AT LAST the day of the jousting dawned. Tyler was up at the crack of dawn, dressed in his page’s outfit. ‘My tabard’s the same colour as Pegasus’s caparison,’ he told his mother proudly. ‘And, look, it’s got Dominic’s silver unicorn on it, to show I’m part of his team.’
Louisa ruffled his hair. ‘You look wonderful. Come on, we’ll get you some breakfast.’
‘I’m not hungry.’
Meaning that he was too excited to eat. ‘Toast,’ Louisa said firmly, hiding a smile. ‘Or you’ll feel all light-headed later—and you’d hate to drop Dominic’s standard because you were feeling all wobbly, wouldn’t you?’
Tyler sat down at the dining-room table. ‘He’s not Dominic when he’s jousting, he’s Sir Hugo. That’s such a cool name. I’m still thinking about what mine’s going to be.’
The little boy chattered nineteen to the dozen until Dominic collected them, and he continued to chatter all the way to Amberhurst Castle. ‘Wow, Mum, look, it’s a proper castle with turrets and battlements and everything!’ He was almost beside himself with excitement.
The grounds of Amberhurst Castle were already crowded, with re-enactors wandering around in medieval garb and tourists milling about, eager to see the jousting.
‘You can be let off page duties for a while, if you want to go and explore,’ Dominic told Tyler. ‘I need to go and see Pegasus, settle him down a bit.’
‘Can I still wear my outfit?’
Dominic ruffled his hair. ‘You bet.’
‘What time do you need us back?’ Louisa asked.
‘The first joust is at eleven—so, maybe a quarter to?’
‘Fine.’ She took his hand and squeezed it. ‘You OK?’ she asked softly.
He took a deep breath. ‘I think so. And nerves are good. It means you’re not taking anything for granted and are less likely to make mistakes.’
She knew exactly what mistake he was thinking about. ‘You’ll be fine. And we’ll be cheering for you.’
He lifted the end of her scarf. ‘Better than that, you’ll be letting me wear this, for luck.’
But the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. He was really nervous, she realised. Hearing that Tyler was busy scrambling out of the back of the car, she leaned forward and brushed her mouth briefly against his. ‘That’s for luck.’
‘No better favour could a knight ask of his lady,’ he said softly. ‘And you are my lady, Louisa.’
Desire licked all the way down her spine, and she couldn’t help a breathy little sigh. ‘Yes.’
‘Later,’ he whispered, and she nodded. Her parents were meeting her on the field later, not wanting to miss their grandson’s performance as a page; she’d ask them if Tyler could have a sleepover at theirs tonight. Because, once the adrenalin had stopped flowing, she had a feeling that all the guilt would come straight back and Dominic would really need her to hold him and soothe his soul.
Dominic checked his horse over, then checked all the buckles on his armour.
‘And how many times have you done that this morning, little brother?’ a voice asked behind him.
He whirled round. ‘Oliver!’
‘It’s “my lord”, to you. Tsk. Knights these days really have no manners.’ His brother, dressed in medieval garb and wearing a crown, grinned broadly. ‘Well, Sir Hugo. It’s good to see you back. You OK?’
‘Yes.’
Oliver arched one eyebrow.
‘All right. I’m not,’ Dominic admitted. ‘I keep thinking about the last time I jousted.’ And the guilt was almost paralysing.
‘Listen. What happened—we can’t change it. And, yes, of course I’d rather be out there jousting against you today instead of being stuck in this…’ Oliver indicated his wheel-chair ‘…but it’s not going to happen and it’s pointless either of us droning on about it. So you’re going to get on Pegasus and you’re going to joust as brilliantly as you always did and you’re going to come first. Got it?’
Dominic wasn’t so sure. ‘I’ve been out of the field for a while.’
‘Two years, three months and nine days,’ Oliver said, ‘if you’re going to be boring about it.’
They both knew the exact number of days. Hours, even. ‘In your shoes, I’d still be raging,’ Dominic said.
‘Done that, and it hasn’t changed anything. Time to try something else and see if that works better. And it’s time you stopped obsessing over it and moved on, too.’ Oliver shrugged. ‘So who’s the young page next to Andy?’
‘Tyler. The son of a friend.’
‘Friend, hmm? When do we get to meet her?’
‘I didn’t say my friend was female.’
‘You didn’t have to. It showed on your face.’ Oliver regarded his brother seriously. ‘Does she know about the accident?’
‘Yes.’
‘And she’s still around. Good. You picked someone sensible. So when do we get to meet her?’ Oliver repeated.
‘When I’m ready. Don’t be bossy.’
Oliver laughed. ‘Big brother’s privilege. Go out there and win for me.’ He patted Dominic’s arm. ‘And I meant it. It’s good to see Sir Hugo back. I’ve missed him.’
‘So have I,’ Dominic admitted.
‘I’d better get back to the dais and do my lord of the manor bit. See you later. And I meant it about meeting your friend, too. And the page. He looks a nice kid.’
‘Yes. He is.’
And then it was time to finish getting ready. Dominic made a fuss of his horse, scratching him behind the ears. ‘Looking forward to this, boy?’ he asked. ‘And are we going to come out on top?’
The Percheron whickered and nudged him, as if to say yes.
Dominic grinned, and checked the saddle for the last time before Andy checked the straps of his armour.
He’d almost forgotten how much he loved this. There was no headier buzz than this: climbing on to the mounting block, getting astride his horse, and knowing that the joust was about to start. For the next few minutes he wouldn’t be Dr Dominic Hurst: he’d be Sir Hugo de Amberhurst. He’d borrowed his stage-riding name from his Tudor great-whatever grandfather, whose portrait hung in the family gallery and whom everyone said Dominic resembled, right from when he’d been a toddler. Sir Hugo had been a legendary jouster, too, and Oliver had always teased him about being a throwback.
Automatically Dominic looked up at the dais opposite the jousting field. Oliver was sitting there, dressed in the costume of the lord of the manor, casually chatting to the people at the dais with him. The way they’d set it up, nobody who saw him would guess that the ‘lord of the manor’ was sitting in a wheelchair rather than on a throne.
Almost as if Oliver sensed Dominic’s glance, he looked over, and raised his hand in a salute. A blessing. Wishing him well.
Dominic knew he didn’t deserve it, but it warmed him.
‘Ready, Sir Hugo?’ Andy asked.
‘Yes.’
‘Good. Tyler—are you ready with the standard?’
‘Oh, yes.’ The little boy beamed and lifted up the banner.
‘Come on, then, team,’ Dominic said. ‘Let’s do it.’
Andy and Tyler walked out to the jousting arena. ‘Introducing the one, the only Sir Hugo de Amberhurst and his horse Pegasus!’ Andy called.
Dominic heard the cheers and clapping. ‘On with the show, boy,’ he said softly to Pegasus, and urged the horse into a fast walk.
Louisa, who had been taking photographs of Tyler while her father was in charge of the video camera, paused as Dominic rode out. She’d seen the photographs of him in his armour, but nothing had prepared her for how incredibly sexy he looked. The black knight on a white horse, carrying a dark red shield with a silver unicorn. No wonder most of the women in the audience had dreamy looks on their faces; and she had a feeling that she did, too.
‘And the one, the only Sir Simon de Leigh and his horse Midnight!’ The other knight’s squire waved a gold-coloured banner with a blue boar on it; moments later, Sir Simon rode out on a black horse.
Both knights did a circuit of the arena in front of the crowd; and then Dominic reined back right in front of Louisa.
He reminded her of the knight in one of the posters in Tyler’s collection—Waterhouse’s Lamia, where the knight was looking down at the kneeling woman. And, lord, he was sexy. His beautiful mouth. The hot expression in his eyes as he looked at her.
And she wanted him.
Badly.
‘May I wear your favour, my lady?’ he asked.
It felt as if he were claiming her in front of the whole world, and she was aware of envious glances and murmuring from other women in the crowd. ‘Yes, my lord.’ She stood up, removed the scarf from her neck and handed it to him. It was a pretty one, lightly woven strands of copper and gold and russet with a fringe.
‘Thank you, my lady.’ He smiled and blew her a kiss, and she could feel the colour flooding into her face. Then he tucked the scarf in to his helmet; it glittered against the black metal, and the fringe fluttered in the slight breeze. He gave her another smile, and her heart fluttered as much as the scarf.
Sir Hugo and Sir Simon touched their right hands together in a show of friendship and a fair fight before riding to their respective ends of the arena.
The squires gave each of the knights a lance; they held it in their right hands, pointed upwards and slightly back. At a signal, they started to canter towards each other, lowering their lances as the horses picked up speed. Louisa was surprised at how fast it was—a matter of mere seconds before she heard a shredding sound and saw the ends of the lances bursting into splinters. All the while, her heart was in her mouth. Please, God, let Dominic be safe. Let him be able to concentrate and put the past out of his mind. Please let him be all right. Please don’t let him be hurt.
‘That’s a strike on the breastplate for Sir Simon, three points,’ the commentator said. ‘And a strike on the shield for Sir Hugo, five points.’
The knights did two more passes, then at the end handed their shattered lances to their squires and rode slowly along the tilting rail so they could clasp their right hands very briefly.
‘There’s going to be a break between the bouts, so our knights are going to remove some of their armour now and give you a chance to meet the team,’ the commentator said.
Tyler was proudly holding the standard by Dominic’s side; Louisa took more photographs of him, then one of Dominic. The look in his eyes made a shiver of pure desire run the whole length of her spine.
‘You’ve got people queuing up to talk to you, so I’ll see you later,’ she said, and ruffled Tyler’s hair. ‘You did a brilliant job, darling.’
‘I’m still on duty, Mum. You’re not supposed to ruffle my hair,’ he said, looking pained, and she couldn’t help smiling.
When the meet-and-greet had finished, Dominic was able to shed his armour and join them for a wander around the castle grounds. He still looked like a medieval knight, wearing dark breeches, dark boots, an open-necked white shirt with billowing sleeves and a dark red velvet cloak.
Utterly gorgeous.
And all hers.
‘This is the best day of my whole life,’ Tyler said.
It was one of the best in hers, too.
Somehow Dominic ended up holding Louisa’s hand as they wandered through the encampment. It felt so right, she thought. His bare skin against hers.
A shiver ran down her spine. Ty had had a wonderful day and was spending the night with his grandparents. So for once maybe she could stop worrying, let go, and just enjoy herself. Maybe tonight she could snatch one night of pure pleasure with a gorgeous, caring, attentive man. A man she found incredibly attractive, and she knew that it was mutual—the way he kissed her had become more intense over the last few weeks, and they’d both found it harder and harder to stop at just kissing.
Tonight, maybe they could take time out for them.
‘Ty’s staying at Mum and Dad’s tonight,’ she said softly. ‘So I was wondering if you were busy.’
Dominic’s eyes went wide, and he stooped to whisper in her ear, ‘Do you mean…you’re asking me to stay over?’
‘Yes.’
He sucked in a breath. ‘If you’re sure—then, yes. Oh, yes.’ His face was filled with the same wild, crazy joy that was bubbling through her entire body.
Tonight… She could hardly wait. Tonight, she and Dominic would explore each other properly. Thoroughly. And tomorrow she’d wake up in his arms. Sated. Warm. Happy.
The whole day sparkled. There was a second bout of jousting, and even though Louisa was secretly terrified by the speed and the potential for disaster as the horses galloped down the tilting rail, she knew how skilled the riders were and she enjoyed watching Dominic on Pegasus.
When the results were announced, Sir Hugo was at the top of the list—and he won the cup. She could see that Tyler was almost beside himself with joy when Dominic lifted him onto Pegasus and got him to sit there, holding the cup, while the photographs were taken. And then he beckoned to her. ‘Come on. You have to be here, too. It was wearing your favour that made me win.’
‘Go,’ Gillian said, giving her a little push. ‘And give me your camera.’
They stood either side of Pegasus, holding hands over the horse’s neck, while Tyler beamed from his position on the saddle. How easily Dominic had made room in his life for Tyler. He thought about what would make the little boy happy: and yet Tyler’s biological father hadn’t been able to do that.
Dared she let Dominic further into their lives? Or should she still keep this just between the two of them?
Right at that moment, she wasn’t sure. But one thing she knew for definite. Tonight she wanted to fall asleep in Dominic’s arms. Be close to him. And, when she glanced across at him, she could see in his eyes that he was thinking along exactly the same lines.
‘This is the best day ever,’ Tyler repeated as they walked around the stalls again afterwards.
‘They’re doing pony rides round the lower part of the grounds. Shall we go and see what the queue’s like?’ Dominic asked.
‘Can we?’
‘Sure.’ He gave the little boy a hug. ‘My treat, because you were the most brilliant page.’
‘When are you jousting again?’
‘When the season opens, next year—the ground needs to be dry enough and soft enough so the horses don’t slip,’ Dominic explained. ‘But, if it’s all right with your mum and you want to do it, you can be my page next season. Andy can start teaching you how to check the armour, too.’
Tyler visibly swelled with pride. ‘I’d love that. Can I, Mum? Please?’
How could she resist? ‘Sure.’
The queue for the pony rides wasn’t too bad. They waited in line, then watched as Tyler was led round the field on the pony.
Louisa wasn’t sure how it happened, but suddenly the pony was rearing and Tyler was falling off in a wide arc. Even as she started running, she knew it was too late, that she’d never get there in time to catch him. With horror, she saw that his hard hat wasn’t on properly either—that it was falling at a slightly faster rate than he was. Dominic, too, was running—but even his longer legs and bigger muscles weren’t enough to save the little boy.
It must’ve been only seconds, but it felt like eternity between the moment that Tyler hit the floor and she was on her knees beside him. ‘Tyler!’
‘Move the pony and keep everyone back,’ Dominic directed the horrified stable girl who’d been leading the pony round the field. He pulled his phone from his pocket and Louisa was aware of him talking to the emergency services controller, but most of her attention was fixed on her son.
‘Tyler, can you hear me?’
There was no answer; he lay there motionless. Unconscious.
All the worst-case scenarios flew through Louisa’s mind. A broken neck, spinal injury, severe brain injury…
They couldn’t move him, just in case they made things worse, but she desperately wanted her son in her arms. The child she’d nursed, that she’d loved from the very first second he’d been put in her arms, wet and slippery and warm. Her baby.
‘Tyler. Wake up!’ Her breath came out as sobs.
Dominic was checking him over carefully, without moving him. ‘His ABCs are fine.’
‘He’s unconscious, Dominic!’ she snapped.
‘I know, honey. And the ambulance is on its way. Try not to pan—’
‘How the hell can I not panic? That’s my son lying there.’ She hissed the words at him, knowing that she was being unfair but too worried and angry to stay calm.
Supposing Tyler died? She’d spent her time thinking of the man by her side, planning to make love with him this evening, instead of looking after her child. She’d been reckless with her baby, not paying attention, letting herself get swept away by her growing feelings for Dominic. Stupid, stupid, stupid. If she hadn’t been so selfish, thinking of herself instead of her son, this would never have happened.
If Tyler died, if he was seriously injured and never recovered, she’d never be able to forgive herself.
Two years, three months and nine days ago. About the same time of day, too. Back then, Dominic had been on his knees as well, checking the vital signs of someone who’d come off a horse. Someone he really cared about.
The nightmare was back again. Except it wasn’t just something he could wake up from. This was real.
When the jousting had gone well, he’d been so sure that life was going to be all right again. He was wandering around the place he loved most in the world, with a bright, sweet-natured woman by his side, and her son—a child he’d become increasingly fond of, the more he’d got to know the boy. And now the whole lot was unravelling right before him, just as it had when Oliver had fallen awkwardly off his horse.
Tyler was hurt. How badly, Dominic wouldn’t be able to assess until the boy had recovered consciousness or was in hospital. But this was all his fault. Why had he suggested the pony ride? Why hadn’t he thought to double-check that Tyler’s hat was on properly? But instead he’d been thinking of Louisa, remembering the look in her eyes when she’d asked him to stay over. The promise of mutual pleasure and satisfaction and joy.
How had it all disintegrated into this mess—and so fast?
Right now, Louisa’s face was blank with shock. Numb.
‘Tyler,’ she whispered. ‘Tyler. Say something. Talk to me, darling. Say something.’ Her voice was cracked with pain.
‘Mum.’ The word was barely a murmur, but they both heard it. ‘Mum. My head hurts,’ Tyler mumbled.
‘All right, darling. Just lie still—there’s an ambulance on its way and they’ll have something to take the pain away.’ Louisa wrapped her hand round his. ‘Can you feel your legs?’
‘Yes. They hurt, too.’
Thank God, Dominic thought. The time to really worry would be if the little boy couldn’t feel anything at all. That would mean serious damage. He could still remember the look on Oliver’s face, the panic in his eyes when he’d whispered, ‘Dom, I can’t feel my legs…’
Please, please don’t let this turn out so badly.
Please let it be just simple concussion. No complications.
Please.
He checked Tyler’s respirations, then took Tyler’s other hand and checked his pulse. ‘He’s doing OK,’ he murmured to Louisa. ‘Where are your parents?’
‘They were going to have a cup of tea in the castle café.’
No way could either of them leave Tyler to try and find them; but he could still take that worry from her shoulders. ‘Give me their mobile number and I’ll call them, tell them what’s happened.’
Even though she was clearly frantic, her medical training stood her in good stead, because she remained calm and focused. ‘My mobile’s in my handbag. Use that. It’s under “Mum mobile”.’
He took the phone from her bag and found the number, and explained the situation rapidly to Gillian Austin. The Austins were there within minutes; as soon as he could see that Louisa had the support she needed, he withdrew slightly and called Andy.
‘There’s been an accident in the lower field. Tyler’s hurt and an ambulance is on its way. Can you tell everyone what’s happened and look after Pegasus for me? I want to go to hospital with Ty and Louisa.’
‘Will do. Ring us when you know how he is,’ Andy said. ‘Ric or me’ll come and get you.’
‘Thanks, mate. I will.’
When the ambulance arrived, Dominic gave the paramedics a full run-down of what had happened and Tyler’s condition. ‘We’re probably looking at concussion, but with that distance of fall I don’t want to take any chances.’
‘We’ll put him on a spinal board,’ the paramedic said.
Between them, they transferred the little boy to the ambulance.
‘I’m coming with you,’ Dominic said as Louisa climbed into the back of the ambulance.
‘But you’ve got things to do here.’
‘It’s all sorted. You and Tyler are my priority,’ he said, and climbed in beside her.
Louisa held Tyler’s hand all the way to the hospital.
‘I’m scared, Mum,’ he said, his teeth chattering.
So was she. So scared that her entire body felt as if it were about to shatter into tiny shards. The back of her neck was burning with adrenalin and she could taste bile. But, for Tyler’s sake, she forced herself to sound calm. ‘I’m here, darling. Nothing’s going to hurt you while I’m here.’
‘And Dominic.’
‘I’m here,’ Dominic confirmed. ‘I’m not going to let anything happen to the best page I’ve ever had.’
The journey felt as if it took seconds and days, both at the same time. Then at last they were in the emergency department at the hospital.
‘Mr and Mrs Austin, would you like to wait in the relatives’ room?’ the doctor asked.
‘This is Dr Hurst and I’m Tyler’s mother, Louisa Austin,’ Louisa said, her voice clipped. ‘And, no, we wouldn’t like to wait in the relatives’ room, thank you. I promise we won’t get in your way—we both work in an emergency department so we know what it’s like—but there’s absolutely no way I’m letting my son out of my sight.’
‘Very well.’
The doctor checked Tyler over, and Louisa watched his face intently, looking for signs of things he wasn’t saying. Did he think it was more serious than concussion? She clenched her fists in a vain attempt to stop herself shaking. But waiting grew harder and harder, and in the end she couldn’t help asking, ‘Do you think there it’s just concussion or are there fractures?’
‘We’re sending him to X-Ray now,’ the doctor said. ‘I’ll be able to tell you more when the X-rays are back.’
‘And you’ll ask Radiology for AP, lateral and Townes views?’ she asked.
The doctor looked slightly wary. ‘Yes.’
‘That’s what I would’ve asked for, too,’ Dominic said. ‘There’s been no blood or fluid from his nose and ears, but he was knocked out. I have a very low index of suspicion on head injuries where children and the elderly are concerned, and I guess it’s the same here.’
The doctor nodded. ‘Mrs Austin, this is a completely routine exam. Tyler’s talking and he’s making sense, so that’s a very good sign.’
Louisa lowered her voice so Tyler wouldn’t hear. ‘For now—you know how quickly children can deteriorate.’
Dominic wrapped his arms round her. ‘Louisa, I know you’ve got all the worst-case scenarios running through your head, but they’re all rare,’ he said, keeping his voice equally low. ‘The chances are, it’s just concussion and nothing to worry about.’
‘You don’t know that. Not until the X-rays are back. And I need to go with my son.’
‘Of course, Mrs Austin.’
She looked at Dominic. ‘Mum and Dad were following us in the car. They’ll be here in a minute. Can you wait for them and tell them where I am?’
‘Of course I will.’
She went to the radiology department with Tyler, reassuring him and staying within his sight behind the screen as the X-rays were taken.
By the time they got back to the emergency department, her parents were there, talking to Dominic. She waved, but stayed next to her son, holding his hand.
It felt like for ever, waiting for the X-ray results to come back, but at last the doctor came over. ‘I’m glad to say everything’s clear, but I’d like him kept in overnight in the children’s ward for observation, because of the distance he fell. That isn’t a cue for you to start worrying. I’m just being super-cautious—like your friend, I have a low index of suspicion for head injuries in children and the elderly.’
‘Can I stay with him?’ Louisa asked.
‘Of course you can,’ he said. ‘I’ll take you up to the ward myself and introduce you.’
‘Thank you.’ She blinked back the tears. ‘I’m sorry I was stroppy with you earlier.’
‘When it’s your own child, you can’t help it. I’ve got a six-month-old daughter,’ the doctor said sympathetically. ‘And my wife says I’m a nightmare—if Zoe gets the slightest sniffle, I’m checking her temperature and her breathing and thinking of all the differential diagnoses. The really scary ones.’
‘Tell me about it,’ Louisa said ruefully.
Once they were settled on the ward and Tyler had fallen asleep, Gillian said, ‘We’ll go and fetch some things for him—pyjamas and his wash things. And something for you to change into. I’ve got your spare key, love, so we’ll go now and we’ll be back as soon as we can.’
‘Thanks, Mum.’
‘And I’m staying,’ Dominic said softly. ‘At least until your parents get back. I’m so sorry, Louisa. If I hadn’t suggested the pony ride, this wouldn’t have happened.’
She swallowed hard. ‘It wasn’t your fault the pony reared.’
‘No, but it shouldn’t have happened. And why didn’t someone check his hat?’ He shook his head. ‘I should’ve done that myself.’
‘I thought Ty knew how to do it. He always sticks by the rules.’
‘But maybe he was just so excited, he forgot. Again, that’s my fault. If I hadn’t asked him to be my page, he would’ve been just a spectator. He would still have been excited, but he wouldn’t have been sidetracked.’ He shook his head. ‘I’m so sorry.’
Louisa bit her lip. ‘He’s so precious to me. If anything happens to him…’ The idea was so shocking that she couldn’t breathe.
Dominic wrapped his arms round her. ‘I’m sure it’s simple concussion. I checked those X-rays myself, just in case anything had been accidentally missed, and everything looked fine. The doctor was just being very cautious and that’s how I would’ve handled this, too—and it’s how you would’ve expected it to be handled if the patient was a stranger instead of your son.’
She knew that was true, but she couldn’t push the fear away. ‘If something happens to him…’
‘It won’t.’ He held her close. ‘Of course you’re worried. You’re his mother and he means the world to you.’ He paused. ‘He means a lot to me, too. I wanted him to have the most fantastic day today, to make some really good memories—and I’m so sorry it’s turned out like this.’
She felt a tear slide down her face and scrubbed it away. ‘I feel so guilty. If I hadn’t been thinking about tonight, about having you all to myself and…’ Her breath hitched. ‘This feels like payback.’
‘No,’ he said firmly. ‘It wasn’t your fault. And you and me…that’ll keep. When Tyler’s back on his feet.’
She said nothing, not having the strength to have a row about it, but she wasn’t sure there could be a ‘you and me’ with Dominic. Not now. Because if she hadn’t been so damn selfish and put herself first, her son wouldn’t be lying here now.
And yet, at the same time, it felt so good to have someone to lean on. Someone to share the worries with. She’d spent so many years on her own, being strong; was it so wrong to lean on a shoulder when it was offered?
Torn between pushing Dominic away and sobbing on his shoulder, she took refuge in silence. Dominic sat quietly with her, just holding her, while Tyler slept. And finally Gillian arrived at the ward again.
‘I brought your things, love,’ she said. ‘And I’ll stay with you. We can take turns keeping awake and watching over him.’
‘And that’s my cue to go,’ Dominic said.
Louisa frowned. ‘But you came with us in the ambulance. How will you get home? We’re miles from Brighton.’
‘Don’t worry, Andy or Ric will come and pick me up. And I’ll call Essie, tell her what’s happened and get her to arrange cover for you. They’ll probably discharge him in the morning and I assume you’ll want to stay with him for a few days.’
‘I…’ Louisa found herself shaking uncontrollably. ‘Yes.’
‘If anything changes,’ he said, ‘I want you to promise me that you’ll call me. No matter what time of night or day it is. And I’ll be there straight away.’
She swallowed the threatening tears. ‘Thank you.’
‘Promise me.’
‘I’ll call you.’ At the intense look on his face, she added, ‘I promise.’
He wrapped his arms round her. ‘Hang on in there. He’s going to be fine. And I’ll speak to you tomorrow, unless you need me here before then.’
Louisa and Gillian stayed at Tyler’s bedside, taking turns to doze for a couple of hours while the other watched over the little boy. And, the next morning, just as Dominic had predicted, Tyler was discharged. Gillian drove them home and Louisa sat in the back with Tyler, holding his hand and thanking God that her little boy was safe. She’d never, ever put anyone before him again.