CORAL - Forever (A Romance Trilogy, Book 3) (30 page)

“Are you sure you’ll be ok getting her in the house?” I ask
Scott as they sit Debs in his car.

“Yeah...I’ve seen her in worse states,” he says, smiling
broadly. I smile back at him; he’s right I’ve seen Debs worse than this. I lean
inside the car and kiss Debs on the cheek. “Make sure you eat, please?”

“Yes Mom!” She answers dryly. I chuckle at her and shut the
door. Then I turn to Scott and reluctantly hug him.

“You ever do that to my sister again and I
will
have
your balls on a platter,” I whisper. I pull out of the hug and glare up at him.

He quickly clears his throat. “Um...yes I'm sure you will,”
he says not knowing where to look. I nod once and walk over to Tristan. We
watch Scott get in the car, and I wave to them both as Scott drives steadily
out of the driveway.

As soon as we are back in the house, Tristan double locks
the door, and presses the button for the gates. I watch him stand their looking
out the window, waiting for them to close.

“So,” he says turning to smile at me. “It’s been quite a
day,” he says pulling me into his arms.

“That’s putting it mildly,” I answer dryly, resting my chin
on his chest so I can look up at him.

“Nurse Terry will be here soon. Let’s eat and then we can
get you to bed,” he says, his eyebrows pinched.

“Bed?” I question.

Tristan traces his fingertip under my one eye. “You look
exhausted,” he says, his worried look is back. And now he’s said that, it makes
me realise how tired I do feel.

“You’re right,” I yawn. “I am.”

“Just as I thought,” he says, taking my hand and leading me
over to the kitchen table.

“Oh!” I suddenly remember his presents. “Baby, come with me
please,” I say, taking his hand and pulling him to his feet. Tristan looks
completely mystified. I lead us into the library, shut the door and take him
over to one of the recliners.

“Sit please,” I ask nicely. Tristan gazes quizzically at me
for a moment then gracefully sits. “Now, you know how this works as we’ve done
this before’ – “Coral, no. You’re exhausted, please baby let’s just eat and go
to bed.” He says with worried eyes.

 I can't help chuckling at him.
Sex? Tristan thinks I
want to have sex?
– Well, I do but...“Tristan, this isn’t about sex, so
please just close your eyes,” I giggle.

“Oh...ok.” Reluctantly he closes his eyes, but I notice his
hands subconsciously move towards his groin. Protecting himself, or stopping me,
I'm not sure? Either way it makes me laugh again. I pick up his big bag that I
hid behind the sofa and carefully place it in his lap.

“Open sesame,” I tease.

His eyes dart open. “What’s this?”

“A gift,” I smile.

“You bought me a present?” he says, his eyebrows pinched
together.

“Two,” I whisper, smiling and widening my eyes. His eyes
narrow. “Don't you want it?” I squeak.

“Of course I do baby, I just...” He trails off staring down
at the gift.

“Tristan, are you purposely trying to wound me?” I huff.

“No, of course not,” he sighs.

“For the love of God Tristan, will you just please accept
these presents graciously and accept that if I want to buy you a present, I
will buy you a present, whenever I want, no matter what time of year!” I say my
hands on my hips, my mouth pressed into a hard line.

“Point taken thank you baby,” he says looking a little
guilty.

Now I feel guilty. “Tristan,” I place my hand over his to
stop him from opening the bag. “You’ve been amazing with me, really sweet, so
attentive and I...I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate everything
you’ve done for me. And I know what you’re going to say, that I don't need to
thank you, that it’s what you do, what you want to do for me, but this,” I
point at the bag. “This is my way of telling you that I appreciate it and that
I love you.” I lean in and quickly peck his lips. “Will you do something for me
though?”

“Anything.” He breathes, staring up at me with big, wide
eyes.

“Open the card first?”

“I have a card?” He beams.

“Uh-huh.” Tristan opens the bag, pulls out the big white
envelope and opens it up. He reads the front, swallows hard then opens it up. I
wait, impatiently while he reads the verse.

“Tristan this is true. The money, the house, the cars, the
gifts, they don't mean anything without you. Your loving fiancé, Coral.”
Jeez,
I didn’t know he was going to read it out loud.

“Come here baby.” He puts the bag to the side and pulls me
onto his lap. “You see what I mean. Olivia would never have done something like
that for me. I mean, sure she’d buy me a birthday and Christmas present, but
that was it, nothing else and she was loaded. You don't have any money – well
you do now – yet, you’ve done this, for me?”

I nod and smile shyly at him. “I just want you to know I
love, admire, and appreciate you and I'm grateful you’re in my life Tristan.”

“I'm grateful for you too baby.”

“Even though we fight?” I tease.

“Even more so when we fight.” He grins.

“Me too,” I giggle. “Well come on then, open them up. I'm
dying to see your face...Oh, it’s not expensive...nothing radical...I just’ –
His lips silence me.

“I know whatever it is, I'm going to love it,” he murmurs
against my lips. I beam at him, he grins back for a second then dives in the
bag. He pulls the dvd out first, thank god, I'm not sure if men even like teddy
bears. Ripping the paper of, he stares down at the cover.

“Phil Collins, Finally, the first farewell tour?” He
swallows hard.

“Ah crap! You’ve already got it haven’t you?” It’s very hard
buying something for someone who’s rich.

“No,” he whispers, still staring down at it.

“Really?” I beam, feeling triumphant. “You do like it, don't
you? You said you never had anyone to go to his concert with, so I thought I’d
bring the concert to you?”

Without a word, he places the dvd on the table next to him
and pulls me gently down to meet his lips and kisses me, slowly, enticingly,
then stops and leans me back so he’s gazing down at me. “You really are the
most beautiful soul I have ever met Coral Stevens. I swear to you, I'm going to
do everything within my power to make you happy baby, everyday, for the rest of
my life.”

“Oh Tristan, me too,” I whisper, reaching up to stroke his
stubbly beard. “So you like it?” I giggle.

Tristan shakes his head at me and laughs. “That’s a ludicrous
thing to ask,” he says, grinning from ear to ear. “I love it. Thank you baby,”
he finally says.

“You are more than welcome,” I tease.

“Shall I open the next one?” He says. I frown, feeling a
little uneasy. “What?” He questions.

“I just...I don't know if men like that kind of thing, so
don't worry if you don't...or if you think it’s really girly...” I stop and
titter at the look on Tristan’s face. “Just open it,” I say, rolling my eyes. He
picks it up, pulls of the paper and reads the teddy bears logo on the heart.

“Now that is cute baby, you picked this for me?”

“Yeah...I just saw it and thought of you. Too girlie?”

“No, totally sweet and adorable and I love you this much
too,” he says, grinning from ear to ear. “Thank you,” he adds, pulling me into
him and holding me tight.

Then totally spoiling the moment I involuntarily yawn. “Sorry,
I whisper, smiling up at him.

“Thank you baby, you spoil me. But you’re tired, so come on,
up you get, let’s eat and get you to bed.” Tristan lifts me off his lap, takes
my hand and we head out the library and back over to the kitchen table. Edith
comes over to us, looking very guilty.

“Tristan, I am so sorry’ – “Edith, it wasn’t your fault,
don't feel guilty. Olivia shouldn’t have done that.” He tells her firmly.

She smiles down at me, pats Tristan on the shoulder then
heads back into the kitchen. Moments later she re-appears with two plates of
poached salmon salad, with new potatoes. As she place them down, I realise how
famished I am.

“Thank you,” Tristan says as I smile up at her.

“Well, Stuart ate out while you had your round of golf, so
he’s retired for the evening,” she says. “Can I get you anything else?” She
asks.

“Coral?” Tristan asks. I shake my head as I'm already
eating. “No thanks Edith, we’re good.” The intercom buzzes for the gates. “That’ll
be Nurse Terry,” Tristan says, rising to let her in.

“Let me,” Edith says and wobbles over to the door. I listen
as she asks who it is, then buzzes Nurse Terry in. Moments later, Edith opens
the front door and Nurse Terry heads straight over to us.

“Oh, you’re eating, I'm sorry to disturb you,” she says.

“No worries,” I say giving her my right hand.

“You look tired,” she says. “I think bed rest tomorrow.”

“I agree,” Tristan says. I frown at them both. “Rob can come
here,” Tristan adds in a tone that’s not to be argued with. “Don't worry, I’ll
disappear.”

My face pales hearing him say that, I swallow hard. “Don't
say that,” I whisper, trying to admonish him, but coming off sounding
frightened.

“Hey.” He reaches out and takes my free hand, squeezing it
gently.

“All done Coral,” Terry says. “And I do mean it,” she says
looking at both of us. “Bed rest tomorrow or I’ll have no choice but to tell Dr
Green and I know you don't want that,” she adds looking down at me.

I nod, reluctantly. “Good, see you tomorrow.” Edith follows
her to the door and waits a couple of minutes then she presses the button to
shut the gates. Reaching us, she bids us both goodnight and heads up the
stairs. We both tuck into our meals.

“I guess I better text Rob,” I mumble. Then I remember –
Shit!
“I have George and Cindy tomorrow,” I say in a panic.

“I’ll call George,” Tristan says.

“I don't want to let him down,” I say feeling guilty.

“He won't mind a bit Coral, he’ll understand. You are still
healing darling.”

“What about Cindy? I still need to pay her for her time,” I
say sounding a little frantic.

Tristan snorts. “Of all the things to worry about Coral,” he
says, shaking his head. “Do you really think you need to worry about that?
About money?”

“No, I guess not,” I mumble. “I just hate letting people
down.”

“I know,” he whispers, reaching up to stroke my cheek.
“That’s one of the many things I love about you.”
Oh...I have missed him
today...

“I missed you today,” I whisper, yawning again.

“I missed you too baby, that’s why I came home early.”

“It’s a good job that you did,” I say.

“Yes it was, wasn’t it – well done by the way,” he adds,
sounding proud.

“For what?” I squeak.

“Not drinking.”
Huh?

I frown at him not understanding.

“Coral, I think you know this yourself...or maybe you don't,
but sometimes you use alcohol as a coping mechanism, things get too rough and
you reach for a drink. Yet, after all you’ve been through today, speaking to
your father and finding out what he’d done, Justin, Debbie and then Olivia
turning up, you haven’t touched a drop. I am very proud of you for that.”

“I'm not an alcoholic Tristan.” I snap.

“I never said you were.” He retorts.

I frown down at my half eaten plate of food, my appetite
vanished and sigh inwardly. He didn’t mean it like that, I know he didn’t – I
guess I'm more tired and cranky than I realised. Tristan has his forearm
resting on the table, so l lean down and rest my head on it, facing away from him,
and softly stroke his hand.

“I'm sorry. I'm being tired and grumpy. I know you didn’t
mean it like that, and you’re right, I do use it to help me cope. When Debs
told me about Scott and I panicked about us, about you, I really wanted a hit,
but I didn’t. I know it’s not wise to do at the moment, but now I'm really,
really glad I didn’t because I don't think I would have handled Olivia turning
up like that.”

Tristan softly strokes my hair. “Baby, please finish your
meal.”

“I think I'm too tired Tristan, besides I’ve lost my
appetite.”

“Oh!” I feel him kiss my hair. “Because so much has happened
today?”

“I guess,” I mumble, sitting back up because that was not
comfortable. My shoulder hurts, my lungs feel like there on fire, hell my whole
body hurts. I feel like I did when I first came out of hospital. “I think I
need to go to bed now,” I say, my eyes involuntarily closing on me.

I manage to get to my feet, and I'm about to kiss Tristan
goodnight, but he quickly stands and lifts me up into his arms. “Tristan,” I
mumble trying to tell him off. “Stay, finish your dinner.”

He kisses my hair and grips me closer to his body. “I will,
but I'm putting you to bed first, my sweet girl.”

“Oh...ok,” I whisper, my head lolling against his shoulder.
And as hard as I try to fight it, sleep finally takes me, and I drift off in
Tristan’s arms...

I
AM HAVING ANOTHER NIGHTMARE FROM WHICH I CANNOT WAKE.
Olivia is in
the house, stalking us. Its night time and all the lights are off, I can see
the sky outside is black. And it’s like I'm her, and I'm seeing things from her
perspective – through her eyes – just like the time I dreamt of Susannah.

Olivia sneaks up the stairs, passed Stuart and Edith’s
bedrooms and slowly walks up the last flight of stairs. Reaching our bedroom
door, she carefully twists the door handle and gently pushes it open. She walks
forward, into our bedroom, and stares down at Tristan and I sleeping, wrapped
up in each other’s arms.
Get out!
I screech at myself, or her – It’s so
confusing!

Then the dream suddenly shifts and I'm in the green forest
and I'm looking down at the newborn baby in the hole, only he’s not moving this
time, he’s not looking up at me. And I’m choked with horror -
No!

The dream shifts again and I'm outside my studio and I'm
kissing Justin –
No! No...please stop!
The dream shifts again and I'm in
a cemetery, trying to find my Mom, my Dad is there, and tries to grab hold of
my hand, wanting to take me with him –
No!
I pull my hand out of his and
start running...and he’s chasing me, nearly catching me...
No, leave me alone
!

Then I'm on the boat, the one where I first dreamt of
Tristan and I'm dashing around trying to find him, screaming out for him
because I'm afraid and I don't know why, but he’s not answering me. I run up
the stairs and search the deck, and I suddenly realise I am alone – Tristan is
not here. I look around and see I am not moored in a beautiful little cove, I
am out at sea, and there’s a storm brewing, a big one – I am so scared. My legs
are shaking with fear.

The sky darkens, blackening at an incredible rate, the sea swelling,
almost throwing me overboard as the white waves start crashing over the deck. I
scream out for Tristan again, but he doesn’t come to me. I grab hold of the
main sail, hanging on, praying I survive. The boat starts to make strange
noises, groaning in response to the battering it’s getting. I want to cover my
ears, but if I let go; surely I’ll die?

I hear a frightening thunderous noise, it terrifies me, but
I know I have no choice but to turn around and see what it is, and just as I do
the most enormous wave crashes over me, taking me and the boat down into the
icy, black depths of the Atlantic.

I thrash around, swimming as much as I can, trying to get
back to the surface, but I can't see, I'm so disorientated, so cold, I can't
get my bearings and my whole body feels like there’s millions of needles
puncturing me at the same time. I have no more air in my lungs and I know this
is it, I am going to drown, I am going to die – Just as I think that the dream
shifts again, and I'm lying soaking wet on the beach – I'm home?

I sit up, shivering from head to toe and look around me. I'm
not sure if it’s sunrise or sunset, but the warm sun is welcoming on my frozen skin,
I wrap my arms around myself trying to generate some heat. The storm has gone,
the sea is calm, the sky a light hazy blue. I stagger to my feet and search the
beach, but the world is eerily silent. No cars, no trains, no people, I can't
even hear any birds singing – I have to get back to the house, I have to find
Tristan!

As I take a step forward, my mother appears in her ghost
like way, her light blinding me.

“See...” She says as she did before, and points up to a building.
I instantly recognise it – It’s the hotel where
he
raped me. I quickly
look away –
No! I don't want to see
...

I'm suddenly catapulted to a place I don't know. There’s
music playing, I think it’s Frank Sinatra? The room is big and grand with a
huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling, the lights are low and soft. There
are so many people around, dressed up to the nines. Men in dinner suits, women
in beautiful flowing gowns, some people are dancing, some are chatting.

I look down and see I'm in a long black dress, and I have a
glass of champagne in my hand. I see her in my peripheral vision again, I spin
around and face her; my mother is still with me.

“See...” My mother whispers in my ear and points across the
room. I look up and see Tristan in a black dinner suit, smiling at me as he
walks towards me.

“No, not him. See...” My mother says pointing what looks
like a hot, white stick out on front of her. I look back in the direction she
is pointing, and I see
him...
the guy who raped me.

He’s walking right behind Tristan, across the dance floor,
he’s also dressed in a dinner suit, and has a glass of champagne in his hand.

“He knows you...” My mother whispers. Right on cue he stops,
turns to me, raises his glass at me and takes a sip; then smiles an evil,
twisted smile –
No!...

MY
EYES DART OPEN
–
Fuck!
I dash out of bed, my body protesting
in pain and reach the toilet just in time for me to violently vomit, over and
over again. I hear Tristan approach, and feel him gently pull as much of my
hair as he can out of the firing line; his other hand is gently rubbing my
back, trying to soothe me –
Oh Tristan!

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to block out the horrifying
images, the overwhelming feelings, the fear, the helplessness....

My body finally gives in. I stop dry retching; and now I
feel totally exhausted.
Why is being sick, so tiring?

“Baby?” Tristan softly says. I lean up and press the flush.
I can't talk to him, I don't think I can even look at him right now because I
know I’ll just crumble, and I need to work it all out in my own head first,
what that was all about.

I stagger to my feet. Tristan helps me over to the sinks.
Reaching forward I pick up my electric toothbrush, add some toothpaste and
start brushing my teeth.

“Did you want some Gaviscon?” He asks.

I nod without looking at him. He walks over to the bathroom
cupboard and pulls a new bottle out. Walking over to me, he picks up one of the
glasses we use for rinsing our mouths out, pours a little into it and waits for
me to finish. When I'm done, I put my toothbrush back, and keeping my eyes to
the floor I turn my body to face Tristan’s. Tentatively, he reaches out and
passes me the glass. I turn to the sinks, gripping them for balance, close my
eyes and slowly drink down the thick, pink liquid.

“Coral,” Tristan says, his voice trembling. “You’re never
this quiet, you’re worrying me. What’s wrong?”

I put the glass down and stare down at the sink. “Just a bad
dream Tristan, a nightmare,” I say keeping my eyes down, my voice not sounding
like my own.

“Want to talk about it?” He softly asks. I shake my head at
him, unable to get any words out. “Why won't you look at me?” He adds.

I stare despondently at the floor. I feel utterly guilty for
ignoring him.

Tristan sighs heavily. “What can I do Coral?” I shake my
head again. He sighs heavily. “I’m calling George,” he says, and with that he
walks out of the bathroom –
Fuck!

I
AM SAT IN THE CINEMA ROOM
, waiting impatiently for George to turn up.
He wasn’t due here for another hour. Tristan said this was probably the best
place for us to talk, to have some peace and quiet. Terry has been and given me
my morning shot, so I’m not in as much pain, but I still hurt all over.
Earlier, I took a long, hot shower trying to wash away the feelings, the guilt
– I have avoided Tristan this last hour – and to try and warm my body back up. I
still feel so cold.

I also feel racked with guilt. I told Tristan he would
always be my first port of call from now on, but I guess I was wrong – I’m
still freaky Coral...
Ugh! Can’t even talk to my own husband to be! –
I
grit my teeth at myself in anger. My leg won’t stop jigging up and down and I'm
biting my fingernails
. Argh! I hate feeling like this!

I hear muffled voices coming down the hallway, I can tell
it’s Tristan and George. They stop right outside the door, whispering to one
another. Maybe they don't realise it’s open or that I can hear them?

“George, give me your honest opinion, please. She’s been
almost catatonic since she woke, she’s avoiding me, hell she hasn’t even looked
at me,” Tristan stops and takes a deep breath. “Look, if she needs hospitalising
then just say so, and I’ll make it happen...I...I don't know what to do? I’ve
never seen her like this before.” He says, sounding frantic.

“Tristan, please try not to worry. I have seen Coral like
this, many times. Once she gets it out, whatever it is, I'm sure she’ll be back
in your arms in no time at all. So much has gone on from what you’ve told me,
it’s bound to have some effect, on both of you – eventually something has to
give.”

“Ok...ok. I just...” Tristan sighs, he sounds so
downhearted.

“You want her happy, healthy?”George says.

“Yes,” Tristan breathes. “Of course I do.”

“Time Tristan, she just needs time, be patient and she will
come back to you.”

“Ok, thank you George. Would you like a drink of some sort?”

“Please,” George says.

“Hot, cold...?”

“A pot of tea for us both I think. Coral always seems to like
that when she’s having a session.”

“I’ll get Edith to bring it down,” he says.

“Thank you Tristan - and try not worry.” George says.

“Easier said than done,” Tristan retorts, then I hear his
footsteps climbing the stairs.

George taps lightly on the door, then pops his head inside. “Coral.”
I don't look up at him. “Coral, I need to know you’re ok about me coming in. Can
you nod your head once for yes?” I nod once, keeping my eyes to the floor. “Good,
well done.” George enters and sits diagonally to me. I'm on the big couch he’s
on one of the squidgy chairs. I decide that whatever I do I can't look at him,
this needs to be done without eye-contact, if I break it, I feel like I will
break, like my brain will just explode on me.

“Tristan is very worried about you Coral’ – “What do you
think about death George?”

“Death?”

“Yes.”

“In what context are you referring?”

I sigh inwardly. “When people die, do you think they just
shut down or do you think there’s another side to it, like our spirit or soul
lives on?”

“Many believe’ – “What do you believe George?”

“It’s not really relevant what I believe Coral, but what you
believe is.”

I swallow hard. “My mother keeps visiting me in my dreams,
only it doesn’t look like her, but I know it’s her, she’s just this bright white
light that floats in the air and I can hear her, she whispers things to me.”

“Many people have had the same sort of image of their loved
ones when they have passed on.”

“Am I crazy George? Am I turning psychotic like my mother?
Is Tristan really going to hospitalise me?”

“Not in the way you’re thinking of. Tristan wants you to be
in the best hands if you are sick Coral’ – “Am I sick?” I interrupt, still
biting my nails.

“No. In my professional opinion you are not, and you are not
psychotic or crazy as you put it. You have been through one hell of a journey
in such a small amount of time. Even someone with no prior history like
yourself, would be having difficulties, I guarantee you that.”
Ok, feeling a
little better about turning into a nutcase!

“She told me about my baby,” I whisper.

“Your...your baby?” George says sounding worried.

“I was pregnant, only a week or so’ – I hear George gasp – ‘Doctors
told Tristan, Tristan told me. I miscarried my baby and she showed me before he
told me, only at the time what she showed me didn’t make any sense, and the
baby was alive looking up at me.”

“I see and has she shown you anything else?”
Right on the
mark George!

“Yes.”

“What has she shown you Coral?”

“The baby in the hole, he’s so still...not moving... and not
looking at me.” I hear George frantically scribbling something onto his writing
pad.

“Where was the baby Coral?”

“In the hole.”

“What hole?”

“The hole in the forest where the tree was, then it
disappeared and the baby was in there.”

“The tree disappeared?”

“Yes, one minute it was there, then it was gone and then she
showed me the baby in the hole.”

“Your mother?”

“Yes. She said ‘see’ and I looked down and there was the
baby.”

“I see. Can you think of any reason why the tree would
disappear? Have you been out to the woods lately?”

“I dreamt of the woods before. Tristan was there and he
disappeared, like smoke. I didn’t want him to go, and I tried to get to him,
but something invisible was holding me back.”

“I see, has it been just that one other dream of Tristan in
the woods?”

“No.”

“There have been others?”

“Yes. Just one.”

“Can you tell me Coral?” I cringe inwardly. “Coral?”

“Do you know Twilight?”

“Isn’t that the vampire story?”

“Yes. The first dream I had Tristan was Edward the vampire,
then he changed into Tristan and bought a red apple to my lips. I couldn’t move
again, I wanted to reach out for him. Then he said ‘take a bite’ then the dream
ended.”

“I see, and had you been to the woods at all?”

“No.”

“Can you think of anything that might be the reason for the
tree disappearing?”

“To make room for the baby?” I guess, shrugging my shoulders.

“Possibly,” George says. I search the recesses of my mind,
trying to work out – then it hits me, Tristan said about planting a tree...

“This could be relevant though? I want to bury my mother’s
ashes, I wanted to give her a grave stone, but Tristan found a place nearby and
instead of a plot with a gravestone, you plant a tree.”