CORAL - Forever (A Romance Trilogy, Book 3) (3 page)

“Bliss,” I say laying my head on his shoulder, placing my
hand over his heart.

“Yeah baby, this is,” he sleepily answers and lifts his hand
to cover mine.

I feel my eyes getting heavier and heavier as I try to hold
onto the feeling of Tristan’s body next to mine, but sleep soon comes and I start
to drift away, but just as I do, I get a really weird mental image of my Mom.
She’s stood in front of my studio looking all glowing and.....
Shit! My Mom!

“Tristan...” My heart starts hammering against my chest
again. Tristan leans up and looks down at me. “My Mom,” I choke. “Did I miss
the funeral?” I ask.

His face twists with sorrow –
Shit, I’ve missed it!

“There wasn’t one baby...she was cremated. When nobody turns
up they...” He stops and runs his hand through his hair.

“So she doesn’t even have a grave?” I squeak.

“Baby, if that’s what you want we can do that, bury her
ashes even, whatever you want I’ll sort it,” he tells me, stroking my cheek.

A few strays tears roll down my cheeks...I’ll never see her
alive again.

“Thank you Tristan, with everything that’s gone on...” I
swallow hard. “You’re too good to me,” I whisper.

“No, I’m not,” he argues. “You deserve it all baby,” he
adds.

I close my eyes and hold him to me. “I love you Tristan, forever.”

“And I you baby.” I feel his lips meet mine and I surrender
to the feeling; it’s bitter sweet. On the one hand I feel so sad about my Mom,
and gutted that Gladys has cancelled her wedding, but the absolute up has to be
that Tristan is alive, that he’s here with me, that Susannah didn’t kill him –
and she could have, so easily.

I squeeze him tight once more and snuggle up to him, my man,
my wonderful man. I take a few deep breaths, and before I know it I find myself
drifting off...

IT
FEELS LIKE I’VE BEEN FLOATING
for a long time. I’m heading down
towards my studio; it’s weird how it doesn’t feel like my feet are hitting the
ground. As I reach the Marina, I start to notice that there aren’t any people
about, just the houses, the boats. I stop for a moment and look out to sea, but
I can't see anything except thick, dense fog. I turn and look down the
concourse, the fog lifts for a moment, and in the distance, I see a figure
standing outside my studio. I squint trying to work out who it is, but I’m too
far away.

The moment I think that I zoom forwards and stop in front of
my studio, the unearthly figure is hard to look at, there’s a bright white
light surrounding it; it’s almost blinding.

Suddenly the figure turns and stares at me, and I realise
it’s a woman.

“Hello Coral,” she says, but her lips don't move.

I stare back at the woman. I think I recognise her, but I’m
not sure.

“Mom?” I question and notice that my voice doesn’t sound
like me.

“You have to go back Coral,” she tells me.

“Go back?” I question.

“You can’t come with me,” she says.

“Come with you? What do you mean?” I question. She floats
towards me and presses her hand against my cheek.

“It was my time darling it’s not yours. Tristan needs you.”

I frown back at her. “But I want to go with you,” I tell
her. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too darling, and I’m sorry. So, so sorry I
didn’t make it work for us.” She opens her arms and I fall into them.

“Oh Mom!” I’m instantly flooded with a feeling of peace and
absolute, unconditional love. “I don't want to go,” I whisper. “If I do I won't
see you again, will I?” I look up at her.

“No baby girl, you won’t see me again, not like this. But
I’ll always be with you, even if you can't see me, I’ll be there.”

“How do you know that?” I question.

“Because I’ve been watching you for a while now,” she says
smiling softly at me.

“You have?”

“Yes, I have.” She takes my face in her hands. “Go now
Coral, before it’s too late,” she says.

“No I like it here.”
I don't feel any pain, or hate or
sorrow – just love.

“Baby, it’s time. I love you Coral, please forgive me.” I
try to hold onto her, but she takes a step back from me.

“No...Mom...” In the next instance, she’s slammed her hands
against me, one across my heart and the other under my rib –
My god that
hurt!
She does it again –
Fuck, that really hurt, what’s going on?
Suddenly,
my whole world shifts, and I feel like I’m being pulled through a vacuum.

“She’s back!” someone shouts.
Back? Where have I been?
I question but no words come out.

I hear more voices, people shouting at one another, I try to
hear what they are saying but they seem so far away. I try to open my eyes, but
I feel myself slipping, the fog washes over me again. I let it take me, hoping
I’ll see my Mom again...

“SHIT!”
I’M STARTLED AWAKE
– I feel like I’ve just popped into my body...
how
odd?

“Baby, what is it?” Tristan asks, hovering over me.

I look around the room in desperation...I'm in hospital?
Oh
yes, I remember now
. Its pitch black outside, god knows what time it is? I
turn back to Tristan who’s lying next to me on the big hospital bed.

“Baby, tell me,” he pleads. “What’s wrong?”

I shake my head, trying to understand. “Just a dream
Tristan...I think?” I add.

“Want to talk about it?”

“Yeah...no,” I shake my head feeling unsure. Tristan wraps
his arms around me, warming me up, I feel cold?

“That was weird,” I mumble.

“Tell me,” he says. But I still feel so tired...so sleepy.

“I will,” I whisper and I drift off again...

I
BLINK MY EYES OPEN
. I take a quick look around the room. There’s a
hazy, lemon light bleeding through the blinds at the window; it’s dusk or dawn
I’m not sure which. I close my eyes and frown I'm so disorientated, is it still
last night? Have I slept through another day? I can hear the bleeping of the
machines behind me.

I try to sit up. Pain – my body still hurts so much, I
squeeze my eyes shut.

“Coral, can you hear me?” I groggily open my eyes. “Over
here sunshine...” A soft voice chuckles, I turn my head and see Rob smiling
down at me, then I look down at the bed, then to the small chair in the corner
of the room –
Tristan’s gone!

“Where’s Tristan?” I croak feeling slightly panicked.

“Oh that’s nice!” he scoffs jokingly. “
I
come to see
you but all your interested in is Mr Fancy Pants!” he teases.

I start chuckling –
Ouch that really hurts!

“Don't make me laugh!” I chuckle.

“Oops! Sorry, does it hurt?” he questions.

I cock one eyebrow up at him. “Seriously?” I say as
sarcastically as I can, Rob chuckles some more.

“Hey, I was thinking, should I call you Cagney or Lacey?” he
jokes.

“Oh very funny,” I scoff. We both start laughing again, but
I wince and close my eyes for a second trying to control the pain.
“Rob...seriously, where is Tristan?” I say breathlessly.

“Relax, Gladys practically frogmarched him out of here so he
can shower and get a meal inside him, he looks terrible. I’m so glad you met
him Coral, he’s got it so bad for you, aren’t you the lucky girl!” He gazes
down at me with a smug satisfied smile, I grin back at him. “I said I would
stay till he gets back,” he adds.

I reach for his hand, my wonderful best friend is here, and
he’s ok. He grabs hold of my hand and squeezes it tight.

“Thanks,” I close my eyes again. “Is Carlos ok?”

“He’s fine, worried about you but I sent him home, he’s
knackered. Everyone’s been here since it happened.”

“Wish I was home,” I grumble, looking up at him.

“Relax, Tristan’s taken care of it. But seriously, what did
you expect? Get shot and walk out of hospital the next day? Honestly woman, you
need to get a grip!”

“Shut up!” I titter. “So what day is it?” I ask.

“Friday. Oh yeah...happy birthday for yesterday! Carlos and
I came by with your present last night but you and Tristan were both sleeping,”
he says.

“You did?” I say, I instantly feel cheered up.

“Yes, I was going to give it to you today but...” Rob stops
slapping his hand to his mouth.

“What?” I chuckle.

“Bollocks!” he hisses.

“Tell me Rob,” I chuckle.

“I can't, it’ll spoil the surprise,” he says with a guilty
look.

“I don't like surprises,” I grumble. “Besides, I know there
is one now, so spit it out!” Rob sighs deeply and twists his face.

“Gladys is going to kill me,” he moans.

“No she won't, because she won't know I know. Come on Rob,
tell me!”

“Well, when we were all here yesterday, with presents I
might add, Gladys said we should give them to you when you get home, you know
have a little surprise celebration.”

I smile up at Rob. “She did?” I squeak.

Rob smiles back at me. “Yep, then Gladys came by this
morning spoke to Tristan, he had a...” Rob slaps his hand to his mouth again.

“What’s Tristan up to Rob?” I chuckle.

“Stop asking me, you’re going to get me in trouble,” he scolds
lightly.

“Ok, but I get the gist of it!”
Hmm, I wonder what
Tristan has planned?
Then I remember about Gladys’s wedding. “I can't
believe Gladys cancelled her wedding,” I groan. “I feel so guilty that she has,
if I hadn’t have got shot she would be on her honeymoon by now,” I sniff.

“I know,” he says squeezing my hand again. “But don't feel
guilty about it Coral, you didn’t know this was going to happen, and there’s
not a chance Gladys would have married without you being there, so...” He
smiles and shrugs his shoulders.

“I guess,” I grumble suddenly feeling ravenous. “What time
is it?” I ask.

“Seven thirty,” he chuckles. “Why?”

“I’m hungry,” I answer. “Hey, don't you have a client this
week?” I ask, wondering why Rob is here, he should be working.

“No, I cancelled it,” he tells me.

“Rob’ – “My best friend falls in love. Is stalked and broken
into, she then quits her job and gets shot by some crazy psycho chick. The last
thing I’m going to do is bugger off,” he argues. “Besides, you want Tristan
helping you with bathroom breaks and showering while you’re like this?” He
questions, his head cocked to the side.

Showering–Yes, absolutely! Bathroom breaks–No, no way!

“I didn’t think so,” he says reading my wide eyes. “So, I’m
here like it or not.”

“’K’ fine!” I relent. “Not that you’ll need to, Tristan’s
getting me a nurse,” I say a little smugly.

“Posh bastard!” Rob chortles.

“Hey!” I squeak.

“Only kidding!” he laughs. “Now, I woke you up to tell you
something very important.”

“You have?” He solemnly nods his head.
Uh-Oh!
Then a
stupid ear to ear grin spreads across his face
.
“I’ve found your wedding
dress!” he says clapping his hands together in excitement.
Wedding?

“I...I told you about that?” I whisper.

Rob frowns. “Er...no, Tristan did.”

“He did?” I say surprised.

“Well...kind of,” Rob says, biting his bottom lip.

“What’s going on Rob?” I ask, feeling anxious.

Rob debates for a moment. “I guess I
should
tell
you,” he says, his face falling.

“Tell me what?” I whisper.

“Well...Tristan and I...sort of...well, we had an
altercation.” He says, guilt written all over his face.

“What?” I bellow.

“Relax,” he coos. “It was just a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding?” I question, he nods sheepishly at me.
“Tell me everything!” I add.

“There’s not really much to tell. We just...I was mad,
he
was livid
. We got into an argument about you’ – “Me?” I interrupt.

“Yeah,” Rob sighs. “I just...at the time, I didn’t know he’d
been drugged. I was mad that he’d let you...” Rob stops and takes a deep
breath. “I thought he’d let you take that bullet and that’s not right, that
psycho woman would never had come into your life if it wasn’t for him, it was
his shit, he should have dealt with it.” Rob stops short and stares out the
window for a while.

“Rob, Tristan coming into my life is the best thing that’s
ever happened to me, I wouldn’t change a thing.” I softly say.

“I know,” he sighs.

“So, what happened? Why did you quarrel?”

“Like I said, I was blaming him for what happened to you, I
didn’t know...” he shakes his head. “I'm sorry I argued with him. Anyway long
story short, in his furious rage, he sort of let it slip that well, he’d
proposed, that you mean the world to him and, well to be honest, he was in such
a rage, I didn’t get everything he said to me.”

“Think hard Rob, I want to know.”
I can't believe they’ve
argued!

Rob sighs again. “Um...well, he was angry that you did what
you did, he wished he’d have been able to protect you, he was angry with
himself for not believing you...Look Coral, the point is, I didn’t know all
that, I didn’t know you two were that serious. I can't believe you said yes,”
he says, staring down at me with wide eyes.

“Oh!” I look up at Rob, my eyes reflecting his worry.

“What’s wrong sunshine? Don't you want to marry him
anymore?” Rob asks, looking a little worried at my wide-eyed expression.

“Yes, of course I do. I...I just, with everything that’s
gone on...I haven’t really thought about it,” I say feeling shocked then I
panic –
What if he’s said something?
“Rob, you haven’t told anyone have
you?” I ask my mouth going dry.

“No, only Carlos,” he softly says.

“Oh, good,” I breathe – Then something comes to me...a
conversation....? Then I remember it. “Tristan’s hiring a wedding planner,” I
say.

“What!” Rob bellows. “Well you can tell him to cancel it,”
he scoffs. “Honestly woman! How could you let him do that to me?”

I shrug then regret it, that hurt. “Rob, you buggered off, I
couldn’t get hold of you. I couldn’t talk to you about all the...” I stop and
shake my head.
What’s the point?
“Do you want to be my wedding planner?”
I ask.

“Of course,” he snorts, rolling his eyes at me. “Who else
would you choose?” he bites.

“No one,” I say, smiling up at him, feeling totally
relieved. Rob will sort it all and it will be magical, I know it will.

I involuntarily yawn, which hurts like hell – Ok this
‘everything
hurts thing’
better stop soon!

“You really are out of it,” he says, I nod my head in
agreement.

“Think it’s the painkillers, I keep falling asleep,” I
grumble.

Rob leans over to me and kisses my cheek. “Ok, you sleep
sunshine. I’ll look through more wedding magazines...Oh, we’re going to have so
much fun!” he says with animated glee, a slight chuckle escapes me –
Ouch, don't
laugh Coral!

I grab hold of him. “Rob,” I take a deep breath. “Thank you,
for everything...for being my best friend, for putting up with me,” I stop and
sniff.
I'm so glad he’s ok.

“Coral,” Rob leans down so he’s inches from me, wide black
eyes to sleepy coral blue. He clutches my hand in his again then starts to
choke up –
Oh Rob! No, don't cry for me!

“Don’t ever do that to me again,” he croaks. “I...I was so
scared. For a moment, when you were down in surgery, I....I thought I would
never see you again...” he breaks off and sniffs loudly.

“Now you know how I felt when you disappeared,” I retort.

Rob looks guilty for like a nanosecond. “Yes, but I didn’t
have some lunatic trying to kill me,” he argues.