Meeting Lily Chapter 4

"He did what?" exclaimed Michael.

"Tom asked me out for a drink," answered Lily softly.

"And you said yes?"

"Yes. He seems nice." Lily paused, "You're not going to tell me that he's some sort of psychopath now are you? That would just be my luck with men at the moment."

Michael's eyes softened as he exhaled loudly.

"No. Tom's a thoroughly decent guy. I just…"

"You just?"

"No. Nothing. So what's the report doc?"

Lily plonked herself on the chair next to Michael's bed and read quickly through the physiotherapists notes. She nodded and mumbled to herself until she reached the end. She looked up and chuckled softly. Michael met her gaze with a questioning expression.

"Apparently you are an excellent specimen of physical fitness. In fact I've never seen so many superlatives on one report. Did you flex your pecs for Mrs Murphy?"

Michael pulled his face into a coy expression and answered quietly, "Maybe."

Lily rolled her eyes at him.

"Flirt."

"Says the girl who agreed to have a drink with my deputy head within five minutes of meeting him."

"Touché"

Lily let her eyes flick over his face, happy to see significantly more colour in his skin. She didn't want to go back to the topic of talking to the police but she knew that she needed to. He needed to be persuaded to at least tell them everything that they knew. The local papers were following the story closely and the sooner it could be resolved, the sooner Michael could go back to having a normal life.

Michael watched the young doctor's face get more serious. He knew that she was going to ask him to talk to the police again. He had been thinking it through. He had been lying in bed reflecting on the last few months and he knew if he talked to the police then he would have to tell them about Sian and Linda. And then the suspicion would be on Jez, maybe Linda and although neither was exactly his favourite person, he couldn't believe that either of them would try and run him down.

And if the police turned their attention to Jez then Sian would probably be angry with him. His stomach still sank when he thought of the pretty clever brunette. He knew why she had gone back to Jez but it still hurt. He didn't know why he and Sian were so cursed. He had messed up. She had messed up. They just never seemed to be in the same place at the same time.

Michael tried to shake himself out of thinking about Sian by going back to his accident. He tried to convince himself that it could have been an accident but he knew really that it would either have had to have been an incredibly reckless driver or someone who meant malice.

There was a possibility, although he didn't really want to think about it, that it could have been one of the kids, messing about in a car. But then why would they leave him there? Why wouldn't they come forward? If it had been an accident, he could have accepted that. It was all such a mess.

He looked up at Lily's sparkling green eyes watching him with concern and smiled weakly, "Okay. I'll do it."

"Do what?"

"Speak to the police. You were just about to ask me that right."

"You read minds as well? There is no end to your talents Mr Byrne." Lily broke out a reassuring smile, "I think it will be good. You need closure. I'll let them know."

She swung around to leave and stopped when there was a tall man dressed in a well cut black pinstriped suit. He had a ruggedly handsome face and neatly parted black hair.

Lily jumped, "Connor?"

"Hi Lily."

"Why are you here? Which part of I never want to see you again didn't you understand?"

"Lily. Don't be like that. I like you. It was only business."

"Only business?" Lily exclaimed, "It's not only business when you try to destroy my father."

"I didn't. I was only doing what the markets asked. The company was on the verge of collapsing."

"The markets? The markets?" shouted Lily, "Screw you and your markets. You made me believe you were different and hey, guess what, you were. You were even worse than the normal idiots I seem to meet."

"Can we talk about this somewhere more private?" asked Connor calmly.

Lily's eyes flared with anger, "What is there to talk about? I don't want to see you ever again. It's quite simple."

"Okay Lils. You obviously need to calm down. I'm staying at the Mercure for the next couple of days. Please come see me. I just want to talk."

Connor walked away calmly and Lily felt her blood boiling. She propped herself against the doorframe as she took some deep breaths.

She heard Michael's smooth voice coming from behind her, "Want to talk to me about it?"

Lily shook her head and whispered, "Later."

"You're even prettier when you're angry."

"Don't."

"Sorry. I'll be here when you want to talk. I'm not really going anywhere."

Lily watched as a pretty brunette walked towards the nurses' station. She spoke slowly to one of the nurses who gestured in the direction of Michael's room. Lily stepped back into the room, picked up Michael's chart and perused it.

She whispered quickly, "We may both need to talk about it later."

Michael looked at her quizzically.

The pretty brunette popped her head round the door.

"Michael. You're okay. I was worried about you."

Lily watched as Michael's eyes widened with astonishment.

"Sian. What are you doing here?"