy, I wondered why he no longer lived here.

“
There
is no real reason except for the fact that I like my independence
and so I rent a small lodge on John and Meredith's land. It's like
a separate little house, an annexe, I guess,” he answered. “It's a
great little place. Great for my life at the moment anyway.
Eventually I'd like to build my own place. A log home, of course,”
he grinned.

For some
reason his words took me back to earlier in the day when I had
accidentally found myself underneath a very heavy log. The memory
had an instant effect on my stomach and I felt a strong urge to
throw up.

Oliver
immediately stood up and helped me sit upright as I fought the
urge.

“
Are
you okay? You looked a bit pale for a second there,” he
whispered.

I shook
my head and he rushed into the kitchen to get me a glass of cold
water. As he returned and stood above me, his movement triggered
another memory and I heard that voice again: 'don't worry, Lilly.
You're going to be all right. I'll make sure of that' and then I
felt as though I was flying.

Unfortunately, the whole thing caused me to vomit suddenly
with little warning.

Again,
Oliver rushed to the kitchen to get some kitchen paper, a bowl and
a damp flannel.

When he
returned he handed me a few sheets of the paper for me to clean
myself with, he swiftly cleaned up the mess and then sat by my side
as he very gently mopped my forehead with the flannel.

I felt
very sorry for myself and stupid at the same time.

“
I'm
so sorry Oliver,” I said, feeling like such a child.

“
Don't
be silly... it's only natural that this would happen. You had quite
a day today. You're on some heavy duty painkillers and here I am
keeping you awake and talking when you should be completely
resting. I'm the one who should be sorry. Not you,” he smiled as he
patted my forehead again.

“
I'll
wait for Gabriel to come back and then I'll leave you to get some
sleep. Do you want me to help you to your bedroom? Or would you
rather I brought you an extra blanket in here?”

I opted
for the blanket, knowing that trying to move too much might make me
sick again and I was already so embarrassed at having thrown up in
front of him.

Oliver
came back from my bedroom with my duvet cover and another pillow.
He then went into the bathroom and returned with my tooth brush,
tooth paste, a glass of water and a bowl.

“
I
figured you might want to brush your teeth. It might make you feel
better,” he said handing everything to me like a father would
probably treat a sick child.

I told
him I was grateful even though my mouth was completely full of
frothed up toothpaste. I grinned in an effort to make him laugh. It
worked, as he shook his head, chuckling at me.

Just as
I spat out the water, we heard the door open and Gabriel announce
he had returned home. He greeted Oliver like a son and looked at me
with concern.

Oliver
explained that I'd been sick and so Gabriel reassured him that he
would look after me, giving Oliver his cue to go home.

“
Well,
I'd better go now, Lilly, but I'll be back in the morning... er, if
that's okay with you Gabriel?”

Gabriel
smiled and said “Yes of course, provided Lilly wants you to come
back, that is,” he chuckled.

“
I
certainly do,” I answered, as he leaned down and gently brushed my
cheeks with his lips.

“
Try
and get some sleep. See you in the morning. Goodnight Gabriel,” he
said as he wrapped up for the cold.

“
Goodnight!” he yelled again before the front door shut
behind him.

A minute
later I heard the revving of his car and then there was silence.
Just the sound of my breathing, before Gabriel came and sat down
opposite me and then I could hear his gentle breath too. He didn't
say anything. He just let me fall asleep in peace.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

I slept
right through the night. Not a single dream managed to wake me from
my stupor. The shock of the previous day's events must have taken
its toll and pretty much knocked me out. That and the fact that
Oliver had come over to have our date at home. Snuggling under the
duvet, I slowly forced my eyes open to see rays of sunlight through
the window. It soon dawned on me that Gabriel had left me to sleep
in the living room. My leg throbbed beneath the covers and as I
turned to try and manoeuvre myself off the sofa, I heard voices
coming from the kitchen. Gabriel was not alone.