CHAPTER 12
Rhys offered to drive Jade to the hospital,he felt too guilty to actually go in.As Jade walked through the doors she noticed
Shadow sitting patiently in the shade, waiting for Kane .
Kirsty was pleased to see Jade , the three sisters united at this
terrible time.Dani and Jade supporting Kirsty as they had many times
before.Kirsty was not surprised , but still disappointed that her dad had not
come in.Surely if Dani could then Rhys should be able to , she thought.
Kane remained critical , but with each hour that went by the doctors became more
hopeful, " if he just makes it through tonight ,I know it will be O.K," Kirsty
told her sisters.After a while Dani and Jade had to go home , leaving Kirsty
sitting at Kane's bedside.She felt so small and helpless , all she wanted was
for Kane to be better. "Please God don't let him die.", she found herself praying.
For three days and nights Kirsty sat at Kane's bedside, only going outside occasionally to sit with Shadow , who
refused to be moved from the hospital entrance.She fed him tidbits and
reassured him that their Kane would get better.
Various people visited and unlike the last time he was in hospital Kane
received flowers and cards and people's good wishes, Kirsty just wished he
would regain consciousness and see them.On the fourth day the doctors had some
good news , the ventilator could be switched off ,Kane could breathe by
himself.Now it was just a matter of time before he was strong enough to regain
consciousness. Kirsty sat and watched him , talked to him , played him music
tapes and willed him to move , to open his eyes .
She was reading him the paper , holding his hand when she felt him squeeze her
fingers.His eyes were still closed , but she had definitely felt it. "Kane, can you hear me.Open your eyes , please , I love you."
Kane groaned and slowly his eyes blinked, he opened them and looked at Kirsty ,
trying to focus , and then slowly smiled .
That first day he couldn't stay awake for more than a few minutes at a time , but
Kirsty was overjoyed anyway and rang everyone in the world to tell them.She
dialled the number of the caravan park , and was a little surprised to hear her
dad's voice , he was the only one who hadn't visited , hadn't supported her
through this , and she wasn't sure if she wanted to share her good news with
him.In the end excitement got the better of her ,
"Guess what dad , Kane woke up today.He's still a bit out of it though and a bit
confused .He thought you found him ,not Alex and Hayley , wanted to thank you
for saving his life.Dani said he's probably just confused because of the blow
to the head . Can you let Jade and Max know.Bye dad , love you." She was so happy she had said that she loved him without thinking.But he was her
dad and she did love him. Rhys's heart was breaking , she had said "love you" would she still mean
it when she found out what he had done. The police had apprehended the gang who had attacked Kane and had established that
his brother Scott was involved.This came as a relief to Rhys because the finger
of suspision had briefly pointed at him
as being involved , but word had also got out about how he had left Kane there
to die and many people were appalled.He had to suffer whispering and dirty
looks , and was not handling it very well. "Why don't you go and see Kane , he knows the sort of thing you are going through
and you need to apologise to feel better about yourself."Dani's advice was good
, but Rhys didn't know if he had the courage to face Kane after what he had
done.He felt so ashamed.And what about Kirsty,no one had told her yet , but it
was only a matter of time.
With a heavy heart , having had a sleepless night , Rhys set off for the hospital.He
knew he had to do this , but it was so hard, and why should Kane understand or
forgive him.He couldn't understand or justify his actions to himself.
He noticed the little dog and the guilt came pouring back. He was sweating when he entered Kane's room.To
his relief Kirsty was not there.
"Hello." Said Rhys , feeling extremely uncomfortable. "Isn't Kirsty
here."
"Hey."Kane looked equally uncomfortable. "She's gone to school.I felt
bad about her missing so much already to be here for me.She's coming back after
if you're looking for her."
"No it's really you I've come to see.I need to
apologise .You remembered that I saw what happened , you know Alex and Hayley
didn't find you until an hour or so later.You could have died in that hour.I
did nothing.I could have called an ambulance ,the police , but instead I went
home and did nothing.I want you to know that I know it was wrong I bitterly
regret it.The hatred , the bile in me , I hate what it's turned me into I don't
know if you or Kirsty can ever forgive me , I can't forgive myself."
Rhys was shaking and had to sit down.Kane had known what Rhys had done but hadn't
expected him to come in.Hadn't expected an apology.
"Kirsty doesn't know , I haven't told her." Kane replied not knowing
quite what to say. "And I know you hate me , I deserve that , so I kind of know
why you did it.Probably thought all your problems would be solved, but it would
have hurt Kirsty if I'd died , I know you don't believe it , I can't believe it
, but she does love me. It is real between me and Kirsty , you know and we
didn't do this to hurt anyone , not you or Dani , it just happened and it's
heaps too big for us to ignore.I just want Kirsty to be happy , I'd die
tomorrow if I thought it would make her happy , you've got to believe that."
"I do believe it.But I can't just forget the past.I don't know how Dani has coped so
well.She's much stronger than me."
"Dani is amazing , all your daughters are , and if I could go back and change what
happened with Dani then I would.I was a different person then , I was angry at
everyone , my brother had just gone inside I hated everyone , everyone hated me
, I don't know why I did it , I was so confused , so low , putting on a hard
front when I was just scared and lonely.And then blaming Dani when it was all
my fault . You don't need to apologise to me I deserved what you did , it's
Kirsty you need to apologise to.She's the one been sat here crying.Me I got
another beating courtesy of my brother , it's not the first time , but she's
not used to it, that sort of life.I feel so bad putting her through this."
This was not what Rhys had expected.He thought Kane would gloat , be pleased to have
the upper hand , but all he showed was concern for Kirsty.
"No one should be so used to getting beatings that it doesn't matter.This isn't
your fault , you didn't ask your brother to organize this, and Kirsty is strong
, she'll be OK now you're on the mend.What I did was wrong and there's no
excuse.I am sorry." The two men shook hands , an uneasy truce had been made.Rhys would never fully
accept Kane , but he knew he would let Kirsty carry on seeing him without
interfering , and he would try and build bridges with Kirsty.That was what both
of them wanted.They agreed on it.
Kirsty got a huge shock when she arrived at the hospital from school
.There was her dad pushing Kane outside in a wheelchair ,Shadow trotting along
beside them.
Rhys offered to drive Jade to the hospital,he felt too guilty to actually go in.As Jade walked through the doors she noticed
Shadow sitting patiently in the shade, waiting for Kane .
Kirsty was pleased to see Jade , the three sisters united at this
terrible time.Dani and Jade supporting Kirsty as they had many times
before.Kirsty was not surprised , but still disappointed that her dad had not
come in.Surely if Dani could then Rhys should be able to , she thought.
Kane remained critical , but with each hour that went by the doctors became more
hopeful, " if he just makes it through tonight ,I know it will be O.K," Kirsty
told her sisters.After a while Dani and Jade had to go home , leaving Kirsty
sitting at Kane's bedside.She felt so small and helpless , all she wanted was
for Kane to be better. "Please God don't let him die.", she found herself praying.
For three days and nights Kirsty sat at Kane's bedside, only going outside occasionally to sit with Shadow , who
refused to be moved from the hospital entrance.She fed him tidbits and
reassured him that their Kane would get better.
Various people visited and unlike the last time he was in hospital Kane
received flowers and cards and people's good wishes, Kirsty just wished he
would regain consciousness and see them.On the fourth day the doctors had some
good news , the ventilator could be switched off ,Kane could breathe by
himself.Now it was just a matter of time before he was strong enough to regain
consciousness. Kirsty sat and watched him , talked to him , played him music
tapes and willed him to move , to open his eyes .
She was reading him the paper , holding his hand when she felt him squeeze her
fingers.His eyes were still closed , but she had definitely felt it. "Kane, can you hear me.Open your eyes , please , I love you."
Kane groaned and slowly his eyes blinked, he opened them and looked at Kirsty ,
trying to focus , and then slowly smiled .
That first day he couldn't stay awake for more than a few minutes at a time , but
Kirsty was overjoyed anyway and rang everyone in the world to tell them.She
dialled the number of the caravan park , and was a little surprised to hear her
dad's voice , he was the only one who hadn't visited , hadn't supported her
through this , and she wasn't sure if she wanted to share her good news with
him.In the end excitement got the better of her ,
"Guess what dad , Kane woke up today.He's still a bit out of it though and a bit
confused .He thought you found him ,not Alex and Hayley , wanted to thank you
for saving his life.Dani said he's probably just confused because of the blow
to the head . Can you let Jade and Max know.Bye dad , love you." She was so happy she had said that she loved him without thinking.But he was her
dad and she did love him. Rhys's heart was breaking , she had said "love you" would she still mean
it when she found out what he had done. The police had apprehended the gang who had attacked Kane and had established that
his brother Scott was involved.This came as a relief to Rhys because the finger
of suspision had briefly pointed at him
as being involved , but word had also got out about how he had left Kane there
to die and many people were appalled.He had to suffer whispering and dirty
looks , and was not handling it very well. "Why don't you go and see Kane , he knows the sort of thing you are going through
and you need to apologise to feel better about yourself."Dani's advice was good
, but Rhys didn't know if he had the courage to face Kane after what he had
done.He felt so ashamed.And what about Kirsty,no one had told her yet , but it
was only a matter of time.
With a heavy heart , having had a sleepless night , Rhys set off for the hospital.He
knew he had to do this , but it was so hard, and why should Kane understand or
forgive him.He couldn't understand or justify his actions to himself.
He noticed the little dog and the guilt came pouring back. He was sweating when he entered Kane's room.To
his relief Kirsty was not there.
"Hello." Said Rhys , feeling extremely uncomfortable. "Isn't Kirsty
here."
"Hey."Kane looked equally uncomfortable. "She's gone to school.I felt
bad about her missing so much already to be here for me.She's coming back after
if you're looking for her."
"No it's really you I've come to see.I need to
apologise .You remembered that I saw what happened , you know Alex and Hayley
didn't find you until an hour or so later.You could have died in that hour.I
did nothing.I could have called an ambulance ,the police , but instead I went
home and did nothing.I want you to know that I know it was wrong I bitterly
regret it.The hatred , the bile in me , I hate what it's turned me into I don't
know if you or Kirsty can ever forgive me , I can't forgive myself."
Rhys was shaking and had to sit down.Kane had known what Rhys had done but hadn't
expected him to come in.Hadn't expected an apology.
"Kirsty doesn't know , I haven't told her." Kane replied not knowing
quite what to say. "And I know you hate me , I deserve that , so I kind of know
why you did it.Probably thought all your problems would be solved, but it would
have hurt Kirsty if I'd died , I know you don't believe it , I can't believe it
, but she does love me. It is real between me and Kirsty , you know and we
didn't do this to hurt anyone , not you or Dani , it just happened and it's
heaps too big for us to ignore.I just want Kirsty to be happy , I'd die
tomorrow if I thought it would make her happy , you've got to believe that."
"I do believe it.But I can't just forget the past.I don't know how Dani has coped so
well.She's much stronger than me."
"Dani is amazing , all your daughters are , and if I could go back and change what
happened with Dani then I would.I was a different person then , I was angry at
everyone , my brother had just gone inside I hated everyone , everyone hated me
, I don't know why I did it , I was so confused , so low , putting on a hard
front when I was just scared and lonely.And then blaming Dani when it was all
my fault . You don't need to apologise to me I deserved what you did , it's
Kirsty you need to apologise to.She's the one been sat here crying.Me I got
another beating courtesy of my brother , it's not the first time , but she's
not used to it, that sort of life.I feel so bad putting her through this."
This was not what Rhys had expected.He thought Kane would gloat , be pleased to have
the upper hand , but all he showed was concern for Kirsty.
"No one should be so used to getting beatings that it doesn't matter.This isn't
your fault , you didn't ask your brother to organize this, and Kirsty is strong
, she'll be OK now you're on the mend.What I did was wrong and there's no
excuse.I am sorry." The two men shook hands , an uneasy truce had been made.Rhys would never fully
accept Kane , but he knew he would let Kirsty carry on seeing him without
interfering , and he would try and build bridges with Kirsty.That was what both
of them wanted.They agreed on it.
Kirsty got a huge shock when she arrived at the hospital from school
.There was her dad pushing Kane outside in a wheelchair ,Shadow trotting along
beside them.