Chapter Twenty-Six

Will was discharged from hospital on Friday morning. His sister Mel had slept in his bed at the apartment then left this morning when his parents had returned from holiday in the Maldives to the welcome news that Renée had regained consciousness. The baby inside her had been declared safe, so far as could be determined.

Still, Will seemed unable to leave the hospital. It was as if he felt that the moment he took his eyes off Renée she’d slip away.

Renée’s and Will’s parents were in with Renée now but, barring complications, it was expected she’d be discharged in a couple of days, as would Monty and Asila. When the parents came out from Renée’s room and Will could go in, Clancy planned to slip away. The accident had happened on Wednesday afternoon so she’d been hanging around holding people’s hands in waiting rooms and corridors for the better part of two days. She felt as if she must smell like a hospital.

Beside her, Will stirred, as if sensing her withdrawal. ‘I can never thank you enough for being here, Clancy. Most women would have told me to get knotted, after what I did.’

‘You can get knotted if you like,’ Clancy offered generously, giving him a quick smile. ‘It won’t change who you’re in love with.’ Black eyes and a broken nose had temporarily marred his looks but he’d barely mentioned his own injuries in his anguish over Renée and the baby.

He smiled, crookedly. ‘I did love you, Clancy, in a way.’

The words didn’t even cause her a pang. ‘And I loved you, Will, in a way. It’s not the way you love Renée though.’ She knew that now.

‘No.’ He kissed her cheek. ‘I can see Mum and Dad coming so that means I can go in now. Sure you won’t stay a bit longer?’

She rolled her eyes. ‘What? In the apartment with you? That would be seriously weird. You get your girl home and live happily ever after.’ She kissed him gently on his forehead in return.

Then, over his shoulder, she saw a figure coming towards her along the hospital corridor. A tall, well-set figure, a familiar figure, who faltered for an instant, then strode on. ‘Oh!’ she said in surprise. She pulled away from Will, her cheeks heating even though the embrace was only a friendly one.

Will turned to see what had caught her attention. ‘Ah!’ he said, glancing between Clancy and Aaron with a small smile. ‘Sometime, you need to update me on what you’ve been doing since you left. Thanks again, Clancy. You’re a star.’ Then he gave a wink and vanished through the double doors to Renée’s ward.

Aaron continued towards Clancy, although his eyes followed Will for several moments.

‘What are you doing here?’ she asked, suddenly breathless.

He halted, his dark eyes switching to her. ‘I came to see if you’re OK. Phone calls seemed too distant. I would have come yesterday but Lee took Daisy off for a break without telling anyone. Until they turned up again, Mum panicked.’ He hesitated. ‘Lee and Daisy have moved in with me—’