Three Thousand Miles - Forever, (book #3 of Three Thousand Miles, Series) (30 page)

“Come on sweetie let’s get you dressed.” I say to William as I usher him out of
the bathtub. When he woke up he was covered in sweat so I decided to let him
cool off in the Jacuzzi. William was so cute as he splashed around in the
bubbles and I couldn’t help but feel happy that he was having so much fun.

I walk William into the bedroom and then I sit him down onto the bed as I
begin to select him an outfit. I rummage through the drawers and I find a smart
pair of jeans and a blue checked shirt. I hold themup to him as I ask his opinion
on my choice of clothing.

“What do you think?” William stares at the clothing and then he nods in
agreement with my selection. I smile at him and then I rush back over to him
as I begin to dress him.
William suits the clothes perfectly, but as I stare at him I feel that something is
missing. Therefore I head back over to the drawers and I quickly begin to pick
through them – again. I find a blue, sleeveless sweater and I smile as I feel that
it would look perfect on him and it would be a lot more practical in case he
gets cold during dinner. I rush back over to him and I quickly place the sweater
over his head. He straightens himself out as he looks at his reflection in the tall
mirror. He smiles at the sight and then I pick him up into my arms as I head
over the dressing table. I sit William down onto the stool and then I gently
begin to towel dry his wet, chocolate hair. William sits perfectly still as I comb
through his wavy locks and I am surprised that he has let me brush his hair as I
remember how Penelope acts when I mom tries to brush her hair – she
screams the place down. But the same can’t be said for William as he behaves
exceptionally well. I finish drying his hair and then I spin him around towards
me.

“You look so handsome,” I gush as I gently squeeze his plump cheeks. William
smiles at me and then he turns his attention to Adrian as he bursts into the
bedroom.

“Wow don’t you two look nice,” Adrian smoothly says as he glides over and
gently kisses my cheek. I smile at him as he gently reaches his hand out for
William. “Let’s go and eat!” Adrian says warmly to William.

By the time we arrive at beach-side restaurant I am starving. Adrian has
booked us a large table in one of the most sought after eateries in St Tropez
and I am stunned by the waterfront view that our table has. We sit down at
our table and the server quickly takes our drinks order and I am little annoyed
when Adrian orders a scotch on the rocks with a twist. I gently roll my eyes at
his choice of beverage and then I order myself a water as I don’t want to drink
alcohol around William and I feel that it would much more respectful of Sophie
as she can’t drink right now. James on the other hand follows Adrian as he
orders himself a neat scotch. I’m not sure what William would like to drink so I
let him make his own choice.

“And what can I get for you,” the server says in a smooth French accent.
William playfully grips his chin as he is in deep thought over his drink selection.
He clicks his little fingers as he decides.
“Cola please,” the server looks at me for my approval before he writes it down
onto his notepad. I gently nod at the server and then I smile at William as I
begin to scan through the large menu.

The server returns to our table and he quickly ushers us with our drinks. Then
he begins to take our food orders.

“I will have the steak, medium rare.” Adrian says firmly to the server as he sips
at his alcohol. I look down at the menu again as I try to decide what to have for
dinner. There are so many choices and I just can’t decide if I want pasta or
steak. I quickly urge Sophie to place her order as I am still deciding.

“I will have the lobster ravioli,” Sophie says proudly to the waiter and then
James makes his selection. “Steak, rare,” the server turns to me as he alerts me
that it’s my turn. I scan the menu again and then I make my choice.

“Penne carbonara,” the serve smiles at me and then he focuses on William.
“What can I get for you, sir?” William looks at me and instead of telling the
server what he would for dinner he tells me instead.

 

“I want spaghetti,” I nod at him and then the server bursts into laughter as he
gently pats William’s head.

We talk in the candle light of the stunning restaurant as we wait for our food.
Adrian and James are talking about business and Sophie and I are chatting
about baby names. William is sitting quietly as he plays with his Nintendo DS.

“So what do you think about the name Romeo?” Sophie asks as she sips her
water. I look at her in surprise, first Brooklyn and now Romeo I am beginning
to think that Sophie has a taken her baby name ideas from the Beckham’s. I
gently laugh as I try not to show my horror at her suggestion. I clear my throat
as I begin to give her my opinion.

“Don’t you think that Romeo is a little… out there?” Sophie shakes her head at
me.

 

“No, it’s a wonderful name.” I feel a little stunned by her tone so I quickly try to
redeem myself.

“Are you forgetting how traditional your parents are?”
“How could I forget and anyway it’s not their decision. James and I will choose
our baby’s name and we can make it as out there as we want.” I nod in
agreement and then I feel that I no longer want to continue this conversation
with Sophie as I feel that she is getting a little flustered by my answers.
Therefore I change the subject.

“The view is stunning, right?” Sophie makes a darting look out of the window
and when he she turns back to face me, she has a huge smile plastered on her
face. I smile at Sophie whilst I keep one eye on Adrian. I watch him as he
downs his second scotch and I cringe when he orders a third. I feel like shaking
him and telling him to stop drinking, but I know that I can’t. Adrian is a grown
man and despite my fears over his behaviour towards alcohol, I know that I can
do nothing to stop it. I have to grin and bear it as I secretly pray that he gets
over his new-found taste for Alcohol.

The server brings us our food and as we start to eat, I hear my phone buzzing
from inside my handbag. I quickly take out my phone as I check to see who is
calling me. My heart races when I see that Michael is the one who is calling. I
try to decide if I should answer him and then I give in as I excuse myself from
the table. I make my over to the deck and I take a deep breath as I answer the
phone.

“Hello,”
I say firmly.

 

“Alanna I’m so glad that you have answered me.”
Michael’s voice sounds
desperate and I can’t help but wonder if everything is alright with him.
“You sound tense, is everything okay?”

“No, it’s not. I need you to come to me; I have had a … accident.”
My heart is
pounding from my chest as Michael’s words ring in my ears. Things between
Michael and I haven’t been great recently and I felt physically sick when I
Adrian told me about Becky, but I still care abouthim and I would hate for
anything to happen to him. I will always owe Michael my life and now that he
is the one in need of help, I can’t just turn him away.

“What happened are you okay?”
“I have been … shot and I need you, please come to me, Alanna.”
Tears begin
to pour from my eyes as I try to process Michael’s words. My head is spinning
in a million directions and I can’t breathe. I want to go to him, but I am too far
away and I am scared that I won’t make it in time to save him. I franticly begin
to pace the deck as I consider my options.

“Michael, talk to me, are you in the hospital?”
“No, I’m in my flat please Alanna I need you.”
I feel the blood rushing to my
head as I march into the restaurant.

 

“Is there any one with you? Are you badly hurt?”
I rapidly fire my questions to
him as I walk in the direction of our table.

 

“I’m alone and I am bleeding, Alanna where are you?”
“Michael, listen to me, Adrian and I are in St Tropez, and you have to call an
ambulance – immediately.”

“No, I want you.”
My heart is breaking and I can’t focus as I reach our table.
Tears are pouring from my eyes and Adrian quickly stands up and rushes over
to my side. He firmly grips my arm as he asks me what’s wrong.

“Baby, what is it? Why are you crying?” I close my eyes at his question and I
don’t answer him, instead I try to convince Michael to get help.

 

“Listen to me, call an ambulance and I will be there soon, okay?”

“I knew that I could count on you, you are my angel.”
Michael hangs up the
phone and as I pull the phone away from ear, I am in a daze. My eyes are
blurry and my throat is dry, I can’t breathe and my head is pounding. I close my
eyes and I suddenly feel as if I am falling. I feel Adrian’s arms catch me before I
hit the ground and I can hear his panicking voice.

“Alanna, Alanna, baby wake up.” He urges as he gently slaps my face. I feel my
heart rate increasing and I try my hardest to open my eyes, but they are sealed
shut. I can hear Sophie’s voice as she urges James to help. I feel Adrian’s arms
loosen around me and now I feel cold stone as he must have set me down onto
the floor. I feel warm hands squeezing my face and then I feel a splash of cold
water onto my forehead and neck. My eyes tremble from the iciness of the
water and then James’s voice echoes in the air.

“Hand me more water, I think that she is dehydrated. We need to get her to
drink.” I feel his fingers trying to pull my eyelids open, but my body fights him
as they remain tightly shut. Adrian is shouting at James – urging him to wake
me. I feel terribly guilty as I can hear his pain but here I am not responding.
Now, I can hear crying and I realise that it’s William when I hear Adrian trying
to soothe him.

“Stop crying,” Adrian says softly, but William continues to sob as he chokes
out.

 

“Is Alanna going to be okay?”

“Of course, of course,” Adrian’s voice is shaky and I think that he is also crying
but my eyes are still closed, I can’t see him therefore I am not sure if he is
shedding tears over me.

I feel a hand on the back of my neck and then my head tilts forward as smooth
fingers push open my mouth. Cool water is pouring down my throat and I
manage to swallow as I find the water … refreshing. James continues to pour
water down my throat and when I feel that I have hand enough, I slowly try to
open my eyes. I feel my eyes burn when I finally manage to open them. The
soft lighting of the restaurant is blinding and I can’t keep my eyes open for very
long. I feel a gentle slap again on my face and this time my eyes rapidly open at
the touch. I see James’s face and then Adrian’s.

“Alanna,” Adrian says as he kneels down to my level. William is by his side and I
stare at him. His eyes are heavy and red and his cheeks are stained from his
tears, I feel guilty that I have put him through this. I manage to sit up as
James’s hovers over me. He is checking my pulse whilst he feels my forehead. I
quickly forget everyone around me as an image of Michael face flashes in my
head. I can’t think of him hurt and I need to get to him. I won’t stay in here
another minute when my hero is in need of my help.

“I have to go,” I say in a shaky voice as I try to sit up. Adrian gently lifts me up
onto the chair and as I sit down, I can see him looking at me in confusion. His
eyes are bolting and his hands are shaky as he kneels down to my level.
“Baby you scared me, I can’t breathe. Feel my chest its pounding.” I gently
smile at Adrian and then I am reminded of Michael. Adrian’s hands are now on
grabbed onto mine, my skin feels as if it’s on fire and I can’t think about
anything other than getting to Michael. I pull my hands from Adrian’s grips and
then I try to stand up, but I fall back into the seat. Adrian looks furious with me
and he soon lets me know how he feels.

“What is wrong with you? You have just passed out in the middle of dinner and
now you are trying to leave.”

 

“I can’t stay here,” I confess as I try again to stand up. This time I manage but I
don’t walk far because James is there to stop me.

“Alanna, I told you the other day that I felt that it was necessary for you to
make an appointment with your doctor and now that you have passed out, I
feel that you need to go to the hospital.” I roll my eyes at James and then I try
to budge past him. He blocks me and then I feel Adrian’s hand wrap around my
arm as he spins me around.

“Why didn’t you tell me that you were ill and why did you ignore James’s
advice?” I try to pull my arm from Adrian, but his grip is too firm. I look down
at William and I can see that he is still crying as Sophie holds onto him. My
mind is flashing with a million thoughts of Michael, what if he seriously hurt
and what if he is dying. I try to hold back my tears as that thought enters my
mind. I need to get to him and if stand here any longer then I will be too late. I
focus my eyes on Adrian’s as I inform him that I need to leave – right now. I
know that I should tell him about Michael, but I can’t. Adrian would never let
me go to him and I know that I wouldn’t be able to fight him on this. Adrian
cares too much about my safety and he would never risk me getting hurt. I
hate that I am holding this back from him as Michael is his brother, but I know
that there is no other way.

“I have to go back to London, this instant I can’tgo the hospital that will take
too long and I have no time to wait. I must leave right now.”

“Why?” Adrian shouts. I scowl at his temper and then I violently give him my
answer.
“Because Michael needs me,” I shout. Adrian’s hand loosens from my arm and
he looks disappointed in me. I shake my head at him and then I try to catch his
hand as reassure him that I am fine. “I am sorry that I didn’t listen to James,
but I have been too busy to make an appointment. But I promise you that I will
go get a check-up as soon as I get back to London.”

“What’s wrong with Michael and don’t even think about lying to me.” My face
flushes hot and I nervously look away from Adrian’s green eyes. He can always
tell when I am lying so I don’t want to make eye contact with as I fear that he
will see right through me. My heart is racing and I don’t want to tell Adrian the
truth, but as he moves closer to me, I know that I can’t lie to him.