by Gillian Joy
Connor nodded. "No to the first, but I wish. Yes, to the second." Connor replied with a chuckle.
"Damn, don't suppose I can get an autograph for my daughter?"
"Of course you can." Connor replied with a smile. "After you confirm that she's really going to be fine."
The doctor chuckled in reply "Of course, of course. Business first then; she's as fine as can be expected under the circumstances. No signs of the concussion we were initially worried about. We'll include some recommended therapists in the discharge paperwork for the emotional trauma, but keeping her in here isn't going to help with that. Being home with people she loves is going to help her recover quicker from that than anything I can prescribe."
Connor didn't respond, but continued to state at the doctor.
"I promise you, she'll be fine."
Connor nodded. "Have you got a pen and paper? I don't have any photos on me, sorry, it's been a rather hectic afternoon."
"Not a problem at all." the doctor answered, pulling a piece of paper out from his clipboard, and the pen out of his pocket.
"Who do you want me to make it out to?"
"Sarah, please. She's going to be so excited."
"That's my name." Sarah said, from her position on the side of the bed. Connor noticed Ash reach out and pat her gently on the hand.
"It's a beautiful name." The doctor answered.
Sarah gleamed up at him as Connor wrote a personal message and signed the piece of paper.
The doctor looked at the message, his smile widening as he headed out of the room.
"Thank you so much," he said, "the nurse will be back with you shortly."
Liam came into the room as the doctor was leaving, followed closely by Jamie and Lydia.
"We won't stay," he said, taking note of all the people in the room. "We wanted to check and make sure you were okay."
"I'm fine." Ash said, trying to pull herself up into more of a sitting position.
"Damn it woman, stop trying to hurt yourself." Connor said racing back to help her. He was frustrated with her need for independence and wished she'd keep still.
She shot him a quick glare before turning her attention back to the new visitors.
"Thank you so much." She said.
Connor watched as she turned her attention to Lydia.
"I can never thank you enough for staying with them. I can't ever repay that."
Lydia smiled at her. "Not a problem at all. It was the least I could do."
"Thank you." Beth said.
"Yeah, thank you Lydia," Sarah added, "for not leaving us alone."
Connor appreciated the girl’s sentiments, but had more that he needed to add himself.
“Thank you, to all of you for keeping her safe. You girls are amazing and we really appreciate everything you did today."
Connor stood up and shook Liam's extended hand.
"We'll call in and see you in the next couple of days, if that is okay? I assume you won't be in need of our services in this case any longer?"
"I hope not." Connor answered.
Liam left, and Jamie and Lydia followed him out.
Connor ignored Deb’s questioning glares, but she spoke up anyway.
"Ash, how about I take the girls back home with me? You might be a bit longer here, and they're probably getting bored."
Connor noticed the look of panic in Ash's eyes.
"We can pick them up on our way home," he said, giving her hand a quick squeeze. “Deb didn't mean for them to stay the night."
"Well they can if you want." Deb clarified. "Or pick them up on your way home, whatever you prefer Ash."
Ash drew the girls in close for a hug.
"We'll pick them up." She said without hesitation, Connor didn't expect anything different. As much as he desperately wanted Ash all to himself tonight, he understood her need to have the girls close. After everything she had been through, he knew she wouldn't want to be away from the girls any longer than she had to. He was sure it was a concession for her to even let them go home with Deb at all. If he thought they would be out of there fairly quickly, he would suggest they stay, but he knew how long a hospital discharge could take and the girls were already getting antsy with boredom. He didn't think it would be fair to them to keep them cooped up in a hospital any longer than they needed to be.
"Can I get lift with you too?" Hayden asked Deb. "I don't really want to have to hang around here any longer than I have to either. And I definitely don't want to be stuck alone in a car with the two of them for the drive home. Do you mind detouring back to the store so I can pick up my car?"
Connor glared at him. As if anything was going to happen on the drive home. As if anything was going to happen for the next few days at least. Ash's poor body was battered and bruised and there was no way he was going to contribute to any discomfort she was in.
"Sure." Deb relented. It was out of her way a bit, but she felt sorry for him.
****
Chapter 29
The discharge didn't take as long as Connor expected, within two hours he had Ash loaded up in the car and they were headed home. He knew he would have to stop and pick Beth and Sarah up on the way, but his plan was to take them all back to his place for the night. He wasn't sure if Ash was going to go for it though. She was generally pretty adamant that the girls sleep at home in their own beds, especially when they had school the next day, but he also didn't think it would hurt if they didn't go to school tomorrow either. They had a lot to discuss as a family. He hoped they were a family; he wanted them to be a family.
Ash was quiet the entire way home. She wasn't talking much at all and Connor was worried that maybe she really had been hit on the head, and there actually was something still wrong with her. Every time he asked her a question, she only answered him with a murmured monosyllabic answer.
"Ash?" He hedged cautiously.
"Hmm." She replied.
"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked.
"Ah-hah."
"I'm worried Ash."
"’Bout?"
"That's the most words you've said to me since we got into this car."
"I'm sorry Connor, I'm tired. I'm physically and emotionally drained. It's been a big day."
"I know it has Babe, I'm sorry to harp. I just worry about you."
"I know and I'm sorry, really I am. I just want to sleep for a little bit."
Connor sighed quietly. "Sure Babe, you sleep. I'll wake you when we get to Deb's place Okay?"
"Thank you."
****
Connor spent the rest of the drive back to Patterson Lakes casting furtive glances in Ash's direction as she dozed quietly. Her head tucked between the glass of the window and the headrest. She looked peaceful enough but it didn't stop him from worrying. People looked peaceful when they were dead too, and he didn't think he would be able to survive if something serious ever happened to her. Not that what had happened wasn't serious. But she wasn't seriously injured and that was all he cared about at the moment. He needed her in his life, just like he needed air to breath. He needed her.
"Ash, Ash, we're here." he said gently, not really wanting to wake her at all. She must have been sleeping well to not even stir when he pulled up to the kerb.
She stirred at the sound of his voice though. Lifting her head slowly and opening her eyes to look into his.
"Let's go get the girls." he said.
"Wait Connor," Ash said reaching out and placing her hand on his arm, a look of panic crossing her face. "What do I say to them? How do I tell them their father is dead?"
Connor exhaled a breath as he collected his thoughts for a moment. "Let's sleep on it. We'll tell them tomorrow."
"They're going to ask Connor, he promised them a trip to Movie World, and Dream World, and they're going to want to know about that as well."
"We'll take them, in two weeks’ time, during the school holidays right?"
"I can't afford to take them to Queensland, Connor; I barely have
enough money to cover the rent this month. Especially with the holiday care I'll have to pay for. If I even still have a job at all. I walked out without saying anything to anyone."
Connor knew she was working herself up, and for no reason at all.
"Listen, let's start with: One, they are not going to sack you okay. I'm sure they will understand what happened. I know Hayden gave them a brief run down when he left so they already have some idea anyway."
Ash just looked at him, tears brimming in her eyes.
"Two, I'll take care of the trip to Queensland. Ash, I'll take care of you."
She went to protest but he raised a finger gesturing at her to wait.
"Please don't argue with me. I want to take care of you, and Sarah and Beth too. It doesn't matter if they do sack you Ash, because I'll take care of you, I'll always take care of you."
"Thank you Connor, thank you so much for everything," Ash said, her voice cracking. "Let's go get the girls then, if they ask about Mark, I'll tell them it's late and we can talk about it in the morning." Ash went to pull on the door handle to open the door but Connor leant across and grabbed her arm. He put his other arm behind her head and pulled her towards him, pressing his lips softly against hers until her lips parted slightly and he slowly slid his tongue inside. He didn't push the kiss, leaving it at the soft but sensual stage before pulling back and opening his door, stepping out into the darkness.
****
The girls weren't very talkative at all, either while they were in Deb’s place or in the car on the way back home. They were so tired and probably just as mentally drained at Ash was that they were asleep five minutes down the road. Admittedly, it was after ten thirty already, which was over two hours past their usual bedtime so it was understandable. Connor had really wanted to take them all back to his place, but he realised the impracticality in that and made a mental note to fix up one of the spare bedrooms for the girls over the weekend. They could decorate it themselves if they liked, bunk beds if they wanted. Maybe even two sets of bunk beds so they could both sleep on the top bunk. The back room was big enough for them both to fit comfortably. It was past time for him to start getting them all used to the idea of staying at his place. As much as he really wanted Ash to move in with him, he understood the need to take it a little bit slowly, more so for the girls than anything. It was a big thing for them and he didn't want them to feel uncomfortable, or put out at all. He didn't mind waiting, so long as things were actually happening, and he could spend all his free time with Ash then he could wait. He could wait as long as it took.
Neither Ash nor the girls stirred when he pulled up in the driveway of Ash's place. He carried Beth in first and tucked her into bed. She stirred as he covered her, but only briefly.
"Where's Mummy?" She asked sleepily.
"Still in the car Sweetie, she'll be in to say goodnight in a minute."
By the time he put Sarah to bed Beth had already fallen back asleep and was snoring softly. Sarah didn't even stir at all as he covered her with her blanket. He pulled their door ajar and went back out to the car to get Ash.
He'd had every intention of waking her up to go back inside, but when he looked at her, still sleeping with her head resting back against the headrest of the car, he couldn't bring himself to do it. Instead, he opened the door and reached across her body to unclip her seatbelt. Then he put one arm under her legs and the other behind her back as he lifted her as gently as he could out of the car. She stirred as he shifted her weight against his chest so he could carry her inside.
"Connor, put me down," She mumbled against his shoulder.
"Never Babe, I've got you. Just rest your head on my shoulder."
"I'm too heavy." She protested.
"Shh, not by a long shot." He replied.
She dozed back off on his shoulder so he carried her straight into the bedroom and put her to bed. He pulled of her shoes and socks and then contemplated the idea of pulling off her track pants, but figured they'd be comfortable enough for her to sleep in, so rather than risking waking her up again he covered her with the blanket. Then he went out to make himself a coffee, even though it was after eleven, and he was exhausted, he knew there was no way he'd be able to sleep yet. There was too much going on in his brain for him to be able to just switch it off. If there was one thing he had taken from the day, it was that he couldn't lose Ash; he had to figure out a way to get her to marry him, sooner rather than later.
****
Connor woke up to the whispered voices coming from the kitchen, he stretched and realised how sore his body was, then he realised he was sleeping on the couch.
Damn, he thought as he realised he had wasted a night at Ash's place when he could have been snuggled up in bed beside her.
"Shh... Don't wake him up," He heard from the other room, just before the cupboard door slammed shut and the cutlery draw rattled.
"Pass me the weetbix."
"I said shh!"
Connor stood up off the couch and walked towards the kitchen.
"Too late, I'm already awake." He said from the doorway.
Beth squealed and threw her spoon up in the air before it clattered noisily to the floor. She bent down to retrieve it.
"You scared me." She said, back to her normal voice instead of the whisper.
"Sorry." Connor replied as he walked over and ruffled her hair before he gave her a kiss on the forehead, then he repeated the gesture with Sarah before adding, "Let's still keep it quiet though, so we don't wake your Mum hey?"
"Okay," The girls agreed.
****
Ash woke up slowly, the memories of the day before came flooding back to her and she felt ill. She only vaguely remembered coming home. Had Connor carried her in from the car?
She turned to the space in the bed beside her and realised it hadn't been slept in. She was disappointed to realise he hadn't stayed with her the night.
Then she heard the whispered voices coming from the living area and realised he was still here, she was even more disappointed to realise he had stayed the night but hadn't even bothered to sleep with her.
She was concerned and worried; he hadn't seemed upset with her at all about the day's events. In fact, the kiss outside Deb’s place had led her to believe he was anything but upset with her. Then why had he not wanted to sleep beside her?
Ash lay in bed trying to collect the thoughts running rampant in her head. She knew she needed to get up, she also knew the thoughts she was having were probably not justified. It was easy to tell herself that Connor didn't want to dump her, that just because Mark was an abusive, selfish, arrogant, manipulative... she had a few other adjectives that she could think of as well, it didn't mean Connor was as well. As easy as it was to tell herself that though, it wasn't quite as easy for her to convince herself that she was right.
She glanced up and noticed Connor standing in the doorway, holding a mug.
"I wasn't sure if you were awake, but I brought you a coffee just in case." He said, walking into the room and sitting down on the side of the bed. He reached over and gently brushed the hair at her temple with his fingertips.
"How are you feeling this morning?"
"Physically, better..."
"Emotionally?"
"I'm not sure."
"Anything I can help you with?"
Ash decided to bite the bullet, she could spend weeks waiting for the hammer to drop, or she could just ask him. Surely he'd tell her the truth if she asked.
"Maybe..."
"Ash, anything for you Babe; tell me what you need and it's done."
She fidgeted for a few moments, collecting her thoughts, wondering how to ask. Connor raised his eyebrows, not wanting to come across as impatient, but having a hard time containing his impatience anyway.
"Do you want to break up with me?" She eventually blurted out, figuring there was no delicate way to ask, and beating around the bush wasn't going to get her the answer she wanted. Maybe she could shock him into the trut
h.
"What... why... where…?" Connor stammered.
Ash could see the shock reflected in his wide eyes.
"I have no idea what you are even asking and I thought we had this conversation yesterday. Why would you even ask me such a thing? Where would you even get such a ridiculous notion?"
"That wasn't an answer." Ash stated.
"Then, the answer is no; no way, no how, not a chance in Hades, not a snowballs chance in Hell, just no!"
"But you couldn't even bring yourself to sleep with me last night." Ash said, tears glistening in her eyes.
"Oh Babe. No! I put you to bed, but I didn't want to disturb you with my tossing and turning... A lot happened yesterday and I didn't think I'd be able to sleep so I sat on the couch to watch a bit of TV and try to get my brain to shut down. The next thing I knew I was being woken up by the girls trying to be quiet in the kitchen while they got some breakfast. They probably would have been quieter if they hadn't been trying so hard."
Ash looked up at him.
"There is no way Ash, not in this lifetime that I will break up with you. I need you to breathe and to function. I would not be able to live without you... I plan to ask you to marry me, you know."
A cross between surprise and fear flashed across Ash's face.
"Not today." He continued, "Not tomorrow. Not even next week or next month. But some time in the future. The not too distant future, I will ask you. So be ready."
Connor lent down and took her lips in a heart wrenching passionate kiss that had Ash curling her toes in anticipation.
"Now drink your coffee and then come on out. The girls have been asking for you."
Ash sipped her coffee slowly trying to get her head around what to tell the girls. She was dreading getting up and facing them, even worse, she was dreading going over to Marianne and Christian’s to tell them their son is dead.
****
Chapter 30
Connor didn't even get back to the kitchen when his phone rang. He looked briefly at the screen before answering.
"Hello?"
"Connor, it’s Officer Callum speaking."