The Anniversary

“He’s down the hall.” Toby’s voice was low and soothing. “They had to put him in an induced coma.”

Simone trembled. Her Carl. Her darling boy. She could still remember the moment that Jason swung his bat at Carl’s head. Carl went down immediately and didn’t get back up. Then they began to beat him, swinging the bat and chain as Carl lay there unable to help himself.

“I tried to help.” She whispered. “I saw what they were doing. I tried to help him.” She swallowed. “But there were too many of them.”

She had managed to lay one out and push another away but then they turned on her. Simone had felt her kneecap go before she fell unconscious. They must have broken her arm after that.

“I know, baby. I know.” Toby drew back and cupped her face in his hands, wiping away the tears. “Someone else saw the whole thing and called the police. They’ve all been arrested.”

Simone sagged against him.

“Thank God. I’m glad.”

“That’s not all.” Toby took a deep breath. “Mike set it up.”

Simone wasn’t sure she had heard correctly.

“Your brother? Why the hell would he do that?”

“He heard Carl telling Charlie in the pizza parlor that he was going to tell the police about the attack. He was still dithering but Charlie managed to convince him. Then when Carl went to see Louise and he saw you were picking him up, Mike called Jason and let him know where Carl was going to be.” Toby closed his eyes briefly. “Jason told the police everything.”

“Oh, Louise.” Simone remembered the girl, who had stood off to the side trembling. “Was she hurt? Is Louise okay?”

“Simone, Louise was in on it.”

Simone drew back and stared at her husband in shock. Had he really said that?

“What?”

“I’m sorry to say it but she was involved as well. She hates black people as much as Mike does. She knew you liked her and knew Jason would beat up any guy who looked at her so she put ideas into his head.” Toby shook his head in disgust. “Jason is just a thug who loves his girl but Louise is sick in the head. Mike wanted to get rid of you and Jason wanted to silence Carl. She was just in on it for the thrill.” His mouth twisted angrily. “Louise duped Carl and played him like a violin.”

They had been planning to kill them. Simone felt sick. She placed a hand over her stomach and swallowed back the bile. She and Carl had nearly died because of some sick individuals.

“I wish I could hold him.” She murmured.

“How about holding Craig and Nick? They want to see you but I didn’t want them to see you unconscious.” Toby brushed his fingers across her cheek. “It’s been two days and they’re missing you.”

Simone missed them as well. She wanted to see her children badly. She nodded.

“I want to see them.” She bit her lip as the tears blurred her vision. “I need you, Toby.”

“I’m here.” Toby drew her gently back into his arms. “I’ve got you.”

They stayed like that for a while, Simone resting her head on Toby’s shoulder. He rocked her gently, stroking her hair. It felt good. Simone wished the circumstances were different, that they weren’t in hospital and what they had between them wasn’t there. She lifted her head and looked at her husband.

“I’m so sorry.” She whispered.

Toby smiled.

“There’s nothing to apologize for.”

“There is.” Simone protested. “I wanted to tell you about…”

But Toby placed a finger over her lips.

“Tell me when you’re feeling better. Right now I just want to hold you.”

Simone could handle that. She slid back into his arms and sank into the warmth of his body. She closed her eyes and hugged him closer, tears falling onto his shirt.

“I love you, Toby.”

“I know.” Toby whispered in her ear. “I love you, too.”

*****

“Toby.” Toby felt someone nudging him. “Toby, buddy, you’re home.”

Dragging himself from his slumber, Toby yawned and rubbed at his eyes as he stretched his legs. Opening his eyes, he became slowly aware of where he was. He was in Emil’s car in the driveway of his house. Emil had offered to drive Toby home, telling him that he was too tired to drive. Toby had protested but Emil had been proven right when Toby had fallen asleep moments after Emil had left the hospital.

He had barely slept the past few nights. Worrying about Simone had kept him tossing and turning for hours. She had looked so fragile lying in that bed with the IV sticking in her hand and the bruises all over her face.

To think he had nearly lost her and their son because of a few vile people, one of those being his own brother. Toby knew for certain that he was having nothing to do with the bas*ard as long as he lived. He didn’t care what his sister, the only person left on his side of the family he talked to, said about it; Mike had blown it.

“Sorry, Emil.” Toby bit back another yawn. “I didn’t realize I was so tired.”

Emil gave him a smile and clapped him on the shoulder.

“Let’s go in.”

That sounded like an idea. Seeing Simone wake up and knowing she was okay would help Toby get some sleep. Not much because he was worrying about Carl as well, but enough to make him feel more human.

Emil let them in to a quiet house. Maria was sitting on the couch watching the TV. She saw them come in and switched the TV off, standing and coming around to join them as Emil and Toby entered the kitchen. Toby nodded towards the children’s bedrooms.

“How are they?”

“I put them to bed when you told me to.” Maria whispered back. “They wanted to stay up but they were so tired. How’s Simone?”

“She’s woken up.” Toby pulled out a chair at the dining table and sat down before his legs gave way. “I’ll go and see her tomorrow.”

“I’m glad.” Maria’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m so sorry about your brother, Toby. I didn’t think he was that evil.”

“Neither did I.” Toby looked down at the floor. “But the police are going to deal with him now. I want nothing to do with him.”

And he meant it. No more guilt trips. Mike had blown it.

Maria glanced at Emil, who was leaning against the counter. He shrugged and Maria gave him a look that said he wasn’t helping. She turned back to Toby.

“There’s something I need to show you. It’s regarding Simone’s secrecy.” She held up a hand as Toby started to protest. “And I want you to listen to me before you go off on me.”

Toby wanted to argue but he was too tired. He sighed.

“I promise, Maria. What is it?”

Maria went to the kitchen island and picked up and envelope and a package wrapped in plain brown paper. She came back and held up the envelope.

“This came earlier today. It’s addressed to Simone but I know what it is.” She held out the package. “And this is yours. Simone asked the courier to leave it at my house so you wouldn’t see it.”

Toby stared at the parcel, wondering what was going on. He glanced at Maria, who sighed and shoved it into his hands. Deciding he had no choice but to open it, Toby ripped off the paper and opened the box. Inside were two smaller boxes, one long and thin, the other small and square. Turning to put the boxes on the table, Toby opened each of them. In the long box was a golden fountain pen, his name engraved on the side. The square box had gold cuff links, again with his initials engraved.

“They were meant to be your anniversary present.” Maria said. Her voice sounded tight. Toby looked up and saw that she was trying not to cry. Maria held up the envelope. “And so is this. Two tickets for a two-week cruise in the Caribbean. Your anniversary is smack in the middle of the trip.”