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Ed nodded.
You can go now, she said.
I want to wait until Addie regains consciousness.
There s no need.
The door to the Observation Unit opened and a young woman emerged, a
stethoscope round her neck. She retreated when five people stepped toward her.
How is she? they chorused.
I think she ll be fine.
Can we see her? Ed just got in first.
Are you her husband?
No, he s not. I m her mother. She elbowed Ed out of the way and then turned to
face him. You may as well go.
Ed backed off, but he didn t go far. He wandered through the maze of corridors.
His skin itched in dermatology, he limped through orthopedics and his heart hurt in
cardiology. When he stumbled across the hospital shop, he looked round for something
he could buy Addie. Then he remembered her wrecked room. What could he buy her
when she d lost everything? He wished he d hit the guy harder. He picked up a little
silky-soft, gray teddy bear holding a card that said I love you and moments later
thrust it to the back of the display. One at the front, just as cute, held a bunch of flowers
with no message. He bought that.
When he got back to Addie s ward, he d expected to have to hang around and wait
for her relatives to leave, but there was no one in the corridor. Ed pressed the buzzer
and a nurse let him through.
I just he began.
I know. I remember you from earlier. Her family have all gone. Do you want to sit
with her for a bit, before we transfer her to a ward? Ten minutes, no more, the nurse
said.
Ed nodded. Is she awake?
Not yet.
Ed s heart pounded as he drew closer to Addie s bed. She looked so fragile. There
were tiny scratches all over her face. Her hands were bandaged, just the tips of her
fingers poked out. He wanted to sweep her into his arms and hold her tight, never let
her go. He put the little gray bear beside her in the bed, sat down on the hard plastic
chair and reached for her fingers.
Hi, sweetheart. Everything s going to be fine. I thumped Spiderman for you. How
brave am I? Ed didn t know what to say. Wake up, Addie. You have to be all right. I
wish I d& Do you know how much I care about you? He lowered his voice to a
whisper, leaned close to her head. I told myself I wouldn t be hurt again, that s why I
flit from woman to woman, because that way no one gets hurt, only I don t want to flit
from you. I want to be with you forever. I love you.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
When Ed pulled up on the drive of the rented house in Alwoodley, he was
surprised to see Will s Lexus outside. He took a deep breath before he opened the door.
He somehow wasn t surprised to see Vee in the hall.
What are you doing here? she demanded.
She stood with a glass of wine in her hand, glaring at him. Ed had never felt more
like hitting a woman in his life.
You re not supposed to be drinking. You re pregnant.
Not anymore. I lost it.
That was careless.
She sneered. That s just the sort of flippant, unpleasant remark I d expect from
you, Ed Mansell. Don t you have any compassion? It was your brother s child as well.
If it ever existed.
Will appeared at the door to the kitchen. What do you want?
What Ed had been hoping for was a bed to save him looking for a hotel. He d been
going to keep Addie to himself but now he wanted to shock Will. Addie s in hospital,
he said.
What? Will staggered and his shoulder hit the wall.
She s been attacked by a burglar, Ed continued.
Poor Addie. Vee tucked her arm into Will s. He shrugged her off.
Ed could see the fear in Will s eyes and the pain, and wondered if Will was too
blind to see it in his.
Which hospital? Vee asked. We ll send flowers.
Leeds General Infirmary.
What happened? Will asked.
Ed was about to explain when there was a loud knocking at the door behind him.
He was nearest so he opened it. He didn t recognize the man standing there, but
judging by the strangled cry that erupted from Will he did.
Addie! Is she okay? Will asked.
She will be. Can I come in?
Ed moved aside. This had to be Addie s other brother. He looked like David and
the brother he never got introduced to at the hospital. Another man followed.
You must be Ed. I m Addie s oldest brother, Finn. Finn shook Ed s hand,
squeezing it hard. Ed tried not to wince. Thanks for what you did, helping David,
though of course you didn t use excessive force, did you?
He fell over in the scuffle, Ed said, flexing his sore fingers behind his back.
Yes, that s what David said. Finn turned to Vee. And you re Evelyne or do you
prefer to be called Vee? I ve heard all about you.
Well, I hope you re going to listen to the other side of the story. The accident
wasn t my fault. She was trying to grab the wheel, I
Shut up, Vee, Ed snapped. Weren t you listening? This is Addie s brother.
I m not here about the accident, Finn said in a quiet voice, not taking his eyes
away from Vee. When Addie got home today, she found her room had been wrecked.
I don t think she has one possession left intact. Her clothes have been shredded, her
books soaked with bleach, her bed ruined and every one of her photographs spoiled.
Even her teddy bear was torn apart.
What does that have to do with me? The man who attacked her must have done
it, Vee said.
He says not. He admits to the assault but not to the destruction. Since there s no
logic in that, I m inclined to believe him. I understand you spent Sunday night in
Addie s room.
I didn t do anything. Vee edged toward Will.
There ll be fingerprints.
Well, I was in her room so of course there will be prints. Lisa let me stay. I slept in
Addie s bed, but I didn t do anything to her things.
Lying to the police? Ed glared at her.
Vee s eyes shot to Will.
All Addie s brothers are policemen, he said.
Vee clutched her stomach and swayed. Sorry. I don t feel well. I ve just lost my
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