The Shooting (30 page)

“I’m… I’m a little worried about Cassie. Even before the shooting, things weren’t quite right.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know. Nothing in particular. I’ve just noticed a change in her attitude. She used to love school, she’s always been a straight A student. She’s always had lots of friends, been involved in sport. The last year or so, it almost seems like another girl has taken over inside her body. She looks the same, but she’s not my Cassie.”

Brandon pursed his lips in thought. “Do you think it might have something to do with that shit with Gibbons?”

Tom closed his eyes and tried to suppress a shudder. The memory of the sheer terror he’d felt when his daughter had been kidnapped by a pedophile still haunted him. Brandon had worked on the investigation. He knew firsthand the horror they’d all been through.

Tom rubbed a tired hand across his eyes. “I don’t know, Bran. Maybe. It was four years ago. The first couple of years were pretty rough, even with the intensive therapy, but she seemed to have come out the other side of it. A year ago I’d have even said she was the same old Cassie from before. Now, I don’t know. I don’t know what’s going on with her anymore.”

“Well, you’ve got a lot on your plate. You’re busy at work and Lily’s been busy, too. She’s working all day and now she’s gone back to school at night—neither of you have special powers to deduce what’s going on in your daughter’s head. I don’t have teenagers yet, thank Christ, but I’m sure sometimes it’s far from easy to know what’s going on with them.”

Tom laughed without humor. “You have that right. Hell, you want to brace yourself for the day your kids hit their teens.”

Brandon chuckled. “I’ll know where to come to for advice. The three of them are growing like weeds. The teenage years will be upon me before I know it.”

Tom forced a smile, but his thoughts were still on Cassie. “Do you mind going over to the house tomorrow and just checking to see if Cassie and Joe are both okay?” he asked.

“Sure. No problem, but I’m assuming they’ll come and visit here, anyway. With Lily awake and you out of surgery, I’m guessing Mom and Dad will have a hard time keeping them away.”

“Yeah, you’re right. They might even drop by tonight. I’m probably apprehensive for no reason.”

“Hey, you’re their dad. You’re allowed to care and be concerned, particularly if Cassie’s been giving you cause to be worried. I tell you what, I’ll take them back home after they’ve been to visit and spend a bit of time with them. I’ll see if I can work out what’s going on with her. How does that sound?”

Tom sighed in relief and reached up to squeeze Brandon’s arm. “That sounds great, bro. Thank you. I really appreciate it.”

Brandon shook his head, even as a smile tugged up his lips. “Don’t tell me we’re back to that thank-you shit?”

* * *

Lily took a moment to check out her new surroundings. Her stomach still hurt like hell and every part of her body ached, but she was awake and lucid and had been transferred out of the ICU, so she couldn’t complain.

The ward she’d been taken to was so much nicer than the ICU. Not that she could fault the ICU staff—their care of her had been beyond reproach—but there were no windows in the ICU, no connection to the outside world. It was a blur of pale walls and white sheets and machines that beeped all night. It was cool and calm and efficient and everyone spoke in hushed tones. There was no life, no sunshine no…anything. She couldn’t wait to leave.

The private room she’d been taken to had a window that looked out onto a park. The trees stood tall and fresh and green with their new leaves and even from a distance, the grass looked soft and inviting. The gentle hum of traffic filtered in and a scattering of people wandered through the grounds, heading to wherever.

Obviously, the world outside the hospital continued. For many people, it was just another day. Lily rejoiced in the normalcy of it. Normal was good. She’d had enough excitement and drama over the past week to last a lifetime. Being shot by one of her students wasn’t even the half of it.

She still couldn’t believe Tom had not only been diagnosed with breast cancer, but he’d also been operated on and the tumor removed. That alone would have been enough to send her mind into a spin. On top of the fact she was still recovering from a bullet wound, she was surprised she could function at all.

She prided herself on being someone who could remain calm in a crisis, but it was different when the crisis was so close to home and happening to someone she loved. In a way, she was grateful she’d been unconscious when Tom’s health drama had unfolded. She’d been spared the agony of fear and uncertainty that surely their kids and his family must have suffered.

At the thought of Cassie and Joe, Lily smiled in anticipation. Tom’s mom phoned her earlier and had assured her the kids would drop by as soon as they could. It seemed like a lifetime since Lily had hugged them. It felt even longer since she’d held Tom.

Tom.
A rush of love and gratitude flooded through her with the knowledge that he’d come through his surgery okay. When Marguerite had finally told her the reason for his absence, she’d been almost paralyzed with shock and fear.

Breast cancer?
How could he have breast cancer and she not even have a clue? It didn’t seem possible and yet it was. The odds of him getting it had to be miniscule. Most people thought of breast cancer in terms of the sufferers being women, but that wasn’t always the case. She was beyond relieved it had been discovered in time and dealt with. She shuddered at the knowledge it could have been terminal and pushed the negative thought away.

He was fine.
Marguerite had assured her he’d come through the surgery well. That his doctor was pleased with the operation. That he was going to be all right.

She didn’t know what she’d do if she lost him. He was her rock, the very foundation that she balanced her life and existence on. To lose him, would be to lose her footing and she had no doubt that without him, her life would come crumbling down. They might have started off a little rocky, but the years had proven their love could stand the test of time, just like Tom had promised.

She smiled a little at the memory of their wedding. It had been the most wonderful day of her life. Tom had wanted to get married the minute she returned home from the hospital with baby Cassie by her side. Of course, she loved that he was so eager, but Cassie was already there. His concerns about their daughter being born out of wedlock had been moot.

She made him wait for more than a year before she finally walked down the aisle. She wanted the day to be perfect and refused to be rushed. She had no intention of marrying again—this was it, for life. Besides, she’d gained nearly twenty pounds of baby weight and there was no way she was getting married until she’d lost every one of them.

Tom agreed with huge reluctance to let her have her way, despite his passionate arguments that he didn’t care what she looked like. Baby weight or not, she’d always be beautiful to him. She loved his sentiments, but held her ground. By the time she slipped into her custom-made white satin-and-pearl embroidered wedding gown, she was back to her usual shape and was pleased she’d remained firm.

The door to Lily’s room opened and she looked up in time to see her mom returning from a trip down the hall in search of decent coffee. Lily smiled when she noticed a Styrofoam cup in either hand.

“You brought one for me?”

“Yes, honey. I can’t imagine how you must feel after going nearly a week without a hit of caffeine. I’m just so grateful you pulled through and are here for me to deliver one to you.”

Fiona Gibbons’ voice was husky with emotion and her hand was a little unsteady when she offered Lily the cup. A sudden surge of tears burned behind Lily’s eyes. She knew all about gratitude.

“Thanks for being here, Mom. For staying through the night. For the coffee. For…everything. I really appreciate it.”

Fiona came closer and perched on the edge of the bed. “You’re my daughter, my only child. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.” She reached out and laid a soft hand against Lily’s cheek. A moment later, she shuddered.

“You won’t believe how terrified I was when I received the call from Tom. I couldn’t believe you’d been shot, didn’t want to believe it, but Tom said there was no mistaking what happened. He had no reason to lie. I could tell from the panic and fear in his voice that it was true.”

She drew in a ragged breath and clasped the coffee cup with both hands. “I told Tony right away and made him turn around. We were halfway along the Birdsville Track, but it didn’t matter. All I could think of was getting to you and seeing you before you… Well, it doesn’t matter any longer. You’re awake and the doctors say you’re going to be fine. It’s only a matter of time.”

The tears that Lily had tried to hold back now ran slowly down her cheeks. She swiped at them with her free hand, but they kept coming.

“Don’t cry, baby,” her mom whispered. “It’s all over now. You…Tom. You’re both going to be fine.”

Setting her coffee cup down on a nearby table, Fiona took Lily’s cup and set is aside, too. Then she leaned over and carefully drew her daughter close. Lily sighed and rested her head against her mom’s soft breasts, like she used to when she was a kid. Her mom had always been able to make everything right, no matter how wrong everything seemed.

“I’m so glad it’s all worked out for you, Lily. Not only this, but with Tom and the kids. You’re surrounded by people who love you. All of Tom’s family have been here, taking turns keeping you company, providing each other with support. I’m so happy for you, baby. I’m so happy you have such a good life. It’s… It’s all I ever wanted for you.”

“Oh, Mom,” Lily gasped and the tears fell even harder. “I can’t imagine what you went through before…with Dad. I was so young when we left, but I’ve never forgotten the feeling…the fear, the anxiety, knowing he could blow up in an instant. And I was only a child hiding in the shadows. It must have been so much more terrifying for you, walking on eggshells all the time.”

Her mom stroked her back and hushed her and Lily felt even worse.
She
should have been the one offering comfort, not her mom. Fiona Gibbons had seen the worst the world had to offer and still gave something back. Lily hoped her mom knew how much she loved her and then she made sure of it.

“I love you so much, Mom. You’ve always been there for me, keeping me safe, keeping me happy, loving me. Even when I was nineteen and single and pregnant with Cassie, you were there for me. Not once did you judge me or turn me away. In fact, if I’d listened to your very wise counsel, I would have told Tom about her long before I did.

“You tried to tell me not every man was like my dad, but at the time, I was too scared to listen. I’m sorry that I didn’t. I should have known not to doubt what you said.”

“Hey, baby, it doesn’t matter anymore. Everything turned out all right. I love Tom like the son I never had and he adores the ground you walk on. He’s a good man and you both deserve the happiness you have with one another. It brings me comfort and peace of mind knowing you’re so well taken care of.”

Once again, the door to her room opened and this time it was Tom who stood there. Lily cried out at the sight of him. He looked pale and a little unsteady on his feet, but her heart filled with love and relief.

With slower steps than usual, he closed the distance between them. Her mom stepped discreetly away.

“Lily, honey. Christ, you’re awake! You don’t know how scared I’ve been.” Tom took her carefully in his arms, mindful of the tubes that were still attached to her body. Lily clung to him and the tears that had nearly stopped came flooding out again.

“Tom, oh, Tom! You’re here. You’re okay. I…I can’t believe all that’s happened.”

He held her gingerly against his chest, mindful of their injuries. She breathed in his scent, but it was tainted with the smell of the hospital. Instead of pajamas, he was in a hospital gown and she smiled when she realized one of the ties had come loose. She slipped her hand lower and cupped his naked buttocks.

His butt cheeks flexed. He pulled slightly away and looked down on her, a smile tugging at his lips. “Lily Munro, you
must
be feeling better.”

She winked at him and grinned. “I feel on top of the world.”

He smiled at her again and then drew her in close for another hug. “You had me so scared. Watching you lying there so still, on the gurney at school and in the ICU, with tubes coming out every which way. I’ve never felt so helpless. All I could do was sit there and hold your hand and pray that I’d get to talk to you again. Even last night, when I came down to see you, you were asleep. I wanted to wake you, but I didn’t.”

“You came by last night? Oh, Tom! You should have woken me.”

“It was okay. I knew you were sleeping at least and not unconscious. It made a world of difference.”

“And what about you?” Lily murmured. “Your mom told me you’ve had surgery to remove a tumor. I can’t believe it, Tom. How did you discover it? How… How long have you known?”

Tom looked away and Lily saw him take a deep breath. Something stirred in her chest.

“What is it, Tom? What haven’t you told me?”

“I’ve known about the lump for a year, but I only found out it was malignant a couple of days ago. I-I’m sorry. I should have told you.”