Eventually, he surfaced and the tube was out. He could breathe. He could cough! Arggh don’t cough. It hurts. Before his eyes fluttered closed, he saw Zed standing with Jonas and Henry. They’re all safe. Thank fuck for that. Unless they’re ghosts. Shit!
“He’s getting better,” Zed said. “Now he’s breathing on his own, he’ll stay awake longer, won’t he?”
I heard that. Caspian was trying to stay awake. He didn’t want to go back in the river.
“He has to wake up properly,” Zed said.
“Be patient.” That was Jonas.
“Believe you can.” Zed was close to him, whispering in his ear. Caspian could smell his coconut shampoo. He’d kiss him—if he could move.
“You made me believe I could do anything,” Zed said. “We could do anything. People talk about what they’re going to be in life, what they’ll achieve, where they’re going to go but they lie on the couch and watch TV, wait for something to happen and wonder why their lives are boring. You’re not like that. Life with you is never boring. Will never be boring. You’re a believer. You can do anything. Come back to me.”
Caspian made a monumental effort to open his eyes and stared at Zed.
“You’re giving me a headache,” Caspian croaked.
He had no idea why Zed was crying. It was him who had the headache.
Caspian began to feel stronger. His body gradually came back under his control. IVs and drains were removed. He hadn’t even been able to piss normally for a while. He’d been battered by the explosion, his skull fractured, he’d punctured a lung, had a bleed on the brain and his kidneys had stopped working for a while. There was a whole list of injuries but nothing he couldn’t recover from.
Zed slept on the bed next to him when he could get away with it, cuddled up close and told him he loved him. Henry and Jonas came a lot as well. By the time the police were allowed to speak to him, Caspian had been given his story to tell.
He and Zed had been on deck looking at the river. Caspian had seen the waiter, spotted the suicide vest and acted instinctively in knocking him overboard. He’d never met the guy before. The name Aazim Bashir meant nothing to him. He didn’t think the man had targeted them in particular. They were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The fall had broken Bashir and Caspian apart. Caspian had kicked to the surface and swum as fast as he could toward the middle of the river. That was all he remembered. Apparently, Henry had dived into the water to get him.
The press was fed another part of the story, created by Jackson. Bashir was a lone wolf terrorist, not thought to be part of a bigger network. A radicalised Brit, who hated liberal UK culture. He’d gotten ideas after the London Bridge terrorist attack, wanting to attack London’s social scene again because people assume lightning never strikes twice and he wanted to hit Londoners where it hurt. A note had been found in his digs.
Tamaz’s name didn’t appear in the press but Caspian’s did. Zed hadn’t let him see a paper and when Caspian asked to see an old copy of the Metro another patient had discarded, he wondered if he’d have been better not reading it. The headline was From Zero To Hero. Details of the dangerous driving conviction were in there. There was a comment from the father of one of the girls. Nothing will make up for losing my daughter. But Caspian Tarleton saved lives when he pushed the terrorist into the river and I’m glad that there are mothers and fathers who still get to see their sons and daughters because of what he did.
And also a comment from Caspian’s father. I’d expect nothing less of my son. We’re very proud of him. If he’d said anything about Caspian making up for his mistakes, Caspian would have never spoken to him again—not that he was currently speaking to him—but he didn’t. His parents and siblings had come one time while Zed had gone to get something to eat. Only three allowed at a bedside. His sisters were first. Talked at him for five minutes, told him they thought he was brave, and left. His parents were next. His mother cried. Caspian didn’t. He didn’t want to hear that they were proud of him for what he’d done. They should have been proud of him anyway.
As his father left, he asked Caspian to keep in touch for his mother’s sake.
Maybe.
Lachlan was in last. What can I do? his brother asked. Shall I tell the truth?
What was the point now? All that time in prison for nothing? But Caspian wouldn’t help Lachlan’s conscience by telling him to keep quiet. Deep down, he knew part of him wanted Lachlan to admit to what he’d done. But the other part of him didn’t. That part was steadily growing. Lachlan had changed and Caspian was grateful for that.
Zed was with him when Jackson came to the hospital. He told Caspian that Tamaz had entered the UK a few weeks earlier using a genuine passport. Aazim Bashir was a recently deceased Pakistani who looked very similar to Tamaz and was the same age. Tamaz had told an immigration officer he’d come to the UK for his brother’s funeral. That had chilled Caspian. He knew Zed had lost his brother years ago, but he could see how much it hurt knowing Tamaz had deliberately targeted him.
“There was a will in his hotel room,” Jackson said. “He left everything to a guy in Syria, an academic who’s already on our radar. Needless to say, we’ll deny all knowledge of the will if challenged. Tamaz’s false identity will be released to the press tomorrow. It’ll keep you safe. We’ll sort everything out. You’ll inherit everything. Not much consolation I know but…”
The day Caspian left hospital was bright and sunny. A heatwave gripped the country. The grass was patchy and parched. Zed had talked about going away on holiday but Caspian didn’t feel up to that yet. In any case, they had a wedding to go to at the weekend. Just as well that the wedding hadn’t immediately followed the stag nights. Henry had said it hadn’t been because he didn’t trust the pair of them but he’d wanted to make sure he and Jonas still had all four limbs and full heads of hair. Words that had almost come back to haunt them.
Zed drove him back to Greenwich in Jonas’s car. Caspian hadn’t written his best man’s speech yet. He might have to get Zed to help him.
Caspian stared out of the passenger window. “Everything looks different.”
“Scorched grass, sunburnt faces, sunglasses, sundresses. Rare sights.”
“Yeah.” But it was more than that. “Did I nearly die?”
Zed made a choked noise in his throat. “Not when you were in the hospital but the moment you threw yourself at a suicide bomber, yeah, you nearly died.”
“I’m sorry about Tamaz.”
“Don’t be.” Zed reached to grip his fingers for a moment. “I’m sad when I remember the kind things he did for me when I was a little boy but not when I think about what he became. No more heroics though, okay? I want a quiet life. In bed by seven every night.”
Caspian laughed. “You remember when we first met?”
Zed gaped at him. “Of course I do. I remember every little thing. How you pretended to be stuck up a tree. How you made a den with me even though you had a fantastic treehouse yards away.”
“I remember how lonely I was. How lonely you were. That was the beginning of our story.”
“And it will go on forever.”
Caspian smiled. “Forever.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Zed stared out of the window of Henry’s old bedroom at Jedstone Castle. The building sat on a chalk hilltop, the sea that once upon a time had been within walking distance, now a distant line of blue.
He turned away from the window and looked at Henry, lounging in an uncomfortable chair in a white shirt, blue tie and silver waistcoat, his grey trouser-clad legs stretched out, crossed at the ankles. He held a glass of champagne and looked deceptively relaxed.
“Are you happy?” Zed asked.
Henry glanced at him in surprise. “You’re not asking me if I’m nervous? Yeah, I’m happy. I’m the luckiest man alive. Happy doesn’t come near it. I don’t really care about all this…palaver, but I knew Jonas wanted it. I’d do anything for him.”
Henry’
s sisters had been responsible for all the arrangements. Getting the licence to hold a wedding in the great hall, the hiring of the marquee, the catering, flowers, cake, photography, entertainment. Henry had asked the pair not to go overboard but had given in when he’d seen how much the idea of going overboard had pleased Jonas. There were fireworks planned too.
“How’s Caspian, do you think?” Henry asked.
“He’s doing okay. Just occasionally, I see a look on his face as if he’s gone away somewhere inside his head. He still limps sometimes and his hands shake if he gets overtired, but he’s getting better.” In bed, well, he was great in bed. “He told me to tell you that if you asked about him I was to inform you that over a period of two weeks a single man can produce enough sperm to impregnate every woman on earth.”
Henry laughed. “Glad he hasn’t saved that for his speech. Do you know what he’s going to say?”
“Sorry, I have no idea.”
“Hmm. You’re a terrible liar.” Henry emptied his glass and pushed to his feet. “We’ll go down now.”
Zed grabbed Henry’s jacket and held it out for him to put on before he slipped into his own. They had white roses in their buttonholes and he straightened Henry’s.
“Do I look okay?” Henry asked.
“I know you only asked that because you think I need to feel I’ve been supportive. You don’t care because you know you look more than okay.”
Henry laughed.
They emerged from their room and Zed knocked on the door opposite.
Caspian opened it. “He’s changed his mind.”
“Don’t say that,” Jonas called. “I changed my socks not my mind.”
“Ready?” Zed asked.
They were sharing best man duties and had each spent time with the other that morning.
“You look very handsome,” Henry said to Jonas.
“Thank you.” Caspian twirled a finger in his hair and cocked his head on one side.
Henry rolled his eyes.
“So do you,” Jonas said. “Even when you’re rolling your eyes. This morning has passed so slowly. Caspian’s not stopped talking for the last hour.”
“Hey, I did my job,” Caspian said indignantly. “Told you jokes. Gave you drinks. Helped you get dressed. Repeatedly told you that you were too good for Henry. And stopped you bolting.”
“And he’s still in one piece for which I thank you.” Henry turned to Jonas and held out his hand. “Ready?”
Caspian and Zed went downstairs first and once they were sure everyone was in place in the Great Hall, they signalled to the musicians then beckoned Henry and Jonas. Caspian and Zed walked in together, past the seated guests and took up positions either side of the old refectory table set across the end of the room. The male registrar who stood behind the table, smiled at them. Zed turned to look over his shoulder as Henry and Jonas walked down the centre of the room towards them. Henry looked straight ahead but Jonas was smiling at guests on either side. Zed’s heart was so full of love, he almost cried. He wanted this day to be perfect for them.
The ceremony was short and formal, merely the legal requirements. Henry hadn’t wanted to open his heart in front of everyone with personal vows and Jonas accepted that. Though Zed wondered what the pair would say in their speeches. Zed and Caspian handed over the rings. Caspian had been warned not to mess around and he didn’t. Then the register was signed and Henry kissed Jonas. Not just a quick peck either. Oh wow! He’d opened his heart in his own way and the room burst into applause. The pair left holding hands and Zed took hold of Caspian’s as they followed.
“That was lovely,” Zed said.
“Are you going to cry?” Caspian smiled.
“I might.”
Caspian let go of his hand and hugged him instead.
Guests were milling around in the sunshine on the lawn in front of the marquee. It was a huge structure, a triple-peaked tipi with a couple of catering tents behind. Henry’s father had said he’d thrown open the curtains a few days ago and thought a whole tribe of Native Americans had set up camp. The tipi sides were open and it looked fantastic inside, flowers everywhere, beautifully laid tables with gleaming glasses and cutlery. Henry’s sisters had done a brilliant job.
Trays of canapés were being carried among the guests by black-clad teenagers.
“Fig and goat’s cheese puff?”
“Beef tataki roll?”
“Seared scallops with sweet chili sauce?”
“Parma ham, artichoke and parmesan bruschetta?”
“They’re well trained in canapé-speak,” Caspian whispered and accepted another glass of champagne.
“Don’t get drunk before we have to do our speech.” Zed really didn’t want to do it on his own.
The wedding breakfast was delicious. Zed and Caspian sat at a table with Jonas, Henry, Henry’s parents, Jonas’s mother, Henry’s sisters and Jonas’s brother. My family. The thought choked Zed and he felt Caspian’s hand on his knee as if he’d known what had gone through his mind.
After the main course, Henry’s father made a touching speech about Henry. What he’d been like as a boy and what he was like as a man. Jonas’s brother did the same. Zed had been surprised to hear what a rebel Henry had been, while Jonas had lived, breathed, eaten music.
The grooms spoke after the dessert. Zed saw a different Henry, one who for once was prepared to wear his heart on his sleeve and he guessed this was the Henry that Jonas had in the bedroom. At one point, when Henry was talking about Jonas, he choked up, and Jonas reached for his hand and rubbed his thumb over his knuckles.
“You just blew your hard man reputation,” someone shouted.
“And you’re fired,” Henry called back.
Then it was Zed’s and Caspian’s turn. They stood up together.
“A double act?” Henry asked.
“We know we’re joined at the hip,” Caspian told him. “More than the hip, in fact—”
“Don’t,” Henry warned.
Zed began. “I think everyone here knows how Jonas and Henry gave me a home when I was sixteen years old. For several years up to that point, my life had been difficult. I wasn’t loved. I wasn’t treated well. Then through a series of unusual circumstances, I was offered a new home in Greenwich with two of the kindest men I’ve ever met and my life began again. Jonas and Henry have been far more than I could have ever hoped for. They balanced their roles of guardian and friend, were supportive, encouraging, strict when necessary but always caring. Apart from the guy standing by my side, they are the most important people in my world. I owe them everything. I love them.”
Oh dammit. Don’t cry.
Caspian squeezed his fingers, then cleared his throat. “Not many guys would offer their home to a strange boy. I mean a stranger. Zed’s not strange. Well not very strange. But Henry and Jonas had no idea about Zed’s horrible habits when they took him in.”
“Hey, where’s this part come from?” Zed asked.
There was a ripple of laughter.
“I’m improvising,” Caspian said.
Zed groaned.
“Even fewer would have invited someone like me to live with them too.” Caspian let out a shaky breath. “They’re probably regretting it now because they can’t get rid of us. We know too much.” He gave a knowing nod. “I promised not to say anything about Henry’s collection of rubber ducks, so I won’t. Nor about Jonas’s DIY skills because we don’t let him near hammer and nails since the shelves collapsed and broke Henry’s glass model of a polar bear.”
Zed put his hand over Caspian’s mouth. “They asked us to be their best men because they could trust us to keep their secrets.”
Caspian pulled Zed’s hand away. “And we will.” Caspian grinned. “Most of them.”
Henry groaned.
“We googled what best men are supposed to say,” Zed said.
Caspian widened his eyes. “And we found some really good stuff before we remembered we were supposed to be writing a speech.
”
“You got distracted, not me.” Zed glared at him.
“Firstly, we should praise the bridesmaids and say how lovely they look even if they don’t.” Caspian looked round and frowned. “Er…”
Everyone laughed.
“Secondly, we assure the bride that she is a saint and tell her how lovely she looks.” Zed looked from Jonas to Henry and scratched his head. “You both look lovely and you are both saints.”
“Can we come up with any childhood anecdotes or work-related ones?”
“Maybe a few,” Zed said.
“But remember we promised not to tell about how Jonas got stuck in his wetsuit and Henry had to cut him out of it with nail scissors and he took a picture. For a fifty-pound donation to a charity of Jonas’s choice, I’ll show it anyone who asks.”
Jonas put his head in his hands.
“And we’re not supposed to tell anyone about the time Jonas lost his grip on his bow when he was playing Beethoven’s Fifth and how the bow went flying about five rows into the audience. Jonas had to climb down, make his way through the rows to get it, only to find when he got back to the stage he couldn’t climb up. A member of the audience helped him and Jonas sat down and carried on playing to huge applause.”
“There’s lots to say about Jonas,” Caspian said, “but Henry is a dark horse. Someone told me he once climbed on a horse and fell straight over the other side and pretended he’d meant to do it.”
“He sniggers every time his sat nav tells him to go straight.”
“He once vacuumed the whole house wearing his headphones and didn’t realise the vacuum wasn’t plugged in.” Caspian smiled.
Now Henry was the one with his head in his hands.
By the time Zed and Caspian had finished, everyone was in stitches. Henry and Jonas stood to hug them.
“I will get even,” Henry whispered.
“But I’m perfect,” Caspian said.
There was no cake. Henry had put his foot down about that. But there was an ice cream machine and a chocolate fountain.
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