Deceptive Cadence
Authors: Katie Hamstead
Tags: #Romance, #Contemporary, #Science Fiction & Fantasy, #Fantasy, #Magical Realism
DECEPTIVE
CADENCE
BOOK ONE
Published by
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part One: Second Chances
Part Two: James
Part Three: Decisions
DEDICATION
For my daughters and husband, my hope for the future.
Also this is for everyone who believes in second chances.
.
PART ONE: SECOND CHANCES
CHAPTER ONE
A steady beep brought me out of unconsciousness. My eyes felt heavy. I struggled to open them. A distinct aroma of cleaning products hung in the air. My brain switched on as I realized where I was and I forced my eyes open. The beeping sped up. White walls encircled me in the hospital room, and directly across from me was a closed bathroom door. I was completely alone. Where was my family? My husband? My baby daughter?
I tried to sit up but my whole body writhed with pain. I moaned, and a second later a nurse, dressed in aqua scrubs, burst into the room.
“It’s all right, just don’t move,” she said in a soothing voice.
I wanted to ask a million questions, but I couldn’t form any words. She gently pressed me back onto the bed and checked me over. I watched her; she seemed to avoid looking directly into my eyes. As I followed her movements, I became aware of the cast on my arm. My right leg was bound and raised in a sling, and appeared to have large bolts sticking out of my thigh.
“What happened?” I finally managed to utter.
The nurse slowed. “You have a fractured femur, ulna, and radius. You also sustained substantial head trauma, which is why you’ve been unconscious for the past few days.”
“Few days?” I groaned. “What day is it?”
“Thursday.”
“But how? The last thing I remember was . . . was . . .”
I didn’t actually know. Monday was a haze. I’d come home from university and found my husband, Austin, had cooked dinner, and our eighteen-month-old daughter, Melody, was bathed and in her pajamas. I’d been so surprised. I kissed him, his dark scruff tickling my nose, and felt as if I’d never be happier. We’d sat and eaten together, enjoying our family time. Our little Melody rambled about this and that, while Austin told me about his day.
“There was an earthquake,” the nurse said.
I snapped back into focus. “But we don’t live near a fault line.”
The nurse dropped her gaze. “It was an accident. Your leg was crushed under a ceiling beam, and your arm broke when you hit the floor.”
“When I hit the floor?”
“You were found wedged between your bed and the collapsed wall and roof.”
I tried to remember. Austin and I put Melody to bed at her normal time, and a few hours later, we went to bed. How had I ended up on the floor? I rubbed my forehead.
“Where’s my family?”
“Your parents arrived yesterday,” she answered.
“My parents?” I lived a long way from my parents, clear across the country, in Perth. For them to come last minute like that . . .
“Where’s my husband?”
The nurse didn’t answer.
“Where’s my daughter?” My voice rose.
Again, no answer.
The beeping sped up. “Where are they?”
A doctor entered the room, wearing a white coat and carrying a clipboard, with my parents right behind him. Mum rushed forward and grabbed my hand. I felt sick. Before the doctor even said it, I knew what had happened.
“Your husband was found holding your daughter in her room. We believe it was fast . . .”
I couldn’t hear anymore. My ears buzzed. My heart ached.
“No.” I pulled my hand free. “No! I don’t believe it!”
“Cadence, honey,” Mum said as tears streamed down her face. “Austin is gone. He died trying to protect you and Melody.”
“Melody! Where’s Melody?”
Mum sobbed uncontrollably. Dad stepped forward to grab her shoulders.
“I’m sorry, Cadence.”
I gasped, feeling as if my heart had been ripped from my chest. “No! I don’t believe you! I’m dreaming. This has to be a dream. It can’t be real.” I closed my eyes tightly. “Wake up, Cadence, just wake up.”
Mum’s hand squeezed my arm as she continued to sob. But I couldn’t wake up from it. It was all real.
My eyes shot open, and I threw up. The nurse rushed to clean me, but I shoved her away. The beeping from the heart monitor increased.
“Cadence.” Mum grasped my shoulder. “Breathe, honey.”
“No, no!” I pushed her away, trying to pull free of my restraints. “I don’t believe it. I want to see them,
now
.”
“Nurse,” the doctor said firmly.
The nurse grabbed my drip, and the next thing I knew, the world became hazy.
The drugs kept me relaxed as I drifted in a strange semi-aware state. Mum’s sobs echoed around me. I shut my eyes, willing for it all to end.
Austin appeared over me, his dark eyes sparkling as he smiled. “Good morning, gorgeous.”
I glanced around. My belly bulged out, full of our almost-ready-to-emerge daughter as I lay in our bed.
“What day is it?” I asked.
“Saturday.” He kissed me softly. “What do you think about heading out to Rottness today?”
I groaned. “You’re joking, right? The whales might think I’m one of them.”
“It’s the wrong season for whales.” He wrapped me in his arms, kissing my temple.
Then, I heard a woman crying. I sat up, glancing around. “Who’s that?”
Austin’s smile faded as he sat up beside me, meeting my gaze. “Cadence, sweetheart, I have to go.”
“What do you mean?” I grasped his bare, strong shoulder.
“I love you.”
A hand over mine dragged me from my sleep. Mum clung to my hand as Dad leaned forward and stroked my brow.
“Austin,” I said weakly as tears rolled down my cheeks.
Dad brushed them away. “Do you feel up to seeing him? To say goodbye to him and Melody?”
Still weak from the drugs, I could barely move my body. But I had to see them. To prove they weren’t dead. They couldn’t be dead. So, I gave Dad a nod.
He hurried out to get the nurse. They both returned with a wheelchair. I felt numb as Dad pushed me down the endless corridors to the morgue.
When they pulled out Austin’s body from the cool room, his strong body covered in a white sheet, I shook my head. “That’s not him.”
Dad squeezed my shoulder. “Yes, it is, sweetheart.”
“That’s not my Austin.” Tears built up in my eyes.
“It is. I’m so sorry, Cadence.”
My tears burst out along with sharp sobs.
“No!” I reached across and grabbed his hand. “No, no, no! Austin, if this is some sick joke, you better sit up right now!”
He didn’t flinch.
I pressed his hand against my face. It felt ice cold. It never felt that cold, even after he’d been crazy enough to go diving in the ocean mid-winter. I trembled at the reality of his death. My Austin, my warm, loving husband.
Then, a tiny body was brought out and rested in my arms. I couldn’t control my tears as I looked into my daughter’s lifeless face. That little face that mirrored my own. I held her tightly against me as I wailed in agony.
Dad squeezed my shoulder, leaving me in peace to grieve.
I sat with them, talking softly and pretending they were just asleep. My heart ached. Austin was only twenty-five, the same age as me. Both he and Melody were too young to die. I longed for them to open their brown eyes and smile at me like they always had, but all that happened was my tears soaked their lifeless faces.
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to remember what happened. I remembered climbing into bed while Austin finished in the bathroom. As I tried to fall asleep, he climbed into bed and tickled me.
I struggled to fight free while he laughed. “Austin!”
“Shh, you’ll wake Melody.”
“Get off!”
He pinned me down and kissed me. I yielded, and his hands wandered. I knew exactly what he wanted. Without any resistance, I willingly gave myself to him. After that, we fell asleep, but nothing else . . .
Wait. A noise had woken me. He shoved me onto the floor. Then everything went black.
“Austin.” I ran my fingers through his dark, thick hair. “Don’t leave me. We need you. Melody and I . . .” My voice caught in my throat. Melody was gone too. “How can I go on without you? You’re the calm to my crazy. I didn’t even know what love was until you. Please,
please
don’t be dead.”
I brushed my fingers over his cheek, hoping maybe, just maybe, my touch would bring him to life. He remained pale, motionless.
“Austin.” I pulled away, burying my face into Melody’s soft blonde hair. “Couldn’t I have at least been able to keep you? You’re barely more than a baby. I should have protected you.”
The sobs came uncontrollably as my heart shattered. I couldn’t see the point in living anymore.
Finally, my nurse returned and insisted I rest. She helped me up so I could kiss Austin on the forehead, and after I’d kissed Melody goodbye, the mortician took her from my arms.
Dad sat in the room as I entered, but I didn’t acknowledge him. He helped the nurse lift me back onto the bed, then sat beside me, stroking my hand. But I didn’t care.
“Cadence, sweetheart.” He lifted my hand to his lips, softly kissing it.
I drew a deep breath. “What happened?”
His chin trembled as he gazed up at me. “It was an accident.”
“How can an earthquake be an accident?” I shot him a fierce glare.
He glanced away, squeezing my hand. “Let’s not talk about it right now.”
I pressed my head back against the pillow as my tears threatened to push free again. “Wasn’t there something I could have done? Why did they die, but not me? I just want to be with them.”
“I know it hurts, but don’t give up.”
I looked away, ashamed to let him see my tears. How could he know when Mum and his children were all alive?
“You know I loved Austin like a son.” A warm tear fell on the back of my hand. I watched him out of the corner of my eye.
“And Melody was so beautiful, just like you.” He hung his head as he slipped his hand into his coat jacket. “I found something in the house I thought you’d want to keep. It’s perfect, and although we’ll help you move on with your life, you shouldn’t ever forget.”
He opened my palm and pressed a photo into it. I glanced down, then stared. I’d taken the picture only a few months earlier, and loved it so much that I insisted on having it printed and framed. But it seemed the frame was gone now, just like Austin and Melody.
“They’ll always be with you.”
Tears ran down my cheeks as I covered my mouth. The two grinning faces of Austin and Melody gazed up at me. So alive. So vibrant.
“Dad, how can I . . . ?”
He wrapped his arms around my head, letting me cry into his chest. “I’m here, baby girl. I love you so much.”
I clutched the photo to my heart. If only my love could bring them back.
That night, I couldn’t sleep. I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, unable to find the will to live. I set the photo aside and shut my eyes, trying to tell my heart to stop beating so I could be with my little family again.
“You don’t want to do that.”
My eyes shot open at the voice. There, standing at the end of the bed, stood a man dressed in white scrubs. He had cropped silver hair, a scruffy beard, and penetrating dark brown eyes. He ran his fingers along the foot of the bed. “Your time to die hasn’t come yet.”