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“Eva bloody Adams!” I shoot my attention in the direction of the screeched sound, and see Bells leading Nikki our way, weaving through the crowded dance floor.
“Nikki!” I call, a huge grin on my face as I turn towards her and open my arms wide. Nikki was my work Bells before I worked with Bells.
“Where the hell have you been hiding this one?” She winks at Will, and he shifts on his feet.
“Nikki, this is Will. My fiancé. Will, this is Nikki. No explanations would do her justice.”
“Err...I’m the fun one,” Nikki introduces herself. “The fiery one.”
“’Bout sums it up.” Bells shrugs.
“Got it.” Will smiles.
“And I need a drink.” Nikki jerks her head to the bar.
“I’ll be there in a sec,” I tell her, unwilling to leave Will’s side just yet.
I watch Nikki walk over to the bar with Bells, her long black hair in a thick veil down her back, her dress short enough to give anyone leg envy with the tanned, toned, curvy display she’s putting on, and smile as all the boys turn to watch her progress. Then stop. Davey was watching too. Davey! I’ve never seen that before.
***
Nikki pulls me to the side, urgently, several drinks later. “You and me. We need a seeerrrious catch up, lady,” she says, her eyes jumping from Will, to Gary, to Davey and all the men they’re talking with.
“We do,” I agree.
“Who is that?” she says, way too casually. My eyes follow hers, and I grin.
“Davey.”
“Davey?” she gasps. “As in...” I nod.
“It’s a bloody long story.” I squeeze her hand, and her eyes narrow perceptibly as she glares at him. She knows all about Davey. She patched me up with tea and sympathy, and sent me back out to the A&E department we worked in so many times she was probably sick to death of hearing about him.
Davey must feel her glare because he looks up and makes his way over. Nikki is severely unimpressed with the reappearance of my brother, it would seem. “Hey.” He smiles. If this were a cartoon, Nikki would have steam coming out of her ears.
“Hey?” she spits caustically. “Bloody hey!”
“Whoa! What did I do?”
“I have no fucking idea, but it’d better be good,” Nikki fumes, her nostrils flaring and fists clenching. “Do you have any clue? Any fucking clue what you put that girl through? Just one? Do you!”
“Nikki,” I whisper, tugging her arm. “Now really isn’t the time.” She shrugs me off determinedly, her eyes burning holes into Davey.
“She was a wreck. I’ve never seen someone so broken and so determined to fix other people. She showed up to work double shifts, triple even, trying to save the world. Because of you!” She jabs a finger at his chest, punctuating every word. “She saved my life. You know that? She saved me when I couldn’t save her. But she didn’t want me to save her. You know why? Because she thought she was already dead. She died the same day you did, but she was still the only reason I made it through some night shifts.
“Do you know how much bullshit she had to deal with from the drunks and junkies, day after day, night after night? You stand someone, who looks like her, in a nurse’s uniform in front of them, and they think they’re living a fucking fantasy! I have never seen another nurse put up with so much bullshit, so patiently, and then throw them out on their arses with such ferocity when she’d patched them up. So, you tell me, Davey. What. The Fuck. Did. You. Do?”
Davey is gaping, open-mouthed and silent, at the savage burning in front of him. Nikki is a tiny, five foot two, raven-haired beauty with an hourglass figure, who goes off like dynamite if you’re stupid enough to light her fuse. She’s fiercely loyal and the best damn nurse in A&E. I would be willing to bet money that the department is missing her right now. It must be her night off.
Will guides me away to the dance floor, leaving them to hash it out. “Baby,” he murmurs, wiping the tears on my cheeks with his thumbs and folding me in his arms. I wrap mine around him as tight as I can as he sways us across the floor.
“You don’t think she’ll kill him, do you?”
“He’s a big boy, Eva.”
“And she’s a nurse. She could kill him and make it look like natural causes.” I’m only half joking. She could. I flash Will a cheeky smile, and he chuckles.
“I’ll remember that, Nurse Adams.”
“Remembering it wouldn’t do you much good six feet under, baby.” I laugh.
“You’re a cheeky mare.”
“You love me.” I sigh.
“I do.” He smiles, lowering his lips to mine.
––––––––
I look up sharply when a roar fills the air. “I love my sister! I did what I did to save her fucking life!”
My whole body freezes. Heart and lungs. Limbs and brain. I’ve never seen Davey angry. Never. His face is flushed, his neck corded, his fists clenched and muscles bunched. Even Nikki has recoiled, her face painted pale with shock.
“Davey...” Sid moves in close, and gets punched square in the face for his trouble. He’s sent flying through the air into the bar with a splintering of wood. Every person steps back two paces.
“Oh my God,” I whisper. Oh my God! “Davey!” I yell and run over to him, half watching Sid struggle to his feet and half watching Davey’s rage burn. “Davey?” I put myself right in front of him and force his head down to look at me. He jerks free of my grasp, and I grab him again, tighter. “Look at me!” I yell.
“Eva...get away from him.” I keep my attention locked on Davey and ignore Frankie’s hushed command.
“Look at me,” I say again, softer. Davey’s face twists, and his nostrils flare before his eyes hit mine. “I’m here. We’re safe. We’re all safe.”
“We’re not fucking safe! They’re out there!”
“No, Davey. They’re not. You got them all. We’re all safe, thanks to you... We’re safe. It’s okay. It’s over.” I tell him the same thing again and again, until the fog lifts and his attention focuses on me. His face softens. His shoulders drop a fraction.
“Blue?” His panicked eyes search mine; his hands grip my upper arms tight enough to make me flinch. I hope he doesn’t see anything alarming. I’m trying for dead calm here, and I’m praying he can’t feel my hands trembling.
“Yeah?” He pulls me forward and squeezes me against his chest, his heart hammering under my cheek and sweat soaking through his shirt.
“I—”
“Don’t. Don’t say you’re sorry, Davey. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for being so bloody stupid. For putting you in that situation.” Again.
“Full-time job, lousy pay,” he grumbles, his hand flat between my shoulder blades.
“You need a drink. And a holiday.”
“You might be right.” He sighs and rubs my back. He lifts his hand and looks at the blood. “Sid! Oh, man, I’m...”
“Don’t worry ‘bout it.” Sid’s voice is muffled behind the wad of napkins. He is being well tended by Nikki. He doesn’t look at all sorry for himself. Davey frowns at them but nods. And Will hands him a glass of honey-coloured liquid.
“Thanks.”
“I could probably help with the holiday too.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Mexico, Paris or Rome?”
“Serious?”
“Deadly.”
“I’d love to go to Mexico.”
“I bet you would.” I smirk.
“When can you leave?” Will asks, taking my waist and pulling me to his side. I frown up at him.
“The sooner, the better,” Davey says, his brow furrowing briefly.
“We’ll get you a flight booked. I’ll let Marina know you’re coming over for a few weeks of R & R.” Will leans in to kiss my temple before striding off towards his office with Davey beside him.
“You’ll never learn, will you?” Frankie accuses.
“I know what I’m doing, Frankie.”
“No. You don’t. What if it’d been you he punched in the face?”
“Then it’d be my nose Nikki was holding on, I suppose.” I shrug, and Frankie’s mouth falls open. “Oh, he wouldn’t do that anyway. You’re worrying over nothing.” As usual.
“You don’t know that. Not when he’s in that state.”
“Yes, I do.” I dismiss him completely and turn for a drink.
“Eva...”
“He’s not dangerous. Not to me. And your interfering is getting on my damn nerves already!” I bite and catch myself. “Oh, God, I’m sorry. I...I didn’t mean it. I don’t know what’s wrong with me lately.”
He nods, and after a beat, holds out his arms. I step forward, but Gary grabs my elbow.
“Did you know?” he asks quietly.
“Nope. You?”
“No.” He shakes his head grimly. “How long?” His question is directed at Frankie.
“Not for years. The last time was when he...found Dan.”
“My fault again, then.” I sound sulky even to myself.
“What did he do?” Gary asks, cautiously.
“Mate...” Frankie’s eyes flick to mine, and I scowl. He swallows. “He...went berserk. I honestly don’t know how De Luca is still alive. Davey...” He shakes his head, remembering. “He had a crowbar. And De Luca got new teeth. And a new femur.”
“Oh.” My stomach turns over, the scene building in my head.
“Davey had pictures of you in the hospital, Eva. He pinned them to his wall and wound himself up so fuckin’ tight...”
“He had...pictures...? Holy. Fuck,” I breathe. “No wonder!” And everyone saw them.
“Muma!” Summer gasps, making me start.
“Oh! Hey, sweet pea!” I smile as I pluck her from the ground into my arms and kiss her nose. She frowns, her little lips pursed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were there.”
“Hey, squirt!” Gary grins and ruffles her hair.
“Uncle Gawy!”
“Hi, Summer.” Frankie’s face is soft sunshine as he looks at my girl.
“Hewow.” She squeals when Gary pulls her from my arms and throws her up in the air.
“New dress, squirt?”
“Yep. Mae has won twoo,” she tells her uncle, and then looks back at Frankie. “What’s youwr name?”
“Frankie,” he says with a warm smile. “I’ve known your mum a long time. You look just like she did around your age.”
Summer’s little face lights up. “Everyone says my mum is weally pwetty.”
“She is. And so are you.” Summer gives him a smug grin.
“I know.”
“Summer!” I splutter.
“Kid knows it’s true.” Frankie chuckles.
For the second time tonight, my attention is wrenched away by a sudden loud noise, and Mum is engulfed by the troops. Frankie winks and jogs over. I can hear him from here. “Joycie!” he calls loudly and opens his arms wide, just in time to catch my mum.
“Is he youwr fwend, Muma?”
“He is. His dad knew Pops.” Summer gasps at the mention of her mythical grandfather, and Bells touches my arm.
“Hey.” She smiles warmly at Gary and me, and then makes a face at Summer, who makes one back again, and they both giggle. “What do you guys have planned for Sunday?”
“A lay-in would be nice.” Bells is watching my face like she’s waiting for the punch line.
“You forgot, didn’t you?”
“What’s that?”
“Father’s Day.”
“What about...oh! Oh, God! It’s not...?” She nods slowly, her eyes getting wider and wider.
“Shit! Sorry!” I grimace at Summer’s gasp. Father’s Day is something of a nonevent in our house. Usually. “Oh!” Fuck, fuck, fuck! “No!” I wail, feeling like a complete failure.
“I mwade Will a card, Muma,” Summer says, almost proudly with a hint of trepidation.
“You did?” She nods, an uncertain smile on her lips. “Wow! I bet he’s going to love it!” I enthuse, and she gives me a proper grin.
Idiot! What an idiot! I forgot about bloody Father’s Day!
“Excuse me a sec!” I hike up the dress and run for the door, heading for the stairs. And my laptop. Oh! My God! I need to get a card, and some kind of present and maybe plan something? And Summer’s birthday! Oh, craaaap!
Way to go, event organiser! Shit!
––––––––
When I come back downstairs, maybe thirty minutes later, Will rushes right up to me. “Where were you!”
“Upstairs. I needed to do something quick.”
“What?” he asks. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he sounds suspicious. I tap the side of my nose and peck his lips. “You’re not going to tell me?”
“No. I’m not going to tell you.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m a crap liar. So I’m staying shtum.”
“Why would you—?”
“Eva? Is this yours?” Gary asks, holding out a little silver tub containing my lip balm.
“Yep. Thanks.” He drops it into my palm.
“I thought so. Hey, Will. It’s a great party.” Gary smiles and glances at me. I chance a peek at Will, who’s nearly snarling at Gary. What the hell? “I’ll leave you guys to it. Hey, have you seen Bells?”
“Not since...” She reminded me about Father’s Day? “...earlier.” I look at Will again. His shoulders are tight. “If she’s not dancing, my money is on the kitchen, telling some poor chef what he’s done wrong.”
“You might be right.” Gary chuckles and glances at Will again, before he strides off to find his wife.
“Drink? Dance? Dinner?” I ask Will, trying not to fidget whilst attempting to find a solution to the scowl on his face.
“I need a drink.”
––––––––
I follow Will over towards the bar but stop halfway. What on Earth? Sid and Frankie are practically standing to attention, even with tissue stuffed up his nose in Sid’s case, and Davey is positioned with his feet wide and his hands behind his back, his eyes fixed on the door. I follow his gaze. Ted is shaking Tom’s hand, his face serious as always.
But I know that’s just a façade. My godfather is as soft as they come. Out of uniform. Ted walks, with a limp and a stick that still make me feel guilty as hell, towards his troops. Every one of them stands straighter under Ted’s scrutiny. It always fascinates me. The way he commands such respect just by walking into the room. I wonder if that’s what my dad saw in each room he entered too. Every person here has stilled, tracking his every step.
His head turns slowly in my direction, like he can feel me watching him. The stone-cold glare dissolves like sugar in tea, and I run towards him, dodging through the crowd, right into his wide arms. “You’re still beautiful, Evie. And still trouble by the bucketful.”
I chuckle. “Hi, Ted.” And squeeze him back with a stupid grin on my face.
“You’re going to blow my grumpy bastard cover, Evie.”
“Oh, I think it’s still fully intact.” With everyone but me. “Oh!”
“Teeddddyyyyyy Beeeeaaarrr!” Summer squeals, and I step back just in time for Ted to catch her too, as Mum strolls over behind her.
“I stand corrected. Blown wide open.” I laugh as he throws her up in the air and tickles her mercilessly, making ridiculous faces.
This is going to be a bloody brilliant night.