The following morning Angie paid Jayden a quick visit with Cole’s begrudging approval. Ben was asleep in the chair when they arrived, so she tip-toed past him and perched on the edge of the bed.
Cole had given her five minutes, and he stood at the foot of the bed with his arms folded. She could feel his eyes boring into her back as she spoke quietly with Jayden. Although he was still asleep she sensed he could hear her, and her heart filled with hope that when she returned from Sydney he would be awake, but it saddened her to think she might not be there when he first opened his eyes and regained consciousness.
As she stood to leave, she risked upsetting Cole by giving Jayden a quick kiss on his cheek. As her lips brushed against his pale skin, Jayden’s lashes fluttered. Her heart leaped, but with Cole watching, she controlled her reaction. She gave Jayden’s hand a squeeze and whispered that she’d be back as soon as she could, and then stepped away reluctantly, admitting to herself that she’d much rather stay here with Jayden than go to Sydney with Cole.
Jayden’s head ached. At least, that’s where he thought the ache came from. Everything was a blur. His eyes flickered, but the brightness of the light pricked his pupils like needles. He closed them again and drifted back to sleep. A soft voice played in his head. He must be dreaming, because it sounded like Angie.
Tessa pulled up outside Zoe and Harrison’s house, jumped out, and proceeded to unclip Bella from her car-seat.
“Hey, Tess,” Zoe called out as she bounced down the front stairs. “Got our little charges for the day?”
“Yes, they’re very excited.” Tessa laughed as she straightened and hugged Bella before handing her to Zoe. “I hope she’ll be good for you.”
“She’ll be fine, don’t you worry. She’ll love seeing all the animals, won’t you, Belle?” Zoe nuzzled the little girl’s blonde wavy hair and hugged her tight.
“Yes. I want to see the koalas and the kangaroos and the emus.” Bella counted them on her chubby fingers.
Zoe chuckled. “We’d better get started, then. We’ve got a big day ahead of us from the sound of it.”
“Thank you so much for taking them. It’s been hard on Mum this week.” Tessa let out a sigh. “I just wish Dad could help more, but it is what it is, and she never complains.”
“She does remarkably well. And she seemed to take Cole turning up in her stride.”
Tessa leaned against the car and inspected her fingernails before looking up. “I’m not sure what’s going on there. Angie didn’t seem overly happy to see him.”
“I think she’s still working out what she wants. He may be a little controlling from what I’ve heard.”
“That’s the impression I got, too. We need to pray for her.”
“We do. And for Jayden… I have a feeling that today might be the day.”
Tessa’s heart skipped a beat. “Ben and I are hoping so. It will be so good to have him wake up.” She could barely contain her joy at the prospect.
Wearing jeans and a blue and white striped rugby jersey, Harrison jogged down the front steps and swept Naomi into his arms, swinging her around before placing her back on the ground. “Sorry I got held up. Are we good to go?”
“We’ve been waiting for you, so yes.” Zoe flashed a smile in her husband’s direction.
“Okay, off to the zoo we go… catch you later, Tess.” He gave a backwards wave as he unlocked the car and opened the back door, holding it open for Naomi to climb in.
Tessa squeezed past him and did Naomi’s seatbelt up before giving her a kiss. “Be good for Zoe and Harrison?”
“I will, Mummy. And give Jayden a kiss from me.”
“I will.” Tessa gave her another hug and then backed out before giving Bella a kiss and a hug and waving them off.
As soon as they were out of sight, she jumped into her car and headed to the hospital.
When she arrived a short while later, Tessa quickly parked and hurried to the ICU, grateful that the media seemed to have lost interest, and also thankful that it was too early for any of Jayden’s friends to be in the waiting room. Not that she didn’t want to see them; she just wanted to see Jayden. And Ben.
Ben was seated in his normal position by Jayden’s side when she entered the cubicle. The dark circles under Ben’s eyes had deepened, and in the week they’d been there, he’d lost so much weight he looked like a bean stalk. She leaned down, and rubbing her hands lightly over his neck and shoulders, kissed him gently on the cheek. “Good morning, sweetheart. How are you doing?”
He gave her a weak but warm smile and placed his hand over hers. “All the better now you’re here.”
She laughed. “Flattery will get you nowhere.” She pulled up another chair and sat beside him, leaning forward to take Jayden’s hand. “Any progress?”
“I think so. Just little twitches. The doctor said it’s best if he wakes slowly, so we need to let him come back at his own pace.”
Tears stung Tessa’s eyes. “It’s just so wonderful.”
“It is, but we still don’t know what condition his brain is in.”
She brushed her eyes with the back of her hand and then turned to look at Ben again. “I have every confidence he’ll be fine. God’s hand is on his life, and He can do more than we can ever ask or imagine.”
Ben let out a heavy sigh. “You’re right. I know that. I guess it’s me being cautious, that’s all.”
“It’s okay, sweetie. But God’s faithful. How many times have we already experienced that?”
He nodded. “A lot. It’s easy to forget.”
“I know, but this morning while I was in the shower, I had an overwhelming sense that Jayden was going to be all right. I can only think it was God speaking to my heart, because it was the peace that only comes from Him. Maybe I got it wrong, but I just know that God’s got it under control, whatever happens.”
Ben slipped his arm across her shoulder and kissed the side of her head. “Thanks for reminding me.”
She snuggled close, resting her head on his chest. “We need to pray for Angie as well. Did you see her and Cole this morning?” She tilted her head and caught his gaze.
“No.” Ben’s brows came together. “I must have been asleep.”
“I think it was a quick visit. He’s taking her to Sydney for a few days.”
“I can’t imagine she’s too happy about that.”
“She’s not.”
“Trouble in paradise?”
“I think so.”
“We’d better pray.”
Tessa nodded before bowing her head. “Lord, we bring Angie before You, and ask that You’ll help her to work out what You want for her life, and that she might know Your peace as she seeks Your will. Lord, we thank You for her involvement in Jayden’s life, and for being instrumental in bringing him to You, and for their special friendship, so we ask that You’ll be with her now as she works through this situation with Cole. Keep her safe, dear Lord, we pray. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Ben squeezed her hand. “Amen.”
Angie had always wanted to visit Sydney, and although thoughts of Jayden were uppermost in her mind, as the plane began its descent, she determined to enjoy the unexpected side-trip. Cole had thought of everything. He’d booked separate rooms in one of the best hotels overlooking the magnificent harbour. And as soon as they arrived and unpacked, they headed to Bondi beach for a lazy afternoon followed by a sunset harbour cruise.
On day two they did a bit of shopping before exploring the Opera House and the Rocks area where the first colony had settled and much of Sydney’s early history was written in every old sandstone building. After weaving through the narrow laneways and wandering along the harbour’s edge, Cole announced he had another surprise.
“Another one?” Angie laughed. “How many surprises have you got?” She flashed him a quick smile as she licked her English toffee ice cream and returned her gaze to the old green ferry chugging along as it approached the quay.
He slipped his arm around her shoulder and kissed the side of her head. “Only this one, I promise.”
She discovered a little later that he’d booked a table for dinner at Aria, the restaurant owned by renowned chef, Matt Moran. During the shopping expedition that morning Cole had encouraged her to buy a special outfit but hadn’t told her why. That evening she felt elegant but slightly uncomfortable in her figure hugging short black dress and stilettos. Cole liked her dressing up, but give her jeans and a sweater any day.
As much as her thoughts were still on Jayden, Angie felt like a princess as she and Cole approached the restaurant perched on the very edge of Sydney Harbour close to the bridge. Cole was dashing and charming, and the other diners turned their heads as he guided her to their table. The waiter suggested a pre-dinner wine as he provided them both with a menu. Angela was tempted, but declined. The one time she’d had a glass it had gone straight to her head. She needed to keep her wits about her, so she ordered a sparkling mineral water instead. Cole ordered a glass of the recommended red wine, a 2007 vintage pinot noir from the Barossa Valley.
The waiter promised to return to take their orders shortly, but provided the chef’s recommendations for their consideration. They thanked him and commenced studying the menu.
Angie leaned close. “This looks very fancy. Are you sure you can afford it?”
Cole lifted his chin. “Of course I can. Order whatever you like.”
“As long as you’re sure.”
“Of course I’m sure.”
She drew a breath. Where was he getting his money from? His parents, perhaps? She returned her focus to the menu and after checking the prices, which were all exorbitant, chose the Southern calamari with broad beans and black garlic as an appetizer. Cole ordered the shucked oysters, diamond clams and sorrel granita. For the entreé, she ordered the glazed duck with orange and beetroot; he ordered the roasted lamb loin with carrots, quinoa and labneh. She had no idea what labneh was. He didn’t either. “Guess I’ll find out.” He winked as he took her hand and massaged it gently with his thumb and pinned her with his gaze.
She shifted in her seat, unable to avert her gaze.
His gaze intensified. “I love you, Angie. I think you know that.”
She gulped. Why had he said that? Now it would be harder if she tried to break it off with him again. No. Not if. When. Sitting in this fancy restaurant, gazing out at the glittering harbour, it was easy to be swept away in the magic of the moment, but deep down, she knew that Cole wasn’t right for her. Yes, he was a pastor’s son. He’d been raised in a good, Christian family; he was intelligent, athletic and good-looking, but he didn’t have the depth of character that Jayden had. Cole’s life had been easy. Too easy, it seemed.
Where he’d gotten his expensive tastes from she wasn’t sure, and how he afforded it all, she was even less sure, but she was a simple girl, born and raised on a ranch in Montana. She didn’t need fancy things to be happy. Her joy and happiness came from the small things in life, like feeling the wind in her hair as she clung to Rusty, her beloved gelding, as he pounded across the open fields heading to the mountains. Like sitting beside a gurgling stream, sipping fresh mountain water after a hard ride. Like gazing at the night sky in awe and wonder of God’s amazing handiwork. Cole preferred the bright lights of the city, college parties and fast cars. They really had little in common. It was such a pity she’d discovered that too late. But it wasn’t too late. She hadn’t promised to marry him, but he’d be less than happy when she broke it off. Again.
“Yes, I guessed.” Her voice was small as she leaned forward. “But Cole, please don’t pressure me. Let’s just enjoy all of this without complicating anything.”
His face sobered and he pulled back. “I thought you might have said you loved me, too.”
She squeezed his hand. “I really like you, but I don’t know if I love you.”
“Yet.”
“Yet.” She had to say it. There was no way she could break it off while dining at the swankiest restaurant in Sydney. She would pray about it further and be totally sure that was what God wanted before she said anything. Until then, she would be Cole’s girlfriend and would enjoy being spoiled. Even though she’d rather be with Jayden.
Cole didn’t push any further, and Angie relaxed a little as their food began to arrive. The waiter, a young man with short dark hair and olive skin was attentive but not intrusive, and the food was amazing. They discovered that labneh was a lush, almost cream-cheese yoghurt, garnished with rich oil, fragrant spice, and crusty bread, and it was delicious. Afterwards, they strolled along the waterfront and for a short while, Angie thought that maybe, just maybe, she could learn to love him.