Her Guardians Lost(11)

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see sudden movement. I looked over to find Catherine standing there, staring pensively.

My eyes immediately moistened as she came over with a relieved sigh. “Cassie, how are you?” Catherine’s tears began to fall as my own surfaced.

“I’m sorry. Everybody, this is Catherine, a dear friend. Catherine, this is Michael, and this is my Uncle Billy and his partner, Chris.”

Catherine smiled and shook their hands. “I’ve heard so much about you two,” she said. Billy and Chris just smiled, not knowing what to say. I hadn’t gotten around to explaining Catherine to them yet.

“I just came down from ICU and had to pay you a visit. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

Frowning, I wondered why she would have come down from ICU. She must have a friend or relative up there. As if losing Lisa-Marie wasn’t bad enough, she was also here for someone else whose life hung in the balance. How much more pain could she possibly bear?

“I’m so sorry for all that happened, Catherine.” The guilt washed over me at thinking how much Lisa-Marie had been embroiled in all this mess. It was never her fault, yet she died because of me.

“How can you be sorry for someone else’s actions? Lisa-Marie would never blame you for this.”

I shook my head, trying to keep it together. If it wasn’t for Michael, I think I would completely lose it.

“She lost her life because of my so-called best friend.” I dipped my head down, hearing nothing but silence. When I looked up, I was met with was confused faces. Why on earth was everyone looking at me like that?

“Cassie, didn’t you hear?” All Catherine could see was my confusion. “Lisa-Marie’s not dead. She’s in ICU.”



*****



I’m not sure how many more shocks to the system I could take. My eyes seemed to ooze tears of joy at the knowledge that she wasn’t dead.

Catherine smiled. “The doctor just told me that things are looking more positive. If things carry on the way they are, she could be moved out of ICU and onto the ward.”

My chest heaved. At least one miracle had come out of this awful mess I had created. I closed my eyes and thanked the Lord for giving me my friend back. We hadn’t even had a chance to start our friendship yet, but I still felt close to her.

“Thank God! I thought she was—” I couldn’t say it. Everyone smiled and Michael squeezed my hand supportively. “I wonder if they’ll let me see her.” I tried to sit up, the pain reminding me why I was there. Three sets of hands shot out, keeping me in bed.

“You need to rest, Cassie,” Michael ordered.

I saw the look of worry pass over his face, but I was too consumed by the knowledge of Lisa-Marie being alive. “I want to see her.” I looked over at Catherine with desperation. “I need to speak with you, Catherine. I need to tell you something.”

After everything that had happened, I thought she deserved an explanation. She deserved to know about me and why Lisa-Marie was now lying in the hospital. Lord knows what she thought. She must be confused as hell. I suppose the only logical explanation she could come up with was that poor Lisa-Marie was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Michael stood up to leave, but I gripped his hand. “It’s okay, Michael. You can stay.”

Turning my head to Catherine, I motioned for her to sit. “I suppose you’re wondering what happened.”

She looked at everyone and shook her head in confusion. “I just assumed Lisa-Marie was there to see you and got in the way.”

“I thought so. It has more to do with how Lisa-Marie and I became friends, and why she was specifically targeted.”

Her posture picked up. “Targeted? I don’t understand.”

Taking a deep breath, I said, “Catherine, I have the gift of sight. I can see things when I touch people’s hands.”

Catherine laughed a little, but when she saw no one else was amused, she stopped.

“She’s telling the truth.” My uncle smiled at her.

“I don’t understand what this has to do with Lisa-Marie.”

Hearing Michael clear his throat, I looked at his uncomfortable stare, but continued on, “Did Lisa-Marie ever tell you about the train crash?”

Recognition hit her. “Yes. She said she was meant to be on it but that you…you fell on some ice and, because she helped you, she missed the train.”

Smiling, I thought about how tactful Lisa-Marie was being. She was ever so loyal, trying to protect me.

“I slipped on some ice, yes, but that didn’t stop Lisa-Marie from making that train. I did. She helped me up and I saw what was going to happen, so I warned her not the take the train. It wasn’t until later that night I realised she hadn’t. She came to my flat and waited for me to come home. I invited her in and told her all about me. She didn’t tell you because she was trying to protect me.”