AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I'm on my way.” I hang up. If he doesn’t know how Holly is, then there’s a good chance she is alive. What state she will be in when I get there, I don't know, but she’s my girl and nothing will stop me from loving her. Nothing.
Several hours later,I force my way through the queue of people sitting aimlessly in the hospital waiting room. Dan stands, and my steps falter at seeing how pale and traumatised he is. I shake my head, begging him to give me the only news I want to hear. His arms slap round my back and he apologises to me over and over.
“Where is she?” I ask.
“Won't let us in. We’re not family.” Dan's shoulders droop and he sucks in a deep breath. “Cam, it didn’t look good. No burns, but…the fire was out of control. I'm sorry.” Tearful eyes meet mine.
“Beau?” Her name is ripped from me. He shrugs in despair. They have to be okay. Emily is sobbing quietly with a sleeping Grace in her lap. “I need…” I begin. I need to know how they are, but they will never let me in. Someone comes through doors labelled trauma ward, and I snap free from Dan and run to the doors, twisting to the side to squeeze through before they close.
They click shut, and a nurse comes to me. “Excuse me, sir!” she starts, but I rush past her and start looking in beds frantically. I scan every inch to find my girl, but I can’t see her anywhere. Doubling back, I see Beau’s tear-stained face througha windowed door in the children's department. I crash into the door, but it’s locked. As I press the button, her little face comes up and breaks into tears. “Beau!” I shout. “Baby girl, get them to open the door.” I bang and call through as she holds her arms up and cries for me. Someone comes to the door and opens it, and I barge my way in. “Beau,” I pant, rushing to her. She is hooked up on oxygen, and I scoop her up. “Shush, baby. It’s okay, I'm here now.”
“Sorry, sir, who are you?”
“Father. Where is my wife?” I demand, knowing they won't give me any access if I don't lie. Beau sniffles and coughs into the mask. I kiss her hair. “Shush, calm down, baby girl. It’s okay.” I rock her against my chest.
“My mummy,” she cries loudly.
“Holly Matthews?” I question the nurse, and her eyes widen. I grit my teeth and close my eyes, pain ricocheting through my chest.
“In the ICU,” the nurse whispers and looks to see if Beau is listening. Her tiny hands are wrapped up in my collar, and I hold her tight. “She sustai?—”
I shake my head, cutting her off. “I want to see her. My friend is in the waiting room. He’ll come and sit with Beau, my daughter.” I stutter.
“No!” Beau cries in panic.
“I need to go and find Mummy. Dan is going to come sit with you, just for a minute, okay,” I tell her, wiping away the tears running down either side of the mask. She shakes her head.
“I'm coming back, I promise. I'm not going anywhere, ever again,” I vow to her little head cupped in my hands. Her size sends a ripple of fear through me. She’s such a dot. I'm eternally grateful to Dan for getting her out. The alternative isn’t something I ever want to think about. I look to the nurse. “Daniel Ocean. Please, can you get him for me?”
“Of course.” She smiles sympathetically and moves towards the doors.
I sag and litter Beau's head with kisses. “See, Dan is coming and I'm going to make sure Mummy is okay.”
“Are you coming back?”
I nod and pull her to me, holding back my own tears. Dan soon arrives, and I quickly explain that I'm going to the ICU.
“Come here, Beau.” He holds his arms out and she twists into his hold.
“You got me out of the fire.” She sniffs, and Dan nods, trying to keep from crying. “It was loud.”
“It was,” Dan whispers, rubbing her back.
“I’ll be back soon.” I leave them and ask for directions. The same nurse offers to show me the way.
“It’s just down here through those doors.” We stop outside of them, and she turns to me and gives me a reluctant look, twiddling with her staff pass.
“What?” I ask, lifting my hand to the door and motioning for her to open it.
“We know that you're not the father or husband. On arrival, we asked your friend, and he mentioned her mother, that's all.”
“Okay.” All this family bullshit is irrelevant to me. She’s letting me in those fucking doors. I glare at her. “I'm getting in here,” I say forcefully.
“Mister?”
“Stone,” I spit, irritated by her lack of urgency and placid nature. I want to shake her stupid.
“Matthews.” She gives me a pointed look, and the penny slowly drops through the fog of panic. “Perhaps say you were away on business,” she offers and swipes her pass.
