Diego’s demands had been worth it. Alexander remained ignorant of Cameron’s business inadequacies, together with details surrounding his private life.
What about you? a tiny voice demanded a few hours later as she tossed and turned in her bed in search of sleep.
THURSDAY morning Cassandra woke with an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. A premonition of some kind?
She slid out of bed, fed the cat, made a cup of tea and checked her emails, then she showered, dressed, and left for work.
There was nothing to indicate the day would be different from any other. Traffic was at its peak-hour worst, and an isolated road-rage incident, while momentarily disconcerting, didn’t rattle her nerves overmuch.
Work progression proved normal, with nothing untoward occurring. Cameron rang, jubilant the Preston-Villers deal with Diego was a fait accompli, suggesting she join him for a celebration dinner.
So why couldn’t she shake this sense of foreboding that hung around like a grey cloud?
It was almost six when she entered the apartment, and she greeted the cat, fed her, and was about to fix something to eat for herself when her cellphone buzzed.
‘Cassandra.’ Sylvie’s voice sounded calm and unhurried. ‘Alexander is being transported to hospital by ambulance. I’m about to follow. I’ve spoken to Cameron, and he’s already on his way.’ She named the city’s main cardiac unit. ‘I’ll see you there.’
Cassandra’s stomach plummeted as she caught up her bag, her keys, and raced from the apartment. The cardiologist’s warning returned to haunt her as she took the lift down to basement level, slid into her car to drive as quickly as traffic and the speed limit would allow.
Hospital parking was at a premium, and she brought her car to a screeching halt in a reserved space, hastily scrawled emergency onto a scrap of paper and slid it beneath the windscreen wiper, then she ran into the building.
What followed numbered among the worst hours of her life. Sylvie was there, waiting, and Cameron. The cardiac team were working to stabilise Alexander, but the prognosis wasn’t good.
At midnight they sent Sylvie home, and Cassandra and Cameron kept vigil as the long night crept slowly towards dawn.
‘Go home, get some sleep,’ Cameron bade gently, and she shook her head.
At nine they each made calls, detailing the reason neither would be reporting for work, and took alternate one-hour shifts at Alexander’s bedside.
It was there Diego found her, looking pale, wan and so utterly saddened it was all he could do not to sweep her into his arms and hold her close.
Not that she’d thank him for it, he perceived, aware he had no place here. Strict family only regulations applied, but he’d managed to circumvent them in order to gain a few minutes to express regret and ask if there was anything he could do.
‘No,’ Cassandra said quietly. ‘Thank you.’
Diego cupped her shoulder, allowed his hand to linger there before letting it fall to his side.
A hovering nurse cast him a telling look, indicated the time, and he inclined his head in silent acquiescence.
‘I’ll keep in touch.’
‘How did he get in here?’ Cassandra asked quietly minutes later, and Cameron responded wearily,
‘By sheer strength of will, I imagine. It happens to be one of his characteristics, or hadn’t you noticed?’
In spades, she acknowledged, then jerked to startled attention as the machines monitoring her father’s vital signs began an insistent beeping.
From then on it was all downhill, and Alexander slipped away from them late that evening.
Cassandra lapsed into a numbed state, and both she and Cameron shared a few silent tears in mutual consolation.
‘Maybe you should spend the night at my place.’
She pulled away from him and searched for a handkerchief. ‘I’ll be fine. I just want to have a shower and fall into bed.’
‘That goes for me, too.’
They walked down the corridor to the lift and took it down to ground level, then emerged into the late-night air. Cameron saw her to the car, waited until she was seated, then leaned in. ‘I’ll follow and make sure you get home OK.’
At this hour the streets carried minimal traffic, and as she reached Double Bay a light shower of rain began to fall. She saw the headlights of Cameron’s car at her rear, and as she turned in to her apartment building he sounded his horn, then executed a semicircle and disappeared from sight.
Weariness hit her as she stepped out of the lift, and she was so caught up in reflected thought she didn’t see the tall male figure leaning against the wall beside her apartment door.
‘Diego? What—?’
He reached out and extricated the keys from her fingers, unlocked the door and gently pushed her inside.
‘—are you doing?’ she finished tiredly. ‘You shouldn’t be here.’
‘No?’ He removed her shoulder bag, put it down on the side-table, then led her towards the kitchen. He made tea, invaded her fridge and put a sandwich together.
‘Eat.’
Food? ‘I don’t feel like anything.’
‘A few mouthfuls will do.’
It was easier to capitulate than argue, and she obediently took a bite, sipped the tea, then she pushed the plate away. Any more and she’d be physically ill.
‘Shower and bed,’ Cassandra relayed wearily as she stood to her feet. ‘You can let yourself out.’ She didn’t bother to wait for him to answer. Didn’t care to see if he stayed. It was all too much, and more than anything she needed to sleep.
Diego fed the cat, washed the few dishes, checked his cellphone, made one call, then he doused the lights and entered her bedroom.
She was already asleep, and he undressed, then carefully slid beneath the covers. The thought she might wake and weep with grief alone was a haunting possibility he refused to condone.
Cassandra was dreaming. Strong arms held her close, and she felt a hand smoothing her hair. Lips brushed her temple, and she sank deeper into the dreamlike embrace, savouring the warmth of muscle and sinew beneath her cheek, the steady beat of a human heart.
It was comforting, reassuring, and she was content to remain there, cushioned in security, and loath to emerge and face the day’s reality.
Except dreams didn’t last, and she surfaced slowly through the veils of sleep to discover
