CHAPTER 11
Kirsty was so relieved to see Dani.Irene had
been brilliant , but Dani was special , they were sisters and despite their
problems they were there for each other. Both Dani and Scott were shocked at
how sick Kane looked , but tried not to show it , trying to keep positive for
Kirsty's sake.
Scott returned to work , leaving Dani and Irene to support Kirsty
through this terrible time.The doctor told them that if Kane made it through
the night then things would look more hopeful .Kirsty held his hand and stared
at the rise and fall of his chest as the respirator breathed for him.She could
not imagine life without him , and as Dani looked at her sister's pale
tear-stained face her heart went out to her.She may not like Kane , and hated
what he did to her , how he made her feel for such a long time , but she loved
her sister and could not bear her to be so unhappy.
Dani put her arms around Kirsty , the first time she had hugged her in
such a long time.Kirsty turned to her and said , "Thanks for being here Dani.I
would have understood if you hadn't come.It means so much , having you here ,
knowing you don't want him to die , even if it's just for my sake."
Dani felt uncomfortable at Kirsty's words , they reminded her of what Rhys had
done.He had wanted Kane dead , what would happen between him and Kirsty if she
ever found out.
Irene had been relieved when Dani had told her that Rhys had not been
involved in the actual assault , because after Hayley and Alex had told her
that they had seen him there she had had her suspisions.It was obvious that
Rhys had left Kane there to die and Irene just couldn't believe it of the
man.She had always liked and respected Rhys , but this was a terrible thing to
do , and what about Kirsty , hadn't he stopped to think how it would have
affected Kirsty.
Irene needed to run a few errands and promised to fetch Kirsty some essentials from
home , no way was Kirsty leaving Kane's bedside, not tonight.She popped into
the diner and spoke to Alf.Scott had filled him in , and the police had been in
looking for witnesses.Alf couldn't believe what Rhys had done either and the
assault was top of everyone's list of gossip.Irene collected Kirsty's
belongings and then went home to speak to Jade and Nick.She had left word at
school to meet them.She had hoped to be the one to speak to Jade first , break
the news gently , but unfortunately the gossip had spread like wildfire and she
came in to find Jade crying.
At first Jade did not believe what her father had done , then being the sweet kind
girl she is she decided her dad needed help and support .She felt this was an
act so out of character, he needed counselling and his family around him.Irene
was relieved that at least this relationship between father and daughter wasn't
going to be too damaged , Rhys was going to need help to get over this.
Meanwhile the police had released Rhys , he knew that he had charges
against him lying on file , but those were the least of his worries.The
terrible guilt at the realisation of what he had done weighed heavy on his
conscience.He knew that Dani was right , he hadn't done it for her , he had
done it for himself.He knew that Kirsty would not understand what drove him to
do it , he knew he could not stand the way Dani had looked at him , he knew it
was his fault.He felt so guilty and ashamed.He wanted to run away and hide ,
but knew he must go home.Whatever he had done he still had a family ,
responsibilities, he must face them.As he made his way home he began to think
about Kane , he already bitterly regretted leaving him there in the bushes to
die.He thought about how Kane had had to face the whole town ,on his own ,
after what he did to Dani. Rhys had always been angry that Kane had not been
convicted of the rape , had got off scot free, now he wondered about that.Had
he really got off so lightly , everyone looking at him , disapproving , judging
him wherever he went , never letting it go.What if that was what awaited Rhys
after what he had done , he didn't know if he could bear it , he was used to
being popular , admired , looked up to.How could he cope if people looked at
him and stared at him like they had done with Kane.It was a small town , word
would spread, and people would despise him.He knew if he had the same decision
to make over again he would have acted differently , but how could he explain
his actions and make people understand , make them believe he was sorry.Because
he was , so sorry.He wondered how Kane had coped , no family , no friends ,
everyone hating him , maybe he had been punished after all , maybe he was sorry
, maybe he should be allowed to get on with his life , even if it was with
Kirsty .
Rhys entered the house , Jade ran up to him and put her arms around
him.He could tell by her face that she knew , and she didn't quite understand,
but she hadn't rejected him.He had never felt so relieved in all his life.
been brilliant , but Dani was special , they were sisters and despite their
problems they were there for each other. Both Dani and Scott were shocked at
how sick Kane looked , but tried not to show it , trying to keep positive for
Kirsty's sake.
Scott returned to work , leaving Dani and Irene to support Kirsty
through this terrible time.The doctor told them that if Kane made it through
the night then things would look more hopeful .Kirsty held his hand and stared
at the rise and fall of his chest as the respirator breathed for him.She could
not imagine life without him , and as Dani looked at her sister's pale
tear-stained face her heart went out to her.She may not like Kane , and hated
what he did to her , how he made her feel for such a long time , but she loved
her sister and could not bear her to be so unhappy.
Dani put her arms around Kirsty , the first time she had hugged her in
such a long time.Kirsty turned to her and said , "Thanks for being here Dani.I
would have understood if you hadn't come.It means so much , having you here ,
knowing you don't want him to die , even if it's just for my sake."
Dani felt uncomfortable at Kirsty's words , they reminded her of what Rhys had
done.He had wanted Kane dead , what would happen between him and Kirsty if she
ever found out.
Irene had been relieved when Dani had told her that Rhys had not been
involved in the actual assault , because after Hayley and Alex had told her
that they had seen him there she had had her suspisions.It was obvious that
Rhys had left Kane there to die and Irene just couldn't believe it of the
man.She had always liked and respected Rhys , but this was a terrible thing to
do , and what about Kirsty , hadn't he stopped to think how it would have
affected Kirsty.
Irene needed to run a few errands and promised to fetch Kirsty some essentials from
home , no way was Kirsty leaving Kane's bedside, not tonight.She popped into
the diner and spoke to Alf.Scott had filled him in , and the police had been in
looking for witnesses.Alf couldn't believe what Rhys had done either and the
assault was top of everyone's list of gossip.Irene collected Kirsty's
belongings and then went home to speak to Jade and Nick.She had left word at
school to meet them.She had hoped to be the one to speak to Jade first , break
the news gently , but unfortunately the gossip had spread like wildfire and she
came in to find Jade crying.
At first Jade did not believe what her father had done , then being the sweet kind
girl she is she decided her dad needed help and support .She felt this was an
act so out of character, he needed counselling and his family around him.Irene
was relieved that at least this relationship between father and daughter wasn't
going to be too damaged , Rhys was going to need help to get over this.
Meanwhile the police had released Rhys , he knew that he had charges
against him lying on file , but those were the least of his worries.The
terrible guilt at the realisation of what he had done weighed heavy on his
conscience.He knew that Dani was right , he hadn't done it for her , he had
done it for himself.He knew that Kirsty would not understand what drove him to
do it , he knew he could not stand the way Dani had looked at him , he knew it
was his fault.He felt so guilty and ashamed.He wanted to run away and hide ,
but knew he must go home.Whatever he had done he still had a family ,
responsibilities, he must face them.As he made his way home he began to think
about Kane , he already bitterly regretted leaving him there in the bushes to
die.He thought about how Kane had had to face the whole town ,on his own ,
after what he did to Dani. Rhys had always been angry that Kane had not been
convicted of the rape , had got off scot free, now he wondered about that.Had
he really got off so lightly , everyone looking at him , disapproving , judging
him wherever he went , never letting it go.What if that was what awaited Rhys
after what he had done , he didn't know if he could bear it , he was used to
being popular , admired , looked up to.How could he cope if people looked at
him and stared at him like they had done with Kane.It was a small town , word
would spread, and people would despise him.He knew if he had the same decision
to make over again he would have acted differently , but how could he explain
his actions and make people understand , make them believe he was sorry.Because
he was , so sorry.He wondered how Kane had coped , no family , no friends ,
everyone hating him , maybe he had been punished after all , maybe he was sorry
, maybe he should be allowed to get on with his life , even if it was with
Kirsty .
Rhys entered the house , Jade ran up to him and put her arms around
him.He could tell by her face that she knew , and she didn't quite understand,
but she hadn't rejected him.He had never felt so relieved in all his life.