CORAL - Forever (A Romance Trilogy, Book 3) (32 page)

“Yes George, I do. I know what you’re saying, stop bottling
it all up. But what about what my Mom showed me at the end?”

“Irrelevant.”

My mouth pops open. “How can you say that?”

“It was just a dream Coral.”

“So what...I should just forget it?” I squeak, my throat
tightening up on me.

“Fear, that’s what this is. Do you really think Tristan
would let anything happen to you?”

“I don't think it’s fear George,” I say, shaking my head.

“You don't?” He cocks his head to the side.

“No, I think it’s a missing piece of the puzzle.”

“What puzzle?”

I shrug. “I don't know...” I say feeling panicky again – I
wish I could just hide away somewhere, from everyone...everything – well apart
from Tristan. I let go of George’s hand, bring my legs up, wrap my arms around
them, then bury my head so I can't see anymore.

“Would you like a glass of water?” George softly asks.

“Please,” I squeak, starting to rock myself. I feel George
stand – He’s going to go! “Don't leave me!” I gasp, grabbing his arm. In that very
moment I feel like I'm coming out of my shell, my hiding place, and all I want
is Tristan. “Tristan,” I whisper. “George, I want Tristan.”

“Ok,” he softly says, takes his mobile out of his pocket and
makes a call. “Hello Tristan, we are outside, could you bring Coral a glass of
water?...Thank you.” George hangs up. “He’ll be here in a moment darling, deep
breaths.” I do as he says and breathe deeply, in and out. A minute later
Tristan appears.
Oh...what have I done, he looks frantic...

He quickly reaches us, bends down in front of me and hands
me the water, it take a tiny sip, give George the glass and launch myself into
Tristan’s open arms, gripping my arms so tightly around his neck he has to tell
me.

“Coral, you’re choking me.” He gently pulls on my arms so
I'm not hurting him.

“Oh Tristan, I'm sorry...so sorry. I didn’t mean to worry
you.”

“I know baby,” he says wrapping his arms around me. Then he
lifts me up into his arms, and sits next to George, with me sat on his lap,
safely cocooned in his arms. I grip onto him never wanting to let go. “Hey,
it’s ok baby. I’m here, I'm not going anywhere,” he soothes.

“Would you like me to give you both a moment?” George says.

I shake my head. “George, do you think it’s true? That I do
know him?”

“I couldn’t say Coral,” he says, looking mystified.

“But she showed me the baby, and that came true?” I feel
Tristan stiffen beneath me.

“She did, yes,” George says frowning deeply, then he looks
from me to Tristan. “Coral, I can't really give you any answers with regards to
the last part of the dream; but as far as the rest is concerned, it’s just your
mind trying to assimilate everything’s that’s happened into something tangible,
something you can make sense of, so that you can deal with it. But now you know
what you need to do?” he says, looking sternly at me.

“Yes,” I whisper. “Talk it through.” George smiles and pats
my hand. “George, I'm so sorry. I didn’t...I didn’t want to drag you over here
like this, you are not at my beck and call. I apologise, profusely.” Tristan
squeezes me around my waist and gently kisses my temple.

“Nonsense,” George says smiling warmly at me. “I was due
here anyway. Anytime you need me, you just call. If I'm around I will come to
you.”

“Well let’s go for this not happening again!” I snort.

“You look drained,” he quickly assesses. “And as Tristan has
pointed out, you are still recovering. Would you like me to stay and we can
continue, or would you like me to come over tomorrow, or another day this
week?”

“Can I call you?” I say, feeling guilty.

“Don't look so guilty Coral, and yes you can.” George
stands, I go to stand too but George stops me. “Don't get up, I’ll see myself
out. Stay out here for a while, get some fresh air - and talk to Tristan.” He
adds, scolding me again.

“I will,” I whisper.

“Alright then.” George leans down and takes my hand, we both
squeeze at the same time, then smile at one another.

“George...really thank you,” I gush. George rolls his eyes
at Tristan, who chuckles in return –
Great I'm funny now? –
“Say hi to
Phil for me?” I add.

“I will.” George shakes Tristan’s hand then gently places
his hand on the top of my head for a moment. “No more worrying.”

“Ok,” I squeak and watch him walk away.

“Baby,” Tristan says. I turn to look at him. “I’ve called
Rob and cancelled today.” I nod. I think that’s a good idea. “I said I’d get
you to call him to re-arrange,” he adds.

“Ok, I will,” I whisper.

“And Coral,” he breathes.

“Yeah?” I gaze at his wide eyes.

“Don't ever do that to me again,” he says, his tone clipped.
I nod solemnly at him.

Tristan pulls me closer to him and we just sit there
silently, wrapped in each other’s arms. Letting the morning sun warm us, listening
to the birds twitter and the bees buzz by us. I don't know how long we actually
sit there for, but I start to feel like I need to give Tristan some sort of
explanation for my behaviour, and then I think not, and decide, instead, on
honesty – If he thinks I'm a nutball at the end of it, there’s not much I can
do about it. So, I take a deep breath, summon up some courage and tell him the
dream, from beginning to end...

“No wonder you looked like you did.” He says, frowning
deeply.

“How did I look?” I whisper.

“Shell shocked.” He says, staring straight ahead.

“Oh,” I frown down at my twisted hands. “I’m sorry I kissed
Justin.” I feel sick again.

Tristan chuckles at me. “Of all the things to worry about,”
he says, shaking his head.

“It doesn’t bother you?” I whisper.

“Baby, George is right. It was just a dream. I know it’s me
you love, that’s all the reassurance I’ll ever need. I know you’d never do
anything behind my back.”

“Ok,” I whisper and peck his cheek.

“Why didn’t you tell me that you’ve been seeing your
mother?” He softly asks.

“I was scared,” I say, feeling embarrassed.

“Of me?” He says incredulously.

“No, not
of
you, of what you thought of me. I'm not
normal. I don't behave like other people do, and to turn around and say I see
and hear dead people in my dreams isn’t exactly a good sign, is it? Although...”
I trail off –
I wonder?

“What?” I shake my head trying to work it out. “Tell me
Coral.” Tristan sternly adds.

“I used to have premonitions as a teenager.” I whisper.

“You did?” Tristan says, surprised.

“Yeah...” I trail off, still thinking the possibilities
through.

“What kind of premonitions?” Tristan prompts.

“Um...like I would know who was calling when the phone rang...you
know stuff like that.” I look up at Tristan, his mouth is open, his eyes wide.

“It’s not just ‘stuff like that’ Coral. What else could you
do?” He says, amazed I think.

“Um...I would know what people were going to say before they
said it, and I would always kind of know in advance if I was going to have a
good or bad day at school.”

“How would you know that?” Tristan whispers, I think it’s
his turn to be in shock.

I shrug. “Just...I’d wake up and I’d just get this feeling
and then like...a blurry flash image of the future.”

“You’re kidding?” He says, totally wowed by what I'm telling
him.

“No, but the most profound one was when I saved Gladys.”

“You...you saved Gladys?” Tristan chokes.

“Yeah...I’d had this weird dream and I woke up feeling
terrified. Over the next hour this voice kept whispering ‘don't let her go’
anyway, long story short I begged Gladys not to go’ – “Go where?” He
interrupts. I launch into the story...

“...Anyway, after that she swore she would always believe me
if I said not to go.”

“I'm sure she did,” he says dryly.

“Tristan, I am sorry. I didn’t mean to panic you, it’s just
that last part really, really freaked me out. I didn’t know how to handle it,
how to handle telling you.”

“You know if that was a premonition and he did turn up, he
wouldn’t get near you. You know that right? I would protect you,” he whispers,
his hand gently stroking my back.

“I know,” I whisper back. “I just have this weird feeling,
like she’s right, that I do know him.”

“Well if you do and you meet the bastard again, we can do
something about what he did’ – “Hey, I know you’re mad about what he did, but’
– “Mad?” He chokes incredulously.

I sigh inwardly. I need to get off this subject “I’m
hungry,” I whisper, going to move.

“Coral wait, while you were down here with George, I was
thinking an idea over, I even mentioned it to Rob, he thought I was ‘bang on’
and that we should just do it.”

“Do what?” I question, my eyes wide.

“Go away for a break, just me and you, somewhere quiet and
tranquil. Just for a few days so you can get away from all of this, and just
rest up and recuperate. What do you think?”
Freaky, that’s what I think!

I smile and then titter. “What?” Tristan says, his lips
twitching.

I shake my head. “I was just thinking the same, that I just want
to get away...from everything. I seriously felt like my head was going to
explode earlier, too much in one go I guess, and Tristan’ – “Yes?”

“I'm still in so much pain. I’ve been hiding it from you
because I hate feeling helpless. It’s who I am and how I handle things. But my
body is telling me off, telling me I need to just stop fighting it and let go.”
His eyes close and he pinches the bridge of his nose in frustration.

“I knew you shouldn’t have come out of hospital yet,” he
hisses.

“Oh, no...no, no! You’re wrong there and right. Tristan I
was right to come out, hospitals freak me out, but I should have just had bed
rest when we got back. I'm sorry, acting like I'm ok is something I’m very good
at,” I sheepishly admit.

He nods once, his jaw tense. “Yes, I'm starting to realise
that, how good you really are at it. You were not ok yesterday were you?” He
asks, almost shouting. I shake my head at him.

He sighs heavily. “Coral, why’ – “I just wanted us to have a
nice day, we both seemed so much happier, more relaxed. I didn’t want anything
to spoil it, I'm sorry ok!” I squeak a little high pitched. Tristan sighs
heavily again, his eyes closing for a moment. “I really like the sound of going
away,” I add, trying to placate him.

“You do?” He whispers.

“Yes, I really do.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do.”

“Where are we going to go?” I say excitedly.

“Devon, Cornwall, somewhere remote. I’ll see if we can get
somewhere that looks out on a beach, so we can watch the sunsets. I’ll cook so
you can just relax’ – “But’ – “Coral, I want to look after you baby – don't
interrupt me,” he says, seeing me about to, then continues. “I don't feel as
though I'm doing a very good job of it so far. So just let me do what I want to
do!” He tells me in his authoritative voice.

“Ok.” I squeak.

Tristan finally smiles. “I think it sounds great, just me
and you. What say you?”

“Really?” I squeak. “Just us?”

Tristan laughs at my happy, excited face. “Yes, baby, just
us.”

“Won’t you get bored?”

“Bored?” He chokes. “Why on earth would you think I’ll get
bored? I'm never bored when I'm with you.”

“Never a dull moment with me around,” I mumble dryly.

“That’s not how I meant it,” he scolds.

“Oh...I know you didn’t, I meant it for me, you know taking
the piss out of myself,” I say half smiling – Hmm, just me and Tristan....
Holy
crap! Just me and Tristan, the possibilities are endless...
I can't help
giggling with excitement.

“I'm so excited,” I say, almost bouncing in his lap. Then I
remember something.
“W
hat
about the function this Friday?
”

“
It
’
s not important baby.
”
He tells me firmly.

“But I think we should go!” I argue.

“Coral’ – “Where is it Tristan?” I interrupt.

He sighs heavily. “London.”

“That wouldn’t be so bad, we could’ – “Coral. Please don't
argue with me about this,” he says, sounding weary.

“
You
’
re sure you don't want to
go?
”
I ask.

“
Yes,
positive.
”
Tristan
says; he still looks worried. Ok, I’ll keep it on the back burner for now. If I
feel well enough by Friday, I think we should definitely go!

“
Do
you think we
’
ll get
somewhere? It
’
s
still holiday season; I bet most of the places will be booked up.” I say,
trying to change the subject.

“
O
ye off little faith.
”
Tristan whispers, leaning down to kiss me.

“
You
think we
’
ll get
somewhere?
”
I
question.

“
Baby,
I know we
’
ll get
somewhere.
”
He says
in a thoroughly determined voice. Then Tristan smiles at me, takes my hand with
the catheter in it and stares at it; his beautiful smile quickly turns into
another frown.

“I'm ok,” I whisper. He cocks one eyebrow up at me. I look
away feeling guilty.

“If you lie to me again about how you’re feeling, I swear to
god Coral – I will not be responsible for my actions!” He snaps, almost
shouting. I nod once at him, biting my lip. “Right, let’s get upstairs then. We
need to pack, and I need to call Terry; we’re going to need a good amount of
pain killers to take with us.”
Ugh...tablets!

Tristan smiles at my pouting face, and keeping me in his
arms he walks us back into the house...