Waiting for Rain

by Susan Mac Nicol

  I stared at him in fury. “At least tell me why you’re doing all this shit to me. What the hell have I ever done to you? Is it because Tammy broke up with you?”

  He looked at me, hatred on his face. “You had no right to break us up like you did. But I don’t give a fuck about her anymore. There’s plenty of slag like her to go around.” My anger increased at those words, even as I felt a sense of relief that this wasn’t really about her. She’d be safe from him if he focused his rage on me.

  He poked a fist in my face. “You smacked Landon when he wouldn’t put out for you,” he snarled. “Landon’s a good bloke, my dad’s best friend, and he told us all about what you’d tried to do to him. Trying to stick him one up the arse and wanting to suck him off. It was bloody disgusting. The man goes to church, for God’s sake, and has a kid. How could you do that to him? People still talk gossip about it, and he didn’t deserve the accusations you threw at him. They were a fucking lie. He still has trouble with his bloody shoulder because of the whack you gave him, and he can’t even play football anymore. You bloody caused a load of trouble for him.”

  I shook my head. “He’s the fucking liar. He’s the one who wanted to suck my bloody cock, you ignorant twat.”

  Neil shouted out in anger, lurching toward me. I moved just at the right moment, and he went flying into the bush that flanked his garden path. I looked around. The street had a few curious onlookers, but I had a feeling none of them would interfere if this got any worse.

  I looked at the man struggling to get out of the bush and knew this conversation had been a mistake. In fact, I’d probably just made things worse. “I’m warning you. Leave me the hell alone,” I spat at him. “You don’t want to know what happened to the last people who fucked with me like this.” The memories of what I’d done when I was fifteen came flooding back, making the bile rise in my throat. “You stay the hell away from me and my friends, or you’ll be sorry, you sick tosser.”

  I turned and walked back down the garden path, being careful to keep an eye on him. It would be just like him to play dirty and do something when I wasn’t looking. I made it onto the street and looked back to see him upright now and staring after me. His gaze burned into my back like an iron left on the board too long. I was shaking, my hand already swelling where I’d obviously sprained it. I’d scraped it too, and it oozed small trickles of blood. I felt physically sick, not just from the adrenaline rush but from the fact I’d really wanted to hurt him. I hadn’t felt like that in a long time. I had a long fuse, but when it burned out, I was a menace to myself and anyone else around. I’d learned that the hard way.

  I made it back to the hotel bar and once again stole some ice from the fridge to wrap in a towel and hold against my hand. I soaked a clean cloth in ice-cold water and wrapped it around, swearing as the cold bit at the open scratches. I was so absorbed in my task I didn’t hear Lucas come in to stand beside me. When I finally felt a presence, I looked up to see him watching me carefully.

  “What happened?” he asked, his voice soft but commanding. Lucas looked like a big, shaggy puppy, but he had a core of steel.

  I looked at him. “I fell. Tripped over a kid’s scooter in the street. Hurt my hand a little.”

  He knew I was lying. I knew he knew I was lying.

  He nodded, his eyes watchful. “You need to be more careful, mate, and watch where you’re going. I’d hate you to get hurt. Rain wouldn’t be happy with that either.”

  “I just fell, Lucas. No big deal.” My voice was sharp.

  He nodded again. “Uh-huh.” He looked around. “Eddie told me he’s put some cold drinks in the ‘under fridge’ for us. Which one would that be, then?”

  I pointed out the right fridge, and he took out two cold Cokes, which I imagined were for him and Rain. They were completing the finishing touches to the Canterbury Bar, and in a few days’ time, Rain and Lucas would be off to Leicester to start building a library for someone. I wasn’t looking forward to not having his presence at the hotel. Whether these feelings we had for each other would survive no longer being on tap for each other as we were now, I wasn’t sure. I fervently hoped they didn’t come to a full-blown stop.

  Later that evening at his place, I gave Rain the same story I’d given Lucas about my hand. He seemed to accept it. I thought wryly he’d never have believed I’d have willingly gone to see the bullying, violent ex-boyfriend of a friend on my own, as that would have been suicidal, stupid, and sheer folly. He obviously gave me far too much credit for having brains. He kissed my scrapes better, joking about how lucky it was that I was right-handed and could still use my hand for the most part to do all “the things I did so well.” I laughed, saying I supposed we should be grateful for small mercies. If I’d known it was all going to turn to shit, I might not have been so flippant.

  TWO DAYS later I was very busy with a new intake of customers who’d arrived from Japan. The tour bus had gotten stuck in one of the small country lanes it tried to bypass, and it had taken over two hours to get it moving again. The passengers were fractious and hot, as the bus’s air-conditioning had broken down as well. Whilst England in August might not be the hottest place on the planet, it was still unseasonably warm. Fifty annoyed, sweating, and highly irate Japanese people traipsing into my hotel in the midafternoon, not speaking much English, and all trying to get both my and Tammy’s attention was a recipe for disaster.

  It didn’t help when one of them had the temerity to faint in the lobby, and I found myself giving first aid to a small, sweating sixty-year-old man with a serious case of the grabbies. I don’t think he was trying to feel me up. I think it was just that he seemed to find solace in touching and grabbing anything he could get his hands on, which included my arse and my legs and occasionally my crotch. The man had no idea of boundaries. He panicked and hyperventilated in all the fuss, and Tammy had to run around to find a paper bag I could use to bring his breathing back to normal. When I had Mr. Miyamoto finally settled with a cup of tea, I was able to give my attention to the other forty-nine people who were clamoring for it.

  Finally, between us, we had all the new hotel patrons settled in their rooms, with promises of late-afternoon “Engrish cream teams,” which I took to mean “English cream teas.” The lobby was empty, and I heaved a sigh of relief at Tammy.

  “Thank God for that.” I rolled my aching shoulders, blowing out my cheeks. “At least they’ll be fine until they come down for their cream tea. I need to go outside and check on the bins.”

  Tammy nodded, absorbed in completing all the paperwork sitting on the desk. “Uh-huh. I’m just going to sit here and get this check-in stuff finished, or I’ll be here until midnight.”

  I ruffled her hair as I passed. I went outside to the large dustbins at the back to perform my usual evening chore of checking that they were closed properly. They were located right at the back of the hotel, in a secluded area, and nobody really came out that way unless it was for the occasional smoke. In the past, the lids to the bins had been left open, and we’d had guests complaining about the smell wafting up to their rooms, let alone the fact that the area was a magnet for all the bloody cats in the area. As it was a warm evening, and the hotel windows were open, I didn’t want any ponging smells making their way up to an already traumatized and needy Japanese clientele.

  I was muttering to myself and swearing when the blow hit. I felt a surge of pain in my back. I stumbled forward, reaching out to grasp the bin in front of me. There was heavy breathing over to my right, and I saw a pair of hard green eyes staring out from beneath a woolen balaclava. I knew it was Neil Haydock. His fists were clenched, and I guessed he’d punched me in the kidneys, from the pain I felt.

  “Neil, what the hell are you playing at?” I gasped. “There’s no use hiding behind the balaclava, you fucking idiot. I know it’s you.”

  He moved toward me, and I balanced on the balls of my feet, ready to defend myself. “You need a lesson in manners, Toby,” he snarled.” You can’t just
come to a man’s home and make trouble.”

  He squared up, moving toward me with intent. “I thought a little duffing up might make you realize your place. No one will believe you if you say anything, anyway. I have mates who’ll swear I was with them all afternoon. So, it will be your word against mine.”

  He launched himself at me, I sidestepped swiftly, and his fist connected with the metal bin behind me. He might be bigger, but I was quicker. He cried out in pain. “You bastard!”

  Drops of blood fell from his damaged hand. I moved away from him, hoping he’d give up. I knew I should shout for help, but that just wasn’t like me. I needed to handle this myself. But he didn’t give up. Instead he reached into the dumpster and pulled out a glass beer bottle, holding it by the neck and smashing it against the metal bin. He brandished the weapon in my direction.

  “I’m going to cut for you for that.” His menacing tone sent a thrill of fear through me. I looked around for something to use as a weapon. I saw a piece of two-by-four lying a few feet away and made a beeline for it just as he rushed forward. Unfortunately, we met in tandem, and the sharp, jagged edges of the broken bottle sank deeply into my side, ripping the skin, making me cry out in pain. I ignored the agony. The old violent rage I’d felt in the past when I’d been in situations similar to this kicked in.

  I’ve fucking had enough of people treating me like shit.

  I grabbed for the piece of wood, picked it up, and turned back in one fluid motion to hit him across the side of the head as he loomed over me. Neil toppled like a falling domino. I raised the wood, ready to strike again, and felt a strong arm grip mine. I turned in my rage, ready to fight back, and looked into the face of Lucas. He had a grip like steel and a face that said not to mess with him.

  “Toby, mate, it’s all right. Simmer down. Put that bloody thing down. Come on. Give it to me.”

  I was shaking, but I let Lucas remove the piece of bloodstained wood from my hands. He laid it on the ground gently. When he looked at my side, blood was pouring out of a deep gash across my ribs, and I felt sick with pain.

  “Christ, Toby, we need to get you to the hospital. You’re as white as a polar bear.”

  He reached into his pocket and dialed. I watched out of hazy eyes as he called 999.

  “I have a man who’s been stabbed and another one knocked unconscious. Can you get an ambulance to the Duck and Drake as soon as possible? Thanks. You have my mobile number if you need to get hold of me for anything.”

  He put his phone back in his pocket and turned to me. “I heard someone cry out, so I came to take a look. Thank God I did. Can you stand on your own while I take a look at the tosser on the ground?”

  I nodded, leaning over, and vomited. My side felt like a hundred bees were stinging me all at the same time.

  Lucas knelt beside the man on the ground, who was lying ominously still. “Mate, are you all right? Can you get up?” The figure didn’t move. Lucas reached down and removed the head covering to reveal Neil’s waxen face. His eyes were closed, and he definitely wasn’t conscious. Lucas slapped his cheeks gently, but he didn’t stir. Lucas looked at me, the first trace of worry on his face. He moved back over to me, concern in his eyes. “He’s out like the proverbial light. Toby, what the fuck happened? I came out, and you were getting ready to bash him.”

  “He hit me,” I managed to get out from dry lips and a mouth that felt as if all the demons from hell had laid sulphur eggs in it. “He was going to fuck me up, and then he smashed the bottle and stabbed me. So, I smacked him with that.” I waved at the piece of wood, nearly losing my balance. Lucas held my arm anxiously as I wavered on my legs. It was all going really fuzzy, and I closed my eyes. I heard a commotion at the open side entrance to the kitchen and looked up to see Rain rushing toward me with a look of sheer panic on his face.

  “Jesus Christ, what the hell happened? Are you okay?”

  I giggled, relieved to see him. “Just had an altercation with a beer bottle.” I waved a hand airily. “Nothing to worry about.” And then everything went dark.

  Chapter 14

  Rain

  LUCAS AND I caught Toby as he fell. I’d come out of the kitchen to see what all the commotion was about and seen Lucas trying to steady him. Toby was ashen, covered in blood. Lucas didn’t look much better, being covered in wet red spatter. My heart clenched, as if being squeezed by an invisible hand.

  I stared at Lucas in horror. “What the hell is going on?”

  Lucas laid a firm hand on my shoulder as he helped me lower Toby to the ground. More people were filtering out into the service yard now, staff and patrons alike, but I ignored their curious looks.

  “Neil Haydock is what happened,” Lucas said grimly. “That little shit bashed Toby, then stabbed him, but your little scrapper managed to turn the tables and get his own blow in.”

  He sounded proud of my boyfriend bashing another man on the head, but his expression was worried.

  “But I can’t rouse the other guy. I called an ambulance. I think they both need it.”

  I leaned over and stroked Toby’s cheek. His skin was cold, and he was clammy and pale. I felt sheer panic. “Babe, wake up. Come on. Let me see those beautiful eyes.” He stirred slightly, and I kept encouraging him. “Toby, love, wake up.” I leaned forward and kissed him on his cold lips. I don’t know whether that was what roused him, but he sighed softly, and his eyes opened. He stared at me dazedly.

  “Rain?” He tried to sit up, and I supported him as he battled upright.

  “The ambulance is on its way.” My voice choked up at seeing the wince of pain flash across his face and the way he struggled to move.

  “He bloody stabbed me, Rain.” His face was twisted in pain. “That bastard deserved the whack I gave him.”

  “Yes, he did, but just keep still. The ambulance shouldn’t be too long.”

  He closed his eyes, and I pulled him back into me. I felt a surge of rage at the other man lying still unconscious on the ground. I didn’t give a fuck about him, only the man lying in my arms. Toby closed his eyes, and I jiggled his body roughly, needing to know he was still all right. His eyes snapped open with a hiss of pain. I felt like a heel.

  “Stay awake, Toby,’” I cajoled him. “Talk to me. Then I know you’re okay.”

  A man walked over from the car park and crouched down beside the still body of Neil. “I’m a guest here, but I’m a doctor,” he said authoritatively. “Grant Manning. Let me take a look at the stab wound.” He knelt down beside Toby. “I can hear the ambulance,” Manning said quietly. “They can’t be too far away.” He lifted Toby’s shirt, frowning when he saw the open wound that marked my boyfriend’s pale skin. There was a livid bruise staining his back.

  Grant’s face darkened. “Bloody coward, stabbing somebody like this. The man that did that was on a mission, all right.” He raised his eyebrows. “Your boyfriend still managed to hit that guy even though he had this injury? He’s a tough little bastard, isn’t he?”

  I nodded, feeling emotion swell in my chest. “He is that.”

  “Hello, I can hear you, you know,” Toby said testily. “I’m not bloody unconscious.”

  I grinned. That was the feisty man I knew and loved. That dawning emotion made me tremble, and I leaned forward and kissed his cold cheek. “I know, lover. You’re my tough man. Now lie still.”

  The ambulance pulled in a few minutes later. They tended to a still-grumbling Toby, who was getting fed up with all the attention, and soon had him ready to go. He kept complaining he didn’t need to go in the ambulance and that I could drive him. The young paramedic froze his muttered curses with a fierce stare of her blue eyes and a tightening of her rather plump lips. He kept quiet and let them put him in the back.

  Neil was still unconscious. Toby’s nostrils flared as the man was wheeled in next to him. A look of fear crossed his face as he sat stony-faced regarding the man. I wasn’t sure whether it was the fact that Neil was in there with him or something else. There
was no room for me in the back of the ambulance, so I was going to have to follow in the car. By this time, half the hotel was in the yard, including Tammy. She was crying softly in Lucas’s arms as he tried to comfort her. I hoped she was crying for my lover and not for that worthless piece of crap who’d tried to shish kebab him. The ambulance drove off.

  I looked over at Lucas and inclined my head toward the car park. “You stay here with Tammy,” I said tiredly. “I’ll go check in on Mr. Two-By-Four and let you know how he is.” Lucas nodded, and I walked over to the car park.

  Tammy was trying by now to reassure the patrons that we didn’t have a mass murderer or a psychotic killer in our midst. I didn’t envy her that job. But I knew Lucas would take care of her. Half an hour later I was still pacing the hospital corridor like an expectant father as they checked Toby out. Just as I was ready to explode in agitation, I saw a white-coated man coming toward me, and I looked over in anticipation.

  “You’re the gentleman that came in with him?” The doctor looked tired.

  I nodded. “He’s my boyfriend. How is he?” I tensed, waiting for the doctor to tell me I didn’t have a right to any information, that my relationship with him wasn’t recognized, and so on. It wouldn’t be the first time some officious bastard had made my life a misery like that. I was already spoiling for a fight.

  The doctor sighed as he shook my hand. “I’m Dr. Fulton. He’s as well as can be expected with a stab wound and a rather nasty punch to the kidneys. We’ve stitched him up, given him some painkillers and a tetanus shot, but he’s going to need rest. He needs to go home and stay in bed.”

  I huffed. Toby wouldn’t like that. He’d be chomping at the bit to get back to work. “Can I see him?”

  Dr. Fulton nodded. “Of course. Follow me. He’s just being bandaged up.”

  He led the way down the corridor to a set of double doors on the left. He pushed them open, and I followed him into yet another corridor. Staff and visitors alike walked quietly down them, stood talking or simply—waiting. I saw a lot of anxious faces as I walked with the doctor to a small room at the far end. Toby lay there on the bed, white faced, as a nurse bustled around his body, taping what looked like miles of bandage around his ribs. His eyes were dark, his face closed off.