I left hospital after spending just one night there. It took them all day to release me as they wanted to keep an eye on me for a little while longer. I returned home at five in the afternoon with a bunch of leaflets and breathing techniques in case it happened again. Breathing deeply wouldn’t help though. I couldn’t breathe at all when I saw him.
The whole thing was humiliating. Collapsing in court in front of everyone. What was worse was that it backed up the defence’s argument. Surely now people would believe him when he said I was just a selfish little girl just looking for attention.
Whatever anyone said to make me feel better, I knew it would now be harder to prove that I was telling the truth. Mum seemed to think the jury would feel sympathetic rather than suspicious. I couldn’t allow myself to think that though. What if she was wrong?
Sighing, I laid back into the sofa. What the hell was I going to do now?
Cole ran his fingers through my hair. “Are you okay?”
“I think I’m going to get a tattoo saying I’m fine on my forehead.”
Turning his nose up, he replied, “I’d prefer Property of Cole.”
“I’m sure you would. If I was paying to be repeatedly stabbed I’d get my one true love’s name though. Cam Gigandet.” Cole mumbled something under his breath that sounded like blonde bastard. “Being jealous of someone I’ll never even meet is weird.”
“Feed me,” he said, changing the subject completely. Okay.
“Hey, I just got home from the hospital. You be my slave!”
He smiled and stood up. “What do you want then? I’ll get you anything”
“Anything?” I raised my eyebrow. “What if I want KFC?”
“Then I’ll go get KFC,” he said.
Pulling the fleece blanket over my lap, I smiled. “You’re sweet, but I think I’d prefer to keep you here. Maybe a cheese sandwich or something?”
“Salad cream, no butter. Coming up.” He saluted and walked into the kitchen, making me smile. He was the perfect boyfriend, and I was so lucky to have him.
I laid back into the sofa and pulled the blanket up just under my chin. I used to do that when I was little, the cover was a protection from him. I used to think if it was covering me then he couldn’t get to me.
Since I’d got back, I hadn’t stopped worrying about giving evidence again. I knew that if I hadn’t collapsed my part would be over by now; instead I had to start all over again and build up my courage once more. I had called my therapist and been through a few things, which helped a lot. Talking to her seemed to put everything in perspective again, but the anticipation was still killing me.
I couldn’t change what had already happened. Things in the past were carved into stone, never to be changed. All I could do was go back in there and tell them the truth. After that, it was completely out of my hands. The jury would decide if they believed my dad was guilty or innocent.
Dad had charm and charisma though. He was well liked and respected. I prayed that the jury would be able to see through that. If they found him innocent, I didn’t know what I would do. He’d told me over and over that I wouldn’t be believed if I ever did speak up. He couldn’t be right.
My phone rang in the kitchen and just as I was about to get up, Cole brought it through.
“Miles,” he said, handing it to me. He went back in the kitchen to finish making our sandwiches.
Putting the phone to my ear, I smiled. Finally, he was calling. “Hi, Miles.”
“Oakley, how are you?”
“I’m doing okay. How are you?”
“I’m well, thank you. Is your mum alright?”
That I have no idea. Like me, she always said she was, but I think she was lying too. “As alright as she can be. She doesn’t talk about how she feels. Mostly she just worries about me and Jasper.”
“That sounds like your mum. Is she there?” He sounded nervous all of a sudden. If Mum didn’t give Miles a chance I was going to have to slap some sense into her. He was kind, caring, and generous. What you saw was what you got. There was no ulterior motive or mystery about him. He was exactly what Mum needed and deserved.
“Not at the minute. She’s at the supermarket.” Getting all my favourite foods to cheer me up. I would prefer a happy Mum. “I can ask her to call you…” I trailed off, realising that she probably wouldn’t.
“Do you think she will?”
I cringed. I didn’t want to say no and hurt his feelings. “Um…”
Miles laughed. “Me neither. Look I called to get your opinion on something anyway, forget talking to your mum at the minute, okay?”
“Okay. What did you want my opinion on?”