31
Patrick was flying so high he could see over the fence into next door’s garden. Old Mr. Fawcett was planting more flowers. And they had a fish pond now. With a fountain. It was heaps bigger than their one. Wasn’t his fault the fish didn’t like stones in the water. And it wasn’t just him throwing them in there either. But Niamh couldn’t do anything wrong. Ever.
It was so unfair. Liam always stuck up for her and never him. And now he was in trouble because he got caught doing something they started. The angrier he got, the higher the swing went. He ignored his mother’s voice. So what if the base was moving. Dad could fix it.
Then he really was flying and the ground was coming up fast to meet him. He landed with a jarring thud…
…Blue flowers nestled by his feet. Bluebells. Elle’s hand in his. Her long hair flowed over her shoulders, her white shirt undone a couple of buttons. The short sleeves made her arms look more tanned than they were. The heady smell of her perfume filled his senses. “Stay with me,” she said. “We need you. Stay with us.”
“Don’t make me come after you, Pi. I’ll drag you back if I have to.” Li sounded uncharacteristically gruff. Was he crying? Li never cried. Ever. Not even when Sally died.
“Dad…” a new voice. One that seemed familiar but who was she calling Dad? “Dad, please, it’s Abbie. Don’t die now I found you. Mum and I need you, so much.”
Abbie? He knew an Abbie. He had to go back. He tried turning. Swimming against the tide that bore him toward the light. Then arms surrounded him, a breeze blew softly around him and he was aware of hissing and beeping and someone crying.
Patrick struggled to open his eyes. His whole body felt as if it were encased in lead. He couldn’t move. Fear peaked, then eased as someone began singing quietly in the room. He smiled. The tune was Danny Boy. Abbie could play it on her flute. He gave up trying to open his eyes and lay there listening. The words washed over him comforting him.
“I take my refuge in the shadow of my God
Under His wings, I have no need to fear.
Though terrors of the night surround me in the dark
And arrows fly, and men around me fall.
He sends an angel to protect the ones He loves
The darkness flees, it has nowhere to hide
The Lord Himself is standing right beside me
And with all of those who call upon His name.”
Patrick opened his eyes as they finished singing. “That is lovely.”
“Dad! You’re awake!” Abbie grinned, hugging him.
“I am and it was a wonderful way to wake up. The song was beautiful.”
“Mum wrote it. She paraphrased Psalm ninety-one. There’s going to be more when she’s finished writing it.” Abbie had a measure of pride in her voice and a huge smile on her face as she leaned over the bed. “Do you really like it?”
“Yes, I do. It was a really nice thing to wake up to. Second only to your smiling face. I just wish I could move and sit up a little.”
Elle’s face moved into his field of vision. “Hello, handsome.”
He smiled. “Hey, love.”
She kissed him gently. “How are you feeling?”
“I don’t know. It’d be easier to say what doesn’t hurt. What happened?”
“Zeke shot you as you took him down. You’ve been in a coma for a week.”
“A week?”
“The doctor said it was for the best. Since you can’t follow orders and rest…”
Patrick’s laugh turned into a groan as pain speared him in two. “Figures…”
“It’s no laughing matter.” She broke off. “You almost died…you did die. They had to resuscitate you for ages. Then they put you in a medically induced coma to give your body time to heal. You scared me. Scared us.”
“I’m sorry.” He longed to take her hand, but was still unable to move. “Am I tied down or something?”
“Yes,” Abbie interjected. “Even in a coma you couldn’t lie still. The nurse said she’d untie you when you woke. But you have to promise to behave.”
“I promise.” He sucked in a deep, painful breath. “Did I imagine you calling me Dad?”
She shook her head. “No. I’d like to, if that’s all right. I mean, you are my real Dad. Just like Ellie’s my mum and now you’re married and stuff…Where are we going to live? You only have one bedroom.”
“We’ll get a bigger house. For now, you get to camp out in the lounge.”
“Cool. I get the TV all night.”
Elle chuckled. “Think again, squirt. Keep Dad company while I go find the nurse.”
Patrick looked at her. “Elle…a week…Wait what’s happening?”
“They dropped the charges against me in exchange for my testimony. I’ll let Shay and Luke fill you in about work, but everything is going to be fine.”