Ebb Tide

by Leah Murray

  No, it wasn’t part of the plan but you couldn’t argue with genius. He felt a sudden rush of ecstasy, the blood pounding through his system as the music reached a crescendo, and he turned the steering wheel, gunned the engine.

  CHAPTER 25

  WILL DIDN’T GET A CHANCE to complain about the lack of progress on the case. When they got to the station they found that Shaun wasn’t in.

  `He had to go tend to a hit and run about a half hour ago,’ Rob told them and Will sighed, turned to Jo.

  `Okay, well where to now?’

  She shrugged. `Guess we have to go back to the farm,’ she said. He could tell she was down, she’d been quiet ever since she’d found the flowers. But he wasn’t sure if it was that or Laura’s comments that had caused most of the damage. He knew he should explain, tell her what had happened, clear the air. They climbed into the car and he hesitated, turned to her.

  `Jo, about what Laura said -’ he began and he saw her surprise, was about to continue when his mobile rang.

  `I’ll just be a sec,’ he said and she nodded, smiled faintly, turned to stare back out the window.

  `Hiya Gus, what’s up?’

  `Will, Hayley’s been in an accident. I need to go. I’m going to close the pub.’

  The words tumbled out in a rush and Will frowned. `Hang on. Calm down a bit. What happened?’

  He heard the sharp curse from Gus but when he spoke his voice was clearer.

  `Someone ran her down. They’ve taken her to the hospital in Liskeard. Shaun just rang me, I’m heading over there.’

  `Fuck. How is she?’

  There was a long silence.

  `I don’t know Will, Shaun couldn’t say,’ Gus replied, his voice choked and Will swallowed hard.

  `Okay we’ll see you there,’ he said and hung up.

  `What happened?’ Jo asked.

  `The hit and run Rob was talking about – it’s Hayley.’

  Jo sat bolt upright. `Oh my God, is she okay?’

  `They don’t know. She’s at the hospital,’ he said, backing the car out into the street, pressing his foot hard on the pedal.

  Jo winced when she saw the extent of Hayley’s injuries, the grief in Gus’s eyes as he sat beside the bed.

  Hayley lay with her eyes closed, a drip in her right hand, her left leg and arm in plaster. A dressing covered what appeared to be a long gash in her forehead.

  `Multiple fractures in her lower left leg, suspected concussion and a broken arm,’ the nurse at the desk had said when Will asked her what had happened. `We’ve got her heavily sedated at the moment. She’s lucky to be alive.’

  Now, Will walked over to Gus and squeezed his shoulder in a comforting gesture, stepped back, shoved his hands in his pockets. Jo knew he wasn’t sure what to say next. She saw his jaw clench as he looked down at Hayley, realized he’d be feeling this almost as much as Gus considering how long they’d all been friends.

  `Thanks for coming guys,’ Gus said after a minute.

  `Do … do they know who did this?’ Jo asked and Gus nodded.

  `Yes, Shaun said there were a couple of eyewitnesses. Two women who were coming out of the florist a few yards up the road. They didn’t see the driver but they saw the car. Apparently, whoever was driving turned towards her deliberately – ‘he broke off, took a deep breath `- the bastard stuck their foot flat. It seems Hayley heard them coming because she jumped into some bushes at the side of the road. The doctors think that’s what saved her life.’

  `Where’s Shaun?’ Will asked.

  Gus glanced up again. `I don’t know. He said something about running some checks on the car. One of the women got a partial number plate on the station wagon.’

  Jo drew in a sharp breath, felt the hairs on her arms stand upright. `A black one?’ she asked and Gus frowned.

  `You mean the car?’

  She nodded.

  `Yes, I think so but why-‘

  He didn’t get a chance to finish before Jo was out the door.

  It was too much, far too much. She couldn’t take it anymore, couldn’t live with what she was doing to these people who had never been anything but good to her.

  She shook her head, a faint whimper escaping her mouth as she rushed into the corridor and out to the front of the hospital. She had to get away but where could she go? What could she do? He was always there watching, always tailing her, knew every move she made. And now he’d even hurt Hayley to get at her. What was it going to take to stop him?

  `Where the hell are you?’ she yelled out, turning and looking around the car park, trying to see if he was there, where he could be hiding.

  An elderly couple who’d been standing at the door stepped back, sidled past her and into the hospital, wide-eyed.

  Jo just slumped against the wall, sliding down so that she was sitting on the cold concrete, not even noticing. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back, feeling helpless. She almost wished Jack would just show up and do whatever he wanted to do and get it over with.

  She felt someone sit down next to her, opened her eyes and saw Will. He didn’t say anything, just lit up a cigarette and stared out into the car park, leaning his elbows on his knees.

  `I’m going to have to go into the pub today. We can’t afford to keep it closed again,’ he said after a minute.

  She swallowed at the reminder of just how much her being with him had already cost him. First his dogs, then his farm, and now one of his friends. She felt like a jinx, a harbinger of evil. The guilt was almost overwhelming.

  `I’ll help if you like,’ she said quietly, trying to assuage it somewhat. `I don’t think I’d be any good at waitressing but I can help in the kitchen until Hayley’s better.’

  She paused, an image of Hayley in the hospital bed arising unbidden in her mind. `Well, at least for the next week, anyway.’

  He nodded. `Thanks, it’s going to be a couple of long nights I’m afraid.’

  He took another drag of the cigarette and she grimaced.

  `God, now I’ve got you smoking again too,’ she said.

  `You haven’t done anything Jo,’ he said after he’d exhaled, turned to her, his eyes serious. `Nobody is blaming you for any of this. Not Gus, not me and even Hayley wouldn’t if … well, she’ll tell you herself when she’s awake,’ he said, swallowing hard and looking away again.

  `When’s it going to stop Will?’

  He shook his head, stared down at the ground. `I don’t know. But it will. He’s going to screw up somewhere and when he does I’ll be right there waiting.’

  The work was exhausting. Jo was run off her feet just with the cooking and by the time they’d cleaned up at three am she was ready to collapse.

  `Right, Shaun’s here, I’m off guys. See you tomorrow,’ Julia said with a final wave and Jo smiled a farewell as Julia rushed out, the door slamming shut behind her.

  She was sitting in one of the booths, leaning against the seat, and Will came over to join her. He’d only just turned the music off and the sudden silence was a bit unnerving.

  `I can’t believe how much work it takes to keep this running,’ she said.

  Will leaned forward, rubbed at his temple and sighed. `I know. We really should look into getting more people to help out. We haven’t quite made it to the point where we can afford it though.’

  She nodded.

  `Oh. I just remembered. Weren’t we supposed to see Shaun today?’ she asked.

  `I spoke to him when he called Julia earlier. He’ll come round tomorrow morning and have a talk with us here. I also want to go see Hayley in the morning and I still need to set up a meeting about the damn insurance.’

  He sighed again, leaned back against the booth and looked at her, smiled faintly.

  `Anyway, you look tired,’ he said, changing the subject.

  She wrinkled her nose. `I’m sure that’s being polite. My hair has frizzed into God knows what, my eye’s now looking like a damn rainbow and I’m all red from being in the hot kitchen all night. I
’m sure tired is a bit of an understatement,’ she said.

  He didn’t reply but his eyes were laughing, a sure indication that she was right and she smiled ruefully.

  A sudden heat sparked between them for a second but then he looked down and she frowned, knew he was remembering the argument the night before.

  `Let’s get home,’ he said, standing up.

  She nodded, followed him out and sat in the car wondering what to do about the situation. Even though he was still being affectionate with her, he was holding something back. She could feel it, could sense the barrier he’d built between them and although she could understand why he was doing it, she was still a bit hurt. But she didn’t know how to fix the situation.

  He showered after she did and she got into bed, switched the light off and lay staring up into the darkness, felt the bed dip under his weight when he returned and tried to ignore the sudden chill at his chaste kiss goodnight.

  He lay still for a second then turned his back to her and she knew then that she needed to fix this now, any way she could, before it went any further.

  `Will?’

  There was a long pause before he replied. `Yes?’

  She started to speak half a dozen times but couldn’t get the words out so at last she simply sighed, turned her own back to him and stared at the dark shape of the window.

  `Nothing.’

  He didn’t reply and the silence stretched between them, became big and dark and monstrous, strangled whatever it was that had been growing there.

  Finally, the pain became unbearable and she took a deep breath, gathered her courage and sat up, pulled at his shoulder so that he rolled onto his back.

  Then she leaned down, touched her lips to his, hesitated before running a hand over his chest, feeling the taut muscle, the flat of his stomach.

  `Please don’t shut me out Will,’ she said, her voice quiet. He tensed, drew his breath in sharply as she moved her hand lower, felt him respond to her touch.

  He groaned, reached up and pulled her closer, ran his hands over her back, tugged at the bottom of her pajama top.

  She sat up, pulled it off, leaned back down, felt his mouth on her breasts, didn’t protest when he rolled her onto her back, opened to him willingly, soared with him when he thrust inside her and held him tight as they trembled into ecstasy.

  She fell asleep still wrapped in his arms, warm and content, suffused with pleasure, secure in the knowledge that they’d gone a long way to fixing what was wrong between them. And all it had cost her was her pride. She figured it was worth the sacrifice.

  Jo sat on the beach next morning, legs drawn up to her chest as she watched Will swim out into the bay. Apparently it had been a morning ritual of his until she’d moved in and disrupted things somewhat. It made her feel warm inside to think he felt comfortable enough to return to that now, happy to fit her into his life.

  She sighed, felt a familiar tug at her heart and tried to ignore the sense of unease that went along with it. She couldn’t let herself feel like this. What would happen when this was all over?

  Another jolt ran through her as she realized the date - June 27th.

  She groaned, laid her chin on her knees and stared out at the sea for a long while, trying to make sense of the twisted mess her life had become.

  She watched Will walk back up to her, grab his towel and rub at his hair.

  `What are you looking so glum about now?’ he asked, frowning.

  She smiled. `Glum?’

  He rolled his eyes. `One of my mother’s favorite sayings. It usually preceded a whole lot of chores to get me out of the mood,’ he said ruefully.

  Her smile widened. `I’m not glum. Not really. I just realized it’s my birthday.’

  He paused, looked surprised. `Really?’

  She nodded.

  `Shit, it’s your thirtieth too. Hell woman, why didn’t you tell me? You need to celebrate!’

  `How-’she didn’t get a chance to finish as he reached down, pulled her to her feet.

  `The forms at the hospital,’ he said in reply to the unasked question.

  Then he lowered his head, his eyes dancing and sent her hormones racing with a searing kiss.

  `Happy Birthday,’ he said, finally letting her go and she shook her head to clear the dazed feeling, stepped back and looked down, wrinkled her nose at her now wet top.

  He grinned, grabbed her hand.

  `Come, screw work. We’re going to celebrate,’ he said, heading back to the car.

  She hurried after him, not having much choice since he still had a tight hold of her hand.

  `Hey, but you said you couldn’t afford to close the pub.’

  He shrugged. `One day won’t kill us.’

  `Will –‘

  `Don’t argue. If Julia or Gus wants to complain, they can sort it out themselves. I’m not going in today.’

  `But we have to see Hayley and Shaun and you still need to sort out the insurance for the farm.’

  He stopped by the car, grimaced. `Right, we’ll go see Hayley but the rest can wait.’

  `But what are we going to do?’

  He winked. `Leave it to me.’

  She watched him climb in the car, shook her head and climbed in after him. She just never knew what would happen next with Will. It was so very different to the cold, callous control she’d experienced with Jack.

  She took a deep breath at the thought, decided to adopt Will’s attitude for the day. Screw Jack. She wouldn’t think of him. It was her birthday dammit and she was going to enjoy it.

  CHAPTER 26

  THEY WENT TO SEE HAYLEY first. She was awake and smiled at them when they walked in the room. `Hi guys,’ she said and Jo was surprised to hear the same cheerful tone to her voice.

  `Hi. How’re you feeling?’ she asked.

  Hayley’s grin widened. `Awesome. Morphine. I swear I’ve never felt so good in my life.’

  Jo laughed, shook her head. Only Hayley would joke about something like this.

  `Seriously. Is it really bad?’ she asked and Hayley shook her head.

  `Nah, the drugs kill most of the pain. I’ll be fine. Biggest problem now is a damn itchy leg,’ she muttered, `God knows how I’m going to get around for the next few weeks,’ she added ruefully.

  `So when can we sign the casts?’ Will asked and Hayley laughed.

  `Soon I guess. They told me I could go home in the next few days. Shelley’s been in to visit with the baby. Isn’t he cute?’

  Jo laughed, nodded, told Hayley what had happened with Will while he stared at the wall, tried but failed to hide a grin. Gus had been out to get coffee and now he walked into the room, looked up in surprise when he saw Will and Jo.

  `Oh, hi.’

  Jo smiled. `Hi. Hey – sorry I ran out yesterday.’

  Gus shrugged. `No problem’ he said, sitting down and carefully setting a cup of coffee on the small table beside Hayley’s bed.

  `We were all a bit shocked but she’s looking a bit better this morning isn’t she?’ he asked, smiling across at Hayley, who crinkled her nose at him.

  `You’re looking great,’ Will said and Hayley smiled.

  `I’m lucky to have you guys around to cheer me up. Julia and Shaun were in a minute ago. Something’s up there though.’

  Will frowned. `What do you mean?’

  Hayley looked across at Gus who simply rolled his eyes.

  `She reckons they were in the middle of a huge argument. To be honest they did seem a little stiff but otherwise it was fine. I’m sure it will all blow over.’

  `Hmmm. Yeah, that sort of thing usually does,’ Will replied, looking across at Jo, who hastily looked away. `Anyway, it’s Jo’s birthday today, I was going to say I’m taking the day off. If you want to keep the pub open you’ll have to call and see if Steve can help out,’ Will continued, turning to Gus.

  `To hell with it, we’ll just have the day off. I’m going to stay with Hayley and the way Julia looked I’m sure she’d be happy to simply
stay home and paint or whatever it is she does when she’s peeved,’ Gus replied. Then he looked across at Jo. `And Happy Birthday to you,’ he said, was echoed by Hayley.

  `So how old are you now?’ she asked Jo.

  `Thirty,’ she replied, grimacing.

  Gus laughed. `It’s all downhill from here I’m afraid.’

  The conversation continued, everyone carefully avoiding any mention of Jack or the accident and after a few minutes they said their goodbyes and headed back outside to the car park.

  `I’m glad she’s still so cheerful,’ Jo said, climbing into the car.

  `It’d take more than that to get Hayley down. She’s a tough one. Took Gus four tries just to get her to marry him.’

  Jo raised her eyebrows in surprise. `Really? I mean at first I thought they looked kind of odd together but now it’s just so obvious they’re suited. What made her even think twice?’

  Will shrugged. `Could be because she was going out with someone else at the time. Gus came to his senses a bit too late; it was only when she got engaged to the other guy that he realized that.’

  `Wow. That’s such a romantic story,’ Jo said, sighing and Will laughed.

  `Anyway, all history again. So, how about we try relax and forget everything for the rest of the day?’ he asked.

  She smiled. `Okay, what do you have in mind?’

  His eyes twinkled. `It’s a surprise.’

  She looked over at him, puzzled and shook her head at his grin. `What are you up to?’ she asked, suspicious.

  He grinned again, leaned over and squeezed her knee but didn’t reply.

  They stopped off to get some food and drink. Jo waited in the car while Will went into the shops, returned his sudden smile rather warily when he climbed back in the car.

  `What?’ she asked.

  `Nothing.’

  She didn’t reply, just narrowed her eyes at him before turning to concentrate on the road. Somehow she wasn’t all that surprised when he pulled up beside another large wooded area.

  `You really do like being in the middle of nowhere, don’t you?’ she asked with a smile.