He's Captured My Trust (Captured Series Book 2) (25 page)

“Miss Stewart, is everything all ready?” Murphy asks.

“Yeah, I’m sure I have everything packed.”

Murphy leaves the room, and I start to say my good-byes to the ladies.

“I can’t believe the turn of events in the last twenty-four hours.” Sophie’s voice is soft and low as she gets up and holds me tightly.

“Everything will be fine. I’m sure of it,” I tell her in my most reassuring voice.

“Oh, I hope so. Please keep in touch.” Sophie gives me a kiss on the cheek before letting go of me.

“Sweetie, when that beautiful girl is better, give her a kiss from me.” Sarah embraces me with a loving smile. “I still can’t believe Alex can’t travel with you.”

“Of course I will, and I’m sure you’ll be able to give her a kiss and cuddle the next time you’re over. As for Alex, I’m certain this will be sorted out quickly.”

“Oh, I do hope you’re right, Elizabeth.” She pauses as Murphy re-enters the room. “You better go. I don’t want you to be late. Now, remember to keep me posted on how Lucy is doing.”

“Of course I will, and the same goes for Alex.”

“Libby, come on. We need to move it,” Michael says, taking a suit carrier from Joan. I raise my eyebrows with a silent question.

“Miss Stewart, it’s your dresses,” Joan says in her warm, caring voice. “I hope we’ll be seeing you again soon.”

“I’m sure you will.”

“Libby,” Michael says, more insistently.

“Yes, okay.”

I feel as though I’m leaving a part of myself behind as I finish saying good-bye. In a way, I suppose I am, in Alex. I never thought I could have such a connection with anyone other than Ethan. I know what they say about twins, but it’s still hard to put into words. But with Alex I have found something altogether different, a love I only ever dreamed of. My parents have it and still do, but I never thought I would.

Everything is done on autopilot: the ride down in the lift, the car journey to the airport. Michael has spoken to me a few times, but I don’t know what to say. I’ve shut myself down again. Exhaustion is taking over me, and I hope and pray that I manage some sleep on the plane.

“Libby, I need to leave you now. Are you sure you’ll be okay? I’m worried about you. I can still get a ticket and come with you.” Michael’s voice is steady, and he’s wearing a sad smile.

“I’ll be fine, honestly
.
Keep me updated with everything that’s going on, that’s all I ask.”

“Of course I will. You don’t even need to ask. Do me a favour and switch your phone back on as soon as you land so I can.”

“Yeah, I promise. Talk to you soon.” I lean up and kiss him on the cheek, much to his surprise.

“Go on. Get out of here before someone sees,” he says, laughing.

I turn and walk away toward the check-in desk.

IT HAS TO BE THE
longest seven and a half hours of my life, but finally the plane touches down on home soil. It’s just going on five pm here. I switch my phone back on, remembering Michael’s words as I left him. Immediately it beeps with a text from Michael.

“Your dad’s driver will be waiting in the arrivals for you. I have a feeling you’ll run into a few problems. Media have already gotten wind of the situation and I expect you will have some questions thrown your way.” I reply, “Thanks for the warning. Any news yet?”

“He is still being questioned. No charges brought against him yet.”

Seriously?
I’d thought this would be sorted out by now and he’d be home.

Bloody Katherine.

As I make my way through the arrivals gate, I see what Michael meant—the waiting media. This should be interesting. I have a quick look around for Mark and am relieved when I see him with a few members of airport security. His smile is brief as he walks toward me and takes my case and the suit carrier. “Miss Stewart.”

“Hi, Mark. How is Lucy?”

“She’s stable. I’ll get you there as quickly and safely as possible.”

I get only another few feet before the questions start.

“Miss Stewart, do you have anything to say about the allegation that Mr. Mathews raped Miss Hunter?”

“Elizabeth, is this the end of your relationship after walking out on him?”

“Miss Stewart, surely you have something to say.”

“Miss Stewart, you don’t have to answer,” Mark surprises me by saying. I stop walking and look at him, and he nods.

“I will make this brief,” I say. “About the allegation Miss Hunter has made, I do not for one minute believe Mr. Mathews is capable of rape. In fact it was only a few short weeks ago that he rescued me from my ex-boyfriend, who was intending to commit that very crime. No charges have been brought against him, and he is helping the police with inquiries.”

“Miss Stewart, if you believe that, why did you walk out on him?”

“My relationship with Mr. Mathews is very much still on. I have not walked out on him, and if it weren’t for family circumstances, I would still be in New York and by the side of the man I love.” I take a deep breath before trying to wrap up my statement. “I am back in Glasgow to be with my family. Now, I’m sure you all have other interests to be going on with. I will make a statement in due course. I’m sure you will give my family the privacy they deserve at such times. Thank you.”

Mark smiles at me as we walk away from the paparazzi and the flashes from their cameras, and head to the car.

“Miss Stewart, anywhere you need to go first?”

“No, Mark. Straight to the hospital, please.” I know I could probably do with going home and getting changed after the flight.

I am totally lost with the time. Between the time difference and travelling, my body clock is gone.

I send Ethan a quick text, “I will see you soon. In the car.”

Ethan writes back, “Good. I need you. X.”

I’m not sure if his message makes me feel better or worse. But, like a few short months ago, I will be the support my brother needs to help him get our beautiful girl on the mend. Those two need each other. While sitting in the back of the car, my mind wanders to silly things, like the awards bash this weekend, and whether Kirsty wants a permanent job or is happy helping out now and then. Those thoughts shouldn’t even be in my head, considering all that’s going on.

I can’t believe that Alex is still with the police after nearly ten hours. I’ll call Michael later, when I leave the hospital. I hope by then there will be some news.

Mark stops as close to the entrance as he can, and I get out to find my dad waiting for me.

“Oh, honey, you look tired,” he says, wrapping me in his arms in a warm embrace.

“I am a bit. I tried to sleep on the plane, but never managed to. My mind kept going to Lucy. How is she?”

“She’s a little better. She’s still on some oxygen,” he says as he pulls open the door and lets me go through first. It’s bright and airy and busy. It has a clinical look to it—it’s a hospital, after all—but there are plenty of distractions such as cartoon characters and bright colours. “Now, don’t get upset when you see her. There are lots of tubes, but they are all to help.”

I try to take in everything he says to me as we travel through the hospital to the unit where Lucy is.

Dad opens the door to the room, and I gasp in shock—her tiny body is wired up to the machines beeping away at the side. I contain the sob that wants to escape, if only for my brother’s benefit. I feel my dad’s grasp on my shoulders, protecting me, helping me make the small walk to Ethan. My mum is sitting by the side of Lucy’s cot, stroking her face. Lucy is usually full of life and energy and is always happy with a gorgeous smile that shows off the one tooth that came through only a few weeks ago.

“Oh, Libby, I’m so glad you’re here.” Ethan and I embrace.

A slow trickle of tears runs down my face, and when I look at my brother, he is the same. Are our lives always going to be a battle? I don’t have any words for him right now.
You need to be strong for him.
I tremble in his arms, and he clings to me more tightly. If anything happens to Lucy, I know deep down he couldn’t cope a second time, and that thought alone scares me.

“Jane, dear, come on and we’ll go get a coffee—leave these two alone for a bit,” my father says to my mum.

“Okay, Phil. Are you alright, Libby?” she asks.

“Yeah, Mum—glad I’m here with you all.”

That settles her and they both leave us to it.

Ethan takes the seat my mum vacated. I pull the other chair beside him and sit down, taking his hand in mine.

“Why do I have the feeling we’ve already been down this road?” he sobs. “Look at her. She looks so helpless. I can’t lose her too; I can’t.”

I can’t bear to see him so upset. It breaks my heart, and I’m not sure how much more my own heart can take. “Take a deep breath. You can’t fall apart. She needs you to be strong for her. You’re not going to lose her. Life couldn’t be that cruel.”

“I don’t think I have it in me,” he mumbles through his tears.

“Of course you have it in you. You love that little girl with all your heart. You need to dig a little deeper than most, but it’s there, you know it is. Look at all you’ve overcome in the last few months. Dig that little bit deeper, and find it for both of you.”

“I don’t know what I would do without your support. Your love for me and Lucy, I . . .” He can’t find the words he’s looking for, but it’s alright; I know what he means. I love them both unconditionally.

I’m fighting my own tears again. “You know I’m always here for you. You’ll never have to be without me.” I wrap my arms around him, and we both cry and cry.

A nurse enters the room, does a few checks on Lucy, and then leaves us.

“So what’s the story with Alex?” Ethan asks when both our tears finally stop. Why would my dad feel the need to tell him about me and Alex with everything else going on?

“You can stop looking at me like that. I think I know most of it.”

“I don’t know anything yet. I’ll phone Michael shortly and see if they’ve heard anything. I can’t understand why she would accuse him of this.”

“Is there any doubt in your mind about him?” he asks. “You may as well give me the full story. We have plenty of time on our hands at the moment.” He looks lovingly at his beautiful, peaceful daughter.

I give him the whole story, beginning, middle, and end, and don’t leave anything out. He seems a bit surprised by it all but listens intently and offers some advice, which has us both laughing. Ethan and advice don’t usually go together.

“See? The past few months have changed you.” I smile as I try to contain my laughter.

Mum and Dad enter the room and look from Ethan to me, somewhat bemused. The tension that had filled the room has lifted slightly. A doctor and nurse come in, and Ethan introduces me to them.

“Mr. Stewart, all the news I have is positive,” the doctor says. “All the results have come back clear. Her temperature is slowly coming down, and, as the evening progresses, we’ll look to slowly start decreasing the levels of oxygen she is getting. Ideally, she’ll respond well.”

“So we don’t know what’s caused this then?” Ethan asks.

“No, we don’t. Some things are left unexplained and have no name. But we’ll have to see, as I said, how she responds to what I’m suggesting. We’ll repeat some blood tests just in case, but in my opinion, this little lady is going to be fine. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.”

“Thank you, doctor.” Ethan sighs in relief as the doctor and nurse leave the room.

“See? I told you, son.” My father gives him a not-so-manly hug, and, when I look at Mum, she has happy tears running slowly down her beautiful but tired face.

“Libby, you should head on home,” my father says. “You’ve been up for over twenty-four hours. You need to rest.”

“Your father is right, Elizabeth. You could do with the rest.” My mother sounds concerned.

“I’ll stay awhile longer and then I’ll be back in the morning before going into work.”

“Libby, you don’t need to be at work tomorrow,” my dad says, taking a seat.

“I know, but I’m home, and it’s only to check on how things are going. Then I’ll come straight back here so that if Ethan wants to, he can go home and shower and change before coming back.”

“I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Ethan takes my hand.

“No more sadness. I’ve already told you, you are well and truly stuck with me.”

The hours pass by, as we sit talking, staff come in and out of the room, changing fluid bags, reducing the amount of oxygen—all positive steps. They tell Ethan that when Lucy wakes up, she will most likely be a little upset, but, as soon as possible, she needs to get a cuddle with her daddy. They gave her something to sedate her while they were carrying out the tests because she was restless and kept pulling at all the tubes. I suppose that was only to be expected; she is too little to know not to.

I send Kieran and Kirsty both a quick text. “I will see you both tomorrow maybe about lunchtime. X.”

Kieran responds first. “Are you sure? Everything is fine here. X.”

Kirsty writes, “Libby are you OK? I could come and see you later.”

“Yes, and see you tomorrow. X,” I text back.

My thoughts drift to Alex and the fact that I still haven’t heard anything from anyone yet. Surely there must be some sort of news, good or bad. My mum must sense how I feel, because she urges me to leave the room and make the call.