The Anniversary

Chapter 10

If Toby hadn’t been sitting down he would have fallen down. Simone had been planning a cruise with him? That had been her surprise? He stared at the envelope as if it was going to attack him. Then he looked at Emil, who didn’t look at all surprised.

“Did you know about this as well?”

“She told me Wednesday morning. That was why I ran from you at the club.” Emil’s mouth twisted and he sighed. “I told her to tell you but she didn’t think you’d believe her.”

“Of course I would have believed her.” Toby buried his face in his hands. “God, what a mess.”

“I told her you didn’t like surprises but she was adamant.” Maria said. “I’m so sorry, Toby.”

Toby raised his head. He held out a hand to Maria, who took it and squeezed it.

“I wish she had told me.” He said hoarsely. “I don’t care if it took the magic out of the surprise. I wanted her to tell me. Then I wouldn’t have accused her of sleeping with Emil.”

“With me?” Emil chuckled dryly. “Simone wouldn’t look at me like that. And I’ve got myself a girlfriend.”

Maria snorted.

“Which husband is going to come after you now?” She joked.

“Emma’s single.”

“Oh.” Maria looked surprised but she gave Emil an approving nod. “Good for you.”

Emil smirked, puffing out his chest proudly. Then it deflated as he turned to Toby.

“Do you want us to stay with you tonight?”

Toby didn’t feel like any company. He was appreciative of their help but he just wanted to be alone.

So when his best friend and his sister-in-law left a few moments later, Toby sat at the table and stared at the gifts Simone had bought for him and the tickets. This was what she had been keeping from him. And he had thought the worst and nearly lost her.

Propping his elbows on the table, Toby covered his face and burst into tears.

*****

Simone sat at Carl’s bedside and watched him sleep. The bruises had faded a little and the doctors had put a metal plate into his jaw. But Simone’s heart ached. This was not what she wanted to see her son like. He looked battered. It was amazing he hadn’t been killed.

It was going to kill him to know the girl he liked set him up to be killed. That was a heartbreak Carl wouldn’t get over for a while. The doctors had taken him out of his induced coma earlier that morning and Carl had woken up a short while ago. They had talked but Simone hadn’t told him about Louise, just the bare minimum of what happened. She didn’t want him to be overloaded with what happened just yet. It was something she was going to leave until later when he was a little better.

The door opened and closed quietly. Simone didn’t need to look around to know that it was Toby. He laid a hand on her shoulder.

“You shouldn’t be up. You only woke up yesterday.”

“I had to see him.” Simone leaned back into him, laying her hand over his. “I had to talk the sister into letting me in here, though.”

“I’m not surprised. How is he?”

“Doctors are pleased at the rate it’s gone down and they took him out of his coma.” Simone managed a smile. “He woke up a couple of hours ago.”

“That’s good.” Toby paused. “Did you tell him about Louise?”

“Not yet. I wanted you with me when we told him.”

Toby squeezed her shoulder. Then he shifted so both his hands were on her shoulders. Simone leaned back into him as he gently massaged her shoulders. Knots she hadn’t realized she had been carrying started to ease and Simone felt the weight being lifted off her shoulders.

She would have to stay in the hospital a little longer so they could operate on her knee and put a plate in but at least she could be close to Carl. There was a double room getting freed up later that day and Simone had asked if the two of them could be moved into there. Then she could keep Carl in sight and know that he was okay.

After what had happened, she wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t let Carl out of her sight at all.

“Detective Dodds called me.” Toby said quietly. “Louise, Jason and their friends have been charged with attempted murder and Mike’s being charged with facilitation.”

“Good.” Simone reached out and laid a hand over Carl’s. “I hope he rots in hell.”

“So do I.” Toby took the handles of the wheelchair and flipped the brake off. “Come on, let’s get you back to your room. Maria’s bringing the boys later and it would be easier if you were there.”

Simone wanted to stay. She wanted to be there when Carl woke up again. But Toby was right. Carl needed his rest. They could talk to him about Louise later.

She allowed Toby to wheel her out. They made their way to her room in silence. It wasn’t until they were in her room and Toby was helping Simone onto the bed that Toby spoke.

“Mike’s lawyer called me. He said Mike wanted to see me.”

Simone stiffened, her arms still around her husband’s neck.

“What did you tell him?”

“I said no way. Mike’s not part of my life anymore.”

Simone sighed, not realizing that she had been holding her breath. She shifted as best she could back onto the bed so she sat with her legs over the side.

“You should’ve cut off contact a long time ago.”

“I know. I’m already getting grief from my sister.” Toby rubbed Simone’s arm. “She says family stick together and I shouldn’t be turning my back on him. But I pointed out you’re my wife and Carl is my son and you were the victims so I’m not standing by someone who wanted them dead.”

Simone growled. If she had thought Toby’s brother had been bad enough, the sister was worse.

“She can go to hell as well.”

“That’s where I told her to go as well.” Toby gave her a rueful smile. “Right before she punched me.”

“Oh, honey.”

“I’m okay. It didn’t hurt. Much.” Toby’s mouth twitched in a smile before it faded. He closed his eyes briefly and sighed. “Listen, Simone, I’m so sorry about what I said about you and Emil. I know that’s not you. I was just confused by the text message and riled up by Mike’s phone call.”

Simone raised her eyebrows.

“When did he call you?”