The Shooting (29 page)

“Really?” Duncan drawled in a dry voice. “You need to apply for a marriage license at least one month before the day.”

Tom came to a sudden halt and turned to face his father. “A
month?
You’re kidding me? You can’t just walk into a Registry office and sign your life away?”

“No, son. You can’t just walk into a Registry office. It doesn’t work that way.”

Tom looked aghast. “Can’t you do something? You’re a judge, after all.”

Lily watched the exchange in confusion and did her best to breathe through the pain. The contractions were coming faster and harder and were lasting longer. She didn’t know how much longer she could put up with it.

Her moan was loud and full of pain. “Tom, please. Hold my hand. It hurts so much.”

“We need to call an ambulance,” Marguerite announced. Both men fell silent and stared at her.

“An ambulance,” Tom repeated, his face blank.

“Yes, Tom. An ambulance. Lily’s labor is progressing rapidly for a first birth. We need to get her to the hospital. Now, stop this nonsense about marriage and Registry offices and babies born out of wedlock and go and call an ambulance.”

Her words seemed to finally penetrate his brain. He patted his pockets frantically, in search of his phone. “Where the hell did I put my phone? Dad, do you know where I left it?”

“No, Tom. Why would I know where you’d left it?”

“I had it just a—”

“Tom!” Marguerite said sternly, her tone brooking no argument. “We have a phone on the side table in the hallway. Pick it up and call an ambulance.”

He stared at his mom for a few moments and then did an about turn and strode out of the room. Yet another contraction gripped Lily and she gritted her teeth and panted. She tried to concentrate on what she’d learned in the classes she’d attended over the past few weeks, but everything the instructor told her had dissolved into thin air. Her mind was like a sieve and refused to focus on anything other than the pain.

Another fierce contraction took hold of her and she cried out. Tom materialized again and reached for her hand and Lily squeezed it for dear life. It didn’t take the pain away, but it helped her think about something else. She sighed in relief when the wave of pain was over.

“You’re doing fine, Lily. Breathe deeply, catch your breath, relax until the next one,” Marguerite encouraged her. “The ambulance is on its way. You’re going to be fine, honey. I promise.”

Marguerite’s soothing words and calm manner helped ease some of Lily’s fears. She did as Tom’s mom suggested and by the time the next contraction seized her, she was ready for it. The pain was the strongest yet and the contraction seemed like it lasted forever. She panted and squeezed Tom’s hand and did her best to breathe through it.

A stinging sensation burned between her legs and despite her best efforts, she screamed. Marguerite knelt down between her legs and lifted her dress. Lily would have died with embarrassment if she hadn’t been in so much pain.

“Okay, here’s what we’re going to do,” Tom’s mom stated in a calm, but firm voice. “Tom, move Lily carefully and lie her down on the couch. Duncan, go to the linen press and get me four or five clean towels.”

Tom stared at his mother, his face dark with confusion. “Mom, the ambulance will be here soon. Surely we can wait until then?”

“I don’t think so, Tom. The baby’s head has crowned. In another push, maybe two, your baby’s going to be here. I don’t think it’s going to wait for the ambulance.”

Lily heard Marguerite’s quiet words and fear gripped her heart. She was going to have her baby in the Munro family living room! As if tuned in to her thoughts, Tom picked her up in his arms and murmured reassurances in her ear. Gently, he deposited her on the couch. In the distance, she heard a siren and was overwhelmed with relief.

Oh, thank goodness! The ambulance wasn’t far away. Perhaps she could just wait… A few seconds later, another wave of agony gripped her belly and Lily cried out against it. The urge to push came upon her and there was nothing she could do but go with it.

“Push, Lily. Push.” Marguerite’s encouragement gave her confidence.

“Oh, hell. I can see the head!” Tom shouted, his eyes wide with a combination of fear and excitement.

All at once, the burning sensation eased and Lily gasped on a breath.

“That’s it, Lily! The head is out! You’re nearly there, honey. One more push and it will all be over.”

With her chin pressed to her chest and her knees bent high, Lily clung to Tom’s hand and braced herself for the next contraction. It came hard and fast and she pushed with all her might.

“Quick, Tom! Get down here and help me. Your baby’s about to be born!”

Tom threw a panicked look at Lily and then toward his mom. Lily groaned and breathed and groaned again. Tom rushed to take the spot beside his mother. With something akin to wonder and terror warring on his face, he leaned forward and reached for their child.

“You’ve done it, Lily! You brilliant girl! What do we have, Dad. Is it a boy or a girl?”

Tom looked down at the squalling red mass of humanity in his hands and tears filled his eyes. He stared at Lily and shook his head, as if at a loss for words.

“It’s a girl,” he croaked, his voice husky with emotion. “We have a daughter!”

The pain that had held Lily’s body in its grip miraculously receded and her breath slowed. She collapsed against the pillows, exhausted and relieved. She watched while Marguerite expertly swaddled the tiny bundle in a towel and then handed her back to Tom. With reverence and awe flooding his face, Tom turned and brought their daughter to Lily and laid the baby on her chest.

The next while passed in a blur and in what seemed like no time at all there were strangers in uniform beside her, urging her to remain calm while they cut the umbilical cord and she delivered the placenta. A little while later, the paramedics urged her to shuffle across to the stretcher. She kissed the petal-soft skin of her daughter’s cheek and then handed her back to Tom. He took the baby from her and grinned so hard she thought his lips might split in two. She offered him a tentative smile in return.

“Is she… Is she all right?” she whispered.

“She’s beautiful, just like her mother and perfect in every way.” He bent down and brushed the damp hair off her forehead and kissed her softly on the lips.

“I love you, Lily Strickland. I’ll love you for the rest of my life.”

“I love you, too, Tom Munro.”

Tom’s eyes grew darker with emotion and he took her hand and raised it to his lips. “Will you marry me, Lily?”

Lily stared at him and her heart swelled with a love so deep and powerful she was surprised she could contain it. The people in the room faded away until there was no one and nothing, but Tom. She might have had a shitty childhood, but he’d shown her families weren’t always like that. He’d had the best of role models and together, they’d learn to deal with whatever life tossed their way.

“Yes, Tom. I’ll marry you.”

His eyes widened in shock. A split second later, he
whooped
his exhilaration so loud it rang out through the house. “You’ll marry me? You mean it?”

“Yes, Tom. I mean it.” And she did.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Royal North Shore Hospital—present day

Tom opened his eyes and blinked them, feeling a little groggy from the residual effects of the anaesthetic. His chest was sore and his mouth was dry. A headache persisted across his forehead. But Lily was awake. She was going to be all right. And that was all that mattered.

He stirred in the bed and lifted his arm, noticing the IV tube than ran into the vein on the top of his hand. Brandon sat in a chair in the corner of the room, looking more than a little disheveled as he watched his brother open his eyes.

“Tom, you’re awake,” he said and stood and came over to the bed. “Good to have you back with us, mate. You slept more than four hours. How do you feel? Can I get you anything?”

“Water, please,” Tom rasped and licked his dry lips.

“Sure, there’s a water jug right here.”

Tom watched while Brandon picked up a blue plastic jug and poured water into a glass. Handing it across the bed, Tom took the glass and swallowed a mouthful, sighing in relief.

“Ah, that tastes fantastic. I feel like I haven’t had a drink for a week.”

“Well, you hadn’t eaten all day and you were asleep when your dinner arrived. No wonder you’re thirsty. The nurses have been in and out through the night checking on you and replacing the bag of fluid running through your IV, but they decided not to wake you.”

“How’s Lily? When can I see her?” Is she still in the ICU?” Tom glanced out at the window that took up most of the far wall. The night sky was littered with tiny stars, barely illuminated against the lights of the city.

“She’s doing great. She’s supposed to be moving to a ward tomorrow, if she remains stable overnight.”

“Great. What time is it? Can we go now?”

Brandon smiled. “It’s seven-thirty in the evening. The nurses might not be so keen to let you out at this time of the night.”

“Bran, please. I need to see her. The ICU staff will understand. I’ve been a fixture at her bedside since it happened.”

“I understand, mate. I’ll go and talk to one of the nurses. I’ll see what I can do.”

Tom nodded in gratitude, but inwardly, he chafed at the delay. If he weren’t feeling so under the weather himself, he’d just up and get out of there now.

“Oh, the doctor stopped by earlier to check on you. She was pleased with how the operation went, but she needs to wait for the results of the pathology to ensure they got all of the cancer. She also said it’s important for you to mobilize as soon as possible. I’m happy to help you out of bed. We might not be able to walk to see Lily, but we could take a short turn around the ward.”

Tom looked at his brother and realized Brandon had spent the day by his side. His chest tightened with emotion. It made him feel good to know how much his brother cared.

“Yeah, thanks, but I might leave it a little while. I-I still have a bit of a headache and my chest feels like it’s been run over by a truck. I want to save my strength so I can see Lily.”

“Sure, I get that and we can always take a wheelchair.” Brandon yawned and stretched his arms way out over his head and then shot Tom a grin. “Let me tell you, that hospital seat sure leaves a lot to be desired in the way of comfort.”

“I want to thank you for staying with me, Bran. I-I don’t know what to say. I really appreciate it.” Tom cleared his throat. “It… It means a great deal.”

Brandon merely nodded, as if he was also struggling for words. Eventually, he said, “No worries, bro. You’d have done the same for me.”

“What about Lily? Was anyone able to stay with her?”

“Lily’s mom—Fiona, I think she said—took over from Mom this afternoon. Mom went to your place after she arrived, to help Dad out with Cassie and Joe. He’s been with them all day. Not that they’re babies, but…you know. As far as I know, Fiona’s still with Lily.”

“Yes, of course and I’m glad Lily hasn’t been left alone. She’s probably wondering where the hell I am. Has anyone told her about…?”

“Yeah, Mom did. She wasn’t going to, but Lily kept asking for you and wondering why you weren’t there. She was getting more and more distressed about your absence. Eventually, Mom decided it would be better to tell her the truth.”

Tom was flooded with guilt. He should have told Lily about the lump months ago. It shouldn’t have been left up to his mom. He remembered how hurt and betrayed he’d felt when Lily had hidden the truth about being pregnant with Cassie. Now that the tables were turned, he prayed Lily would be understanding of the situation and his reasons for keeping it hidden from her for so long.

“How did she take it?” he asked.

“Okay, I think. I only spoke to Mom briefly when she called in to see you and to tell me she was heading back home.

Tom sighed. “I’m so grateful to everyone for chipping in and helping out. It’s been such a relief knowing the kids have been taken care of and someone’s kept Lily company. You can’t know how much it means to me.”

“Of course. We’re family. It’s what we do.”

“Still—”

“Would you stop thanking me? It’s not necessary. You’re my brother. Of course I’m going to do all I can to help you when you need me, okay? End of story.”

“Okay,” Tom smiled. “I get it.” Tom’s thoughts shifted to his children. “Do the kids know their mom’s awake?”

“I assume Mom’s told them by now. I tried to call earlier when you asked me to, but I couldn’t get through to them. Mom called Dad on his cell phone and he admitted he’d fallen asleep and hadn’t heard the phone. I’m not sure what the kids were up to. Mom thought they were probably listening to music with their headphones on.”

Tom frowned. “What time was this?”

“I don’t know. Four, maybe five o’clock?”

“You’d have thought one of them would have heard the phone.”

“Hey, don’t stress about it. I’m sure it was nothing.”

“Yeah, I hope so.” Tom blew out his breath on a heavy sigh.

Brandon’s forehead creased on a frown. “What’s the matter? You look like you’ve got the weight of the world on your shoulders.”