“I have to go,” she tells me.
“I know, thank you Olivia. I really do mean that, and if I need your back up, do I have it?” I ask tentatively, even though I doubt I do, I can't blame her for not forgiving Tristan.
Olivia sighs heavily. “I may not have forgiven him, but it doesn’t mean I want to see any harm come to him,” she says mournfully.
“That’s wonderful Olivia.” I swallow hard. “Thank you,” I add solemnly.
“I’d rather you didn’t contact me again,” she says, “Unless you really have to.” Crap! She still sounds cut up about it. Maybe she still loves him?
“I understand,” I softly say. “I’ll let you go.”
“Oh Coral...I’m not the only one,” she says.
“Sorry?” I say a little bewildered.
“Tristan and I, we moved in the same circles, had the same friends. I’m not the only one that got nailed by that bitch,” she spits, taking me by surprise.
“I…I don’t understand?” I stutter, frowning deeply.
“Just ask him about Cathy, Rebecca and Sarah,” she says, sounding exasperated.
“What about them?” I whisper.
“I have to go,” she says and hangs up. I shake my head in wonder, who are Cathy, Rebecca and Sarah? – Another time Coral!
I sigh inwardly, I was right, it was Susannah that told Tristan about Olivia. What the hell did Susannah say to convince Tristan to believe her – a woman he’s known less than a year – over Olivia, who he lived with, shared time with, loved, surely his allegiance should have been to Olivia? My stomach starts to sink, I have a dreadful feeling he’ll do the same with me, that he’ll believe Susannah instead, but I have no choice, he has to know.
I fold the paperwork over, stuff it back inside the envelope, place it in my bag with my mobile, zip it up and shakily stand to my feet. Stepping outside the cubicle, I walk over to the sinks and stare at my reflection – Come on Coral!
As I wash my hands in a complete daze, I try not to think too hard about Tristan’s reaction, I try not to think about him disbelieving me, I have to stay focused, I have to stay calm.
Shaking my head at myself, I quickly dry my hands at the blower, head out the ladies and storm down the hallway; feeling totally numb with fear. I walk straight past my desk, ignoring the line that’s ringing, and pull my hand up to knock on the door.
“Coral!” I whip my head round and see Joe stood before me.
“What?” I snap as she stands there looking like a lost lamb.
“I can’t get rid of the woman on the line,” she says. I look down at the phone on my desk. I see the red light flashing, the line continuing to ring.
“I can’t deal with this right now Joe,” I answer sharply.
“But she won’t stop calling!” Joe shrieks. I replay her last words to me. I can't get rid of the woman on the line…
I feel a cold sweat instantly cover my body. “What woman Joe?” I question breathlessly.
“She’s from Social Services,” she says her voice trembling.
My heart calms a little. “Social Services?” I question frowning hard.
“Yeah she...she wants to talk to you,” Joe explains.
“Me?” I ask surprised. “What would they want with me?” I add cocking my head to the side, Joe looks nervous; her fingers twisting against one another. “Joe?”
She looks up at me with wide worried eyes. “What if it’s about my kids?” she chokes, tears spilling down her cheeks. Shit, what if it is?
I step forward, pull her to me and try to comfort her. “I'm sure it’s not, but either way you know I’d give you a glowing report, right?” I pull back and smile down at her.
Joe smiles back in relief. “Thanks,” she sniffs. “Shall I tell her to call back? It’s the fifth time she’s called.”
“Really?” I say surprised again.
“Yeah, she really wants to speak to you.” Damn it! Really bad timing!
“Is that her?” I say pointing with my chin. Joe nods. Better to get this out of the way so I can talk to Tristan. I grit my teeth walk over to my desk and pick up the handset.
“Garland & Associates’–“Coral Stevens?” A woman with a Jamaican accent asks interrupting me.
“Yes,” I snap looking up at Joe who’s hoping from one foot to the other.
“Formerly Coral Foster?” Fuck!
My eyes widen with fear and my heart starts thumping against my chest. I feel all the blood drain out of my face. That was my name until I took Gladys’s. I try to stop myself from hyperventilating.
“Miss Stevens?” she prompts.
“Yes,” I murmur my voice trembling. Just at that moment Joyce comes out of her office, the look on my face stops her dead in her tracks.
“I'm sorry to call you at work. I tried getting hold of your Foster Mother, but there was no answer. My name is Laticia Smith, as I said I'm calling from Social’ – “Why are you calling me?” I interrupt my voice barely a whisper.
“I'm afraid I have some bad news,” she says, her voice sounding sorrowful.
“Bad news?” I question and look up at Joyce.
“Yes. I'm afraid it’s about your birth mother.” I close my eyes and grit my teeth.
“What about her?” I whisper, the dream of her protecting me from Susannah comes into my mind’s eye.
“I’m sorry to say she passed away yesterday,” she answers mournfully.
I open my eyes and blink twice, my head feels foggy and my ears are ringing. I feel the handset slip from between my fingers and hit the desk. I hear Joyce call out for Tristan in the distance, but the fog washes over me and everything goes black...
***
“Coral?” I hear Tristan’s voice, but he sounds like he’s miles away.
“Coral open your eyes.” I know I should, but I want to stay in the murky grey haze. I feel something cool being placed on my forehead, it feels so nice.
“Coral?” I hear a different voice, I think it’s Joyce. “Come on darling open your eyes.”
I don't know where I am, but it’s comfortable. Why won't they leave me alone?
“Coral...” Tristan’s voice sounds strangled, I feel his cool fingertips brush across my cheeks.
“I think we should just wait. Let her come round in her own time, she’s had a nasty shock,” Joyce says. A nasty shock?
I try to remember but it doesn’t come to me.
“Why would they contact her about that?” Tristan asks.
“Next of kin I suppose,” Joyce answers.
“You think they’d be a little more delicate. Getting news like that is bad enough at the best of times, but while you’re at work...it doesn’t seem right.” Tristan sounds upset.
I try to remember…
“I’ve contacted Gladys she’s coming over to take her home.” Gladys?
“I’d rather take her back to our place,” Tristan grumbles.
“I don't think it’s the right time Tristan, I think she should be with her Mother.” Mother?
That’s ringing a bell? I search the recesses of my mind – Mother?
I hear a voice tell me ‘she passed away yesterday’ Mom?
I search for some kind of meaning, but all I keep getting are flash images of me and my Mom, before things got bad. Playing hide and seek, me giggling loudly as she throws me up in the air then catches me in her arms, tickling me all over. Making pancakes, kissing me goodnight, telling me she loves me…Mom?
The fog suddenly lifts – My Mom is dead! – No!
My eyes dart open, my mouth swims with saliva – Shit! I'm going to throw up!
I only wretch once, I see Tristan’s blurry figure push something underneath me, and I’m violently sick.
“Jesus.” I hear him hiss, as his hand gently strokes my back.
“It’s normal,” Joyce tells him. “Most people are sick after fainting.”
I wretch several times until my stomach is completely empty, then the burning comes. My lungs feel li
ke they’re on fire, my throat feels like I’ve gargled with a glass of acid.
“Gaviscon,” I choke.
“I think I have some,” Joyce says.
Moments later, she’s handing me a spoon and the bottle, with shaking hands I try to open the top, but it won’t budge. Tristan takes it off me, take off the cap, carefully fills up the spoon with the thick pink liquid and spoon feeds it to me like a child.
“Another?” he asks.
I swallow and nod. He does the same again and slowly but surely, the burning fades away. I look up at my surroundings, I'm in Joyce’s office and I'm on the sofa, Tristan is sat beside me, Joyce kneeling in front of me.
“Coral,” Joyce says softly. I look up and meet her eyes. “Do you remember what happened?”
“My Mother is dead,” I answer blankly.
Joyce nods solemnly at me, patting my hand. “Yes darling.”
“How?” I croak my throat feeling bruised.
Tristan passes me a glass of water I take a tentative sip.
“There not sure darling. There’s going to be a post-mortem.”
I gasp at this news and close my eyes, silent tears starts to flow down my cheeks. I don't understand why I'm crying for her?
Then I think about my photograph that’s missing and swallow hard. What if Susannah killed my Mom? I shake the thought away, she can't have done, it’s a secure facility.
I swipe angrily at my tears and jerk to my feet. “I'm sorry I was sick,” I say to Joyce then begin to walk towards her door.
“Darling, where are you going?” she asks.
“Back to work,” I answer numbly. Tristan is at the door before I can open it, shaking his head sympathetically at me.
“Coral, Gladys is coming to pick you up,” he tells me softly.
“Why?” I snap fighting back the tears that will not go away.
I feel someone’s hand rest on my shoulder, I jerk it away, whipping my head round I see Joyce lower her hands and stare at the floor. I think I’ve offended her, but right now I don't care, I just want to go back to work.
“Coral,” Joyce soothes.
I whip my head round to her. “Stop Coraling me both of you!” I shout.
“Coral!” Tristan shouts. “That’s enough!”
I whip my head back round to him and swipe at the tears, glaring angrily at him. I’m still mad at him about Susannah.
“Let me past,” I bawl – I want to run, far, far away.
“Coral,” Tristan pleads, reaching up to touch my arm.
“Don’t touch me,” I jerk it away and take two steps back, I don't want anyone to touch me.
Tristan backs away his hands held high looking bruised.
“Just leave me alone!” I shout just as Gladys flies through the door. I feel my resolve falter as I stare back at her, then completely disintegrate as she envelopes me in her arms.
“I'm here darling,” she softly says as I break down and let out loud, cathartic sobs.
All I can see is a picture of my Mom’s face smiling down at me, she’s healthy, happy, her eyes filled with love for me, and at the same time the voice keeps telling me My Mother is dead!
I want it to stop –No! – I can't handle this!
“Hush now darling,” I hear Gladys say. “Hush now!” she squeezes me tighter as my crying slowly softens. “We need to get her home,” she says.
“I can get Stuart back here,” I hear Tristan offer.
“Good idea darling,” Gladys says.
I'm aware Tristan leaves the room.
“Have some Brandy Coral, it’ll help with the shock,” Joyce softly says. I let go of Gladys feeling completely bewildered and turn to Joyce. She is smiling tentatively at me.
“Sorry Joyce,” I whisper. I take the glass of brandy, she knocks one back herself and hands another to Gladys. “Drink,” she tells me.
I bring the glass to my lips, open my mouth and neck it back. Joyce takes the glass off me, and stuffs a load of tissues in my hand. I blow my nose several times, but no matter how I try, I can't stop the tears.
“Is your bag at your desk?” Gladys asks.
I hear her speak, but I don't really understand.
“I’ll get it,” Joyce walks out of her office.
I feel waves of hollow black pain lance through me. I hug Gladys again as another set of raging tears overtake me...
I DON’T REMEMBER getting back to Gladys’s, or into the house, but I do remember Gladys making me a hot chocolate, sitting me down on the sofa in the living room and helping me make sense of it all. We talked for a long, long time, she helped me understand why I felt so bad when I heard the news...
“She was your birth mother sweetheart.” Gladys softly says.
I frown deeply at her. “But she’s never meant anything to me before,” I croak.
“Nonsense, of course she did, it can't all have been bad. You must have some fond memories of her?” she questions.
I nod knowing full well I do.
“It’s only natural to grieve for what we have lost, what could have been,” Gladys says, stroking my back.
I listen to Gladys’s wise words and nod silently.
“Will she have a funeral?” I croak.
“I'm not sure darling, but I can find out for you if you like?” I nod feeling totally confused about it all, if my Mother had kept her shit together...
“Do you think I should go if there is one?” I ask.
“I can’t really answer that one for you darling. I think you have to look within and listen to your heart,” she says.
I stare numbly out the window.
“Tristan’s been calling you,” she tells me. “He’s worried about you, he wants to come and see you.” I sigh heavily I know I should put his mind at rest that I'm ok, but I feel drained, exhausted.
“Can you call him for me? Tell him I'm ok. I feel exhausted, I just want to sleep,” I say.
“Of course, I’ll let him know,” she says.
“Thanks,” I say blankly and head out the room. As I climb the stairs, I feel really weird, like I'm walking up the stairs in someone else’s body.
Opening the door to my old bedroom, I collapse on top of the bed, fully clothed and fall instantly into a deep sleep...
SOMETHING WAKES ME, turning over I search the room, then I hear it again. Oh! It’s my mobile buzzing. I sit up and spot my bag hanging on the bedpost, reaching forward I find my mobile. Punching in the security code, I see I have a new message, it’s from Tristan.
*Hi baby. I hope you’re feeling a little better. I want you to know how sorry I am about your Mother, that must have come as a nasty shock. I really want to see you baby, Gladys called me earlier said you were a little better and had gone to lie down. I know you’re in safe hands, but please say I can come over, I want to see you for myself. I need to know you’re ok.
Your loving husband (to be) Tristan x*
Oh Tristan! You’re so sweet and caring! I think back to what happened before I got the news. I work it backwards, Stuart dropping me off at work, Tristan bringing me breakfast, getting pulled into the office, being really mad with Tristan, quitting my job! Then I remember reading through Susannah’s report. Shit! – I have to see Tristan, I have to tell him.
Launching myself up off the bed and grabbing my bag, I'm about to run out the door when I hear laughter coming from the kitchen. Gladys is with someone, I know it’s not Malcolm.
Walking to the door, I open it as quietly as I can. The loudest person laughs heartily again. Hold on a second, I know that voice – It’s Rob!
Throwing my bag over my shoulder, I dash down the stairs, run the small length of the hallway and bang through the kitchen door, making Rob and Gladys jump, and skid to a stop.
“Rob!” I squeak in delight running into his open arms. I hug him tightly. “What are you doing here?” I ask.
“Popped into work to see you and that hunk of a man of yours told me what happened and that you were here,” Rob says, smiling b
roadly at me.
It’s so good to hear his voice. I have so much to tell him, I don't even know where to begin. Then I remember the hell he’s put me through the past two weeks, yet here he is laughing and joking with Gladys in her kitchen.
I pull back from him and slap his bicep. “What are you laughing about?” I shout.
I see Gladys’s mouth pop open.
“Answer me Rob you’ve had me so worried.” I slap him again, just for good measure.
“Alright, alright keep your pants on,” he chuckles.
“I think I’ll leave you two to it,” Gladys says, she tenderly rubs my arm. “You know where your bed is if you want to stay, oh and Tristan called again, said he’s back at the house,” she adds.
“Thanks Mom.” I don't know why, but I really feel like I can actually call her that now. Gladys makes a high pitched squeaky noise, sniffs loudly, kisses us both goodbye and heads out the kitchen.
Turning back to Rob I narrow my eyes at him, cross my arms in a huff and wait for his answer. “Well?” I snap, my foot tapping involuntarily.
“I'm sorry about your Mom’ –“Rob!” I screech.
“Ok, ok...Carlos found a lump.” I gasp in shock. I'm speechless. My heart starts thumping wildly. “We went to the hospital, got the biopsy done, then went to his parents. We were told we had to wait a week for the results.” So maybe I did see him at Montefiores?
“And?” I whisper in shock.
“Benign, he’s ok!” Rob says with relief.
I launch into his arms again. “No wonder you were so upset,” I squeak, fighting back my own tears.
“Yeah well, wait for the shocker.” He says teasingly.
I pull back and look up at him with wide, worried eyes. “What?” I ask.
“We are going to be parents,” he says matter-of-factly.
I frown deeply at him. “But you don't want kids,” I say knowing he doesn’t.
“Yeah well, when you think you might be on deaths door things change, and it did for both of us. We talked all week, Carlos told me he’s been thinking for a long time about having a family, but he didn’t say anything to me because he knew I didn’t want them, but seeing him so upset about it all, and knowing he was going to be ok, I realised I’d do anything for him, including kids. “I don’t want to lose him, and now I know how badly he wants a family and well… I love him, so I said yes as long as he deals with the nappies’ Rob makes a funny face ‘I can't do that. Carlos will be at home as he always is, and I’ll bring in the bread.” Rob shrugs, then smiles brightly at me.
CORAL - Fallen (A Romance Trilogy, Book 2) Page 43