Chapter 19
Guilt washed all over him!
How did Rash forget not to take his eyes off Gem? Especially given that she's received the news that no one would like to hear. There was no right way to have come to terms with that news!
Deep down, he was secretly seething with the idiot! Whether it was the owner of the car. Whether it was witnesses who saw the keys going missing and not saying anything. Or whether it was the thief who had stolen the keys in the first place!
To think, if the keys were still there, then this wouldn't have happened.
Iain and Lily. They'd still be alive if someone hadn't stolen the keys.
They wouldn't be saying goodbye to them tomorrow.
Grabbing his phone, Rash knew he needed to let Charlie know.
Gem needs to be found before she does anything reckless.
"You didn't need to take me home," Sam whispered taking each footstep towards the car park, "I would have managed."
"I just wanted to make sure that you're alright," Dylan assured her.
Sam was unsure about how she should be feeling. On the one hand, with the news that Lily and Iain were engaged, she should have been happy. Lily at least knew that Iain would propose to her, and Iain learned the answer that Lily would have given him. But it made what cruelly happened to them even harder to bear.
Especially given that the teenager responsible for the accident was still alive.
She must have been, otherwise the news would have reported it.
"Thank you for letting me know Rash."
Jan ended the call, feeling sick given the news.
The teenager was joyriding. So, Iain and Lily lost their baby, their loved one and their lives, because some bored teenager decided to have a bit of fun and steal a car! How does that make any sense? That they're gone because of a teenager's selfish decision.
What the Hell was the motivation behind the decision?
Maybe she was angry because she failed her driving test? Or she passed her test, but to her annoyance, her parents refused to get her a car? Or maybe she was trying to impress a bad boy?
No wonder Gem did a runner!
"Jan?" she turned to face Duffy, "Is everything okay?"
"I've just had a call from Rash," Jan mentioned, grabbing her phone, "Gem's gone missing! The police were round talking to them about the accident. They've found the second car that was involved."
"So, they've got hints over who's responsible?" Duffy asked.
"No," Jan tearfully answered, "That car was reported as stolen. Turns out whoever hit them had stolen the car. To think, this could have been avoided had someone kept a better eye on their car keys."
Duffy was shocked to learn this. It was a chain reaction.
First, someone took their eyes away and left their keys behind.
Then someone else stole them, drove the car and then crashed.
And to add insult to injury, she left the three of them there. If she had called emergency services, they may have gotten there sooner.
And Iain and Lily would still be alive!
"This is disgusting," Duffy mentioned, "Someone clearly didn't teach their child responsibility!"
"It's sickening," Jan mentioned, "Especially considering Lily was."
Jan froze the second the sentence was nearly said.
"Lily was what?" Duffy asked, before realising, "Please. Jan. Tell me she wasn't."
"She was," Jan admitted, "A test was found in the wreckage. It was positive. And I'm pretty confident Iain knew as well."
Duffy needed a sit down, fear flushed all over her. Charlie mentioned that Dylan was saddened when her had to call time on Lily's death. But he suddenly went quiet a few hours later. Duffy even noticed he was in a state of shock when he arrived to work the next morning.
He must have been the one who found the test.
Jan sat herself down on the sofa, tears were starting to form in her eyes. Not realising how devastated she must have been following the news that Lily was having a baby. She suddenly had visions.
What would have happened if Iain had pulled through, only to be told Lily hadn't made it?
He would have been devastated.
Jan knew Iain had known about the pregnancy for two reasons. One, he was always stingy about food. Complaining whenever someone grabs food out of his hand. But yet, when Lily did it the morning it happened, he never complained or spend the rest of journey grumbling that she did it? Either he'd gotten used to it (given she did it the day before they left for their trip and he was ranting about it for the entire shift, Jan doubted it) or he knew that she was pregnant and felt as if she needed it more. Two, the voicemail was a clear giveaway about what Iain was going to ask Sam to do.
He was going to tell Sam the news that he was going to be a dad.
"She was pregnant?"
Jan and Duffy quickly turned around to face Louise. How much of their conversation had she overheard? Was the pregnancy the only thing she heard? Did she hear about the news that the idiot responsible was joyriding?
"How much did you hear?" Duffy asked her.
"To know that the crash was caused by reckless," Louise looked around, "And that Lily was pregnant. I'm sorry, I can't believe this."
The pair watched as Louise ran out of the room, running past a confused Jacob and Elle. Looking towards the two, they realised that sooner or later, word was going to come out. The engagement, the baby, the cause of the crash.
"Is everything okay?" Elle asked.
"I think a meeting is needed," Jan sighed.
Dylan and Sam walked through the doors to the level where Dylan's car was parked, when they've spotted a figure. A head buried within her knees, shrouded by a grey hood. Her arms wrapped around her bent knees. Silent sobs came from the young woman.
Sam walked over to the figure, wanting to know what she was doing here. Especially when it isn't safe.
"You're alright Miss?" Sam approached her, only for the eyes to reveal herself, "Gem? What are you doing here?"
Sam lowered herself to meet Gem at eye-level. What was she doing here? In this cold car park? All alone? At the level when no one would be able to see her. Where a car could have easily hit her.
"What are you doing here?" Sam asked, helping to pull her up, "You could easily get hurt here."
"Just like Lily did," Gem mentioned, "The police came to see me and Rash. We've learned that the driver responsible for the crash had been joyriding."
Sam felt her blood boil. What started her day off with shock and sadness, had now started to fill with rage! So, Iain and Lily died, not just because someone had been reckless, but also because someone was foolish enough to leave their keys behind! Their engagement lasted a day, because of reckless and a lack of responsibility from numerous parties.
"I've found myself here," Gem whispered, "I remembered stealing the keys from Iain's car. I knew he hated me, but I needed to talk to someone. I've called Lily and then sped along the car park. I, I hit her. I nearly killed her."
Dylan remembered this sadly. Gem and Lily were close at that point, so it shook him to suspect that she played a horrible role in what happened to Lily. Luckily, they were able to save her that time.
Where was that lifeline now?
"I went over to her hospital bedside to apologise," Gem whispered, "I apologised to her. But Lily told me, 'There was nothing to apologise for'. She and Iain were both prepared to protect me. But I didn't deserve it."
Sam felt saddened. She knew Gem had done time for the accident. Certain that making the decision to drink behind the wheel, steal her brother's car, was going to haunt her for the rest of her life.
Especially given what would become of Lily years later.
"I feel as if I'm letting them both down," Gem whispered, "I want to hate the person responsible. I want to wish the person responsible had died instead of them. I want to go and find the person to murder them. But then I remembered what happened with me and Lily. I felt so guilty, but she, she forgave me. And I don't know why, but I wondered if Iain and Lily would have forgiven her for her actions. Because she made a stupid mistake. But I feel as if I should be angry with her. But I can't."
Sam and Dylan sat beside her. Dylan to her right, Sam to her left. Dylan wrapped an arm around her, stroking her arm. Sam wondered deeply if Gem had a point.
Would Iain have forgiven the girl?
Would Lily?
Or would they have wished her to die a horrible death?
Sam closed her eyes. That's the thing. They wouldn't wish that.
They would have forgiven her.
"I think there's somewhere we should be," Sam whispered, turning to them both, "We need to go to Charlie's. There's something we need to give to Lily, before we say goodbye."
"Joyriding?"
Everyone felt sick to hear the news. This wasn't fair! Ethan's life has now been ruined because of irresponsibility. Iain and Lily are dead thanks to it! They're all in disbelief to learn that the matter had took away, and cruelly at that, two skilled heroes.
"I don't believe this," Jacob growled, "Who would be so irresponsible to leave their keys behind?"
"They haven't told us," Jan mentioned, before sighing, "But there's something else you all needed to know. Before someone else finds out."
Everyone all looked at each other. There's more?
"When we were removing Iain and Lily from the wreckage," Jan explained, fighting the tears, "Two things were found. First was the engagement ring. It was on a chain around Lily's neck."
"Iain proposed to her early," Ruby concluded, "Wait, shouldn't it be on her finger?"
"Iain knew how into plans Lily was," Robyn mentioned, "So, they must have decided to allow him to follow his original plan before they've made things official."
"I have a feeling Lily found the ring beforehand," Louise smiled sadly, "You can't run anything past her."
Everyone smiled at the thought. That was the first happy memory they all shared about Lily Chao since, since it happened.
"Wait," Elle mentioned, "What was the second thing?"
Duffy and Jan looked at each other, before Jan finally sighed, "A pregnancy test. A positive one at that."
Eyes widened at the statement! Judging by the expressions of everyone, it was a mixture of shock, sadness and anger. No one would have expected to hear this news, no one in the slightest. To lose someone is one thing, but to find that their future would have been set in stone. It's enough to break everyone.
There was no right time to mention about this. But Jan knew anytime, would have been better than in that church, or at the wake tomorrow.
Dylan, Sam and Gem waited at the door. Sam wrapped her arms around a frozen Gem, bundled up with Dylan's coat. Between leaving the car park to drive to Charlie's, the ground had yet another coating of snow. Sam wondered how Dylan was able to stand the cold, maybe it was down to living in that boat for decades.
The three watched as the door opened.
"Hello," Charlie greeted, "I had a feeling someone was coming today. The funeral directors have just left. Do you want to talk to them?"
Sam nodded sadly. Maybe this, maybe this was a bad idea to come. Tempted to walk away.
But the ring needed to go to Lily. Even though she'd be buried with Iain, there would still be a layer between the two of them. Lily, still need something with her. Something that would give her a reminder that Iain was with her as she rested in her eternal slumber.
The ring needed to be with Lily.
"I had a text from Sam," Ruby explained to Rash and Jan, "They found Gem. She was at a car park. Don't know why she went there."
Relief washed over the two of them. That was a blessing. Last thing anyone needed to hear was Gem going missing, especially since tomorrow was going to be a difficult day.
"Robyn's also told me," Rash whispered, "Lily was pregnant?"
"The day was found at the wreckage," Jan mentioned, "Dylan only found out after she died. Iain also proposed to her during the weekend."
"I've messaged Alicia as well," Ruby explained, "Ethan had told her he's not going to the funeral tomorrow."
Jan couldn't blame him. He's going through a lot. Broken arm. Broken heart. Broken man. Tomorrow was going to be a difficult day, and now he could be hearing news that one of the fatalities was pregnant.
Which reminded her.
"I don't think it's a good idea for Gem or Ethan to find out about the baby," Jan whispered, "They don't need the extra heartbreak."
"Do you really think someone would be that heartless to tell them?" Ruby mentioned, "It would rip them to shreds. It's the last thing Ethan needs."
"I'm scared that someone could ask him if they've told him," Jan whispered, broken, "We didn't want to tell anyone. Especially considering now it seems unlikely the person will get caught."
"You don't think the person will get found out?" Rash asked shocked.
"It was a teenager who caused this," Jan reminded him, "I know what will happen. Their parents will do whatever it takes to ensure they don't get found out."
"Sounds like that child was spoilt," Ruby growled, "Either that or the parents were more concerned about the reputation of the families."
"Who knows?" Rash mentioned, "But there are three people, no five people who paid the price due to somebody's actions."
"Duffy's just called me," Charlie mentioned to Dylan and Sam outside, "Is it true Dylan?"
"Is what true?" Dylan asked Charlie confused.
"Lily," Charlie informed him, "Jan told us about the test. Please tell me it's not true."
Dylan took one look at Sam, not knowing what to say. Words couldn't express what he was thinking. Especially with Sam sitting beside him. A part of him had thought about the voicemail. Early days.
Something told Dylan that Iain knew Lily was pregnant.
"It's true," Dylan choked up, turning to Sam, "I think that's what Iain was telling you in that voicemail."
"What's true?" Sam asked confused, before remembering, "Did you say test?"
Pulling her phone out, Sam looked through her voicemails. Desperately searching for the first (and last) one she could find from Iain.
"Charlie," Sam whispered, "I don't want Gem to hear this."
"I'll keep an eye on her," Charlie mentioned, walking back inside, turning his head round the doorframe, "It'd be too cold for her to go out anyway."
"Thank you," Sam whispered, as they watched him leave.
Dylan wanted to make sure that Sam felt okay before she heard the message in full. Whatever was in that voicemail, had the last words that Iain Dean had for Sam Nicholls. A man who she admitted to had used because she was bored of him. Iain once hated her, but he then became her best friend, her confidant.
"Here goes," Sam sighed, turning to Dylan, "Please, promise me. Whatever you do, do not let me stop this."
Taking her hand, Dylan whispered, "I promise."
Tears forming her eyes, Sam leaned to her side, pressing play next to Iain's name. Handing the phone over, Dylan rested it beside himself as he took Sam's hand. Feeling her squeeze it gently, they listened carefully to Iain's final words to Sam.
"Hi Sam, it's me, well my name should appear on the dial. Unless you've deleted me by mistake."
Sam snorted at that statement. Typical Iain.
"Well, the weekends been eventful but for all the right rea-cut that out Chuckles! I will get you back for that! Turns out I've been a bit of an idiot. Why did no one tell me I hid it in the worst possible place?"
"He was talking about the ring," Sam laughed silently, "Lily must have found it.
"Long story cut short, may have to hold off my new year resolution to late November time. Lily and I, we've just found something out. I'll explain more on Tuesday as I kind of need a favour. It's early days so we've agreed on just telling one person. Anyway, after I tell you, please do me a favour? Please don't tell Gem that you knew before she did. It's going to take us ages to prepare and if she finds out you knew before she did, I'll be heading for an early grave!"
"That's where I ended it before," Sam mentioned, "It was those words that upset me."
"I doubt Iain would have known what would had happened," Dylan reassured her, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.
"He wouldn't," Sam smiled sadly.
"Besides, it'd be best if I've told Gem about this in person."
"We're going to get a mug for her. Wait, don't we need to come up with a bigger idea?"
Sam's eyes widened. The voicemail also had Lily speaking through it as well.
"We can brainstorm ideas now that you've wrecked my plan to propose!"
"You were the one who hid the engagement ring in the cutlery drawer."
"Iain," Sam laughed quietly, "What were you thinking? Of course, she was going to find it there!"
"I'll tell you what, I'll hand the ring back to you. You can go through with your plan on Monday."
"Too late now, you already know. Wait, it's not official until it's on your finger. So, if you put it on the chain you're wearing now. Then I'll do it on Monday. Then, it'll be official."
"Should we be having this conversation on a voicemail to someone else?"
"Sorry, Sam. I've forgotten about you."
Sam smiled at the debate; it would explain why the ring was on the chain in the first place. They've just gotten engaged at that moment.
"Anyway, we're asking you because, well I'm excited. And it's all you'll hear me say everyday until retirement. But we need your help for your keen taste in design, and your ability to keep things a secret. Well, I'll tell you. I'm going to be a daddy!"
"I'm pregnant!"
Closing his eyes, Dylan suddenly felt guilty. He was the one who called time on Lily's death when she was brought in. He was the one who found the pregnancy test at the site of the crash. If only he opened it up before. Maybe he would have told the team that they can't give up saving Lily's life. And Iain, if he had pulled through, he'd have been devasted. Not only would he had learned he lost Lily, but he would have also learned that their baby had died as well.
Sam begun to sob. Iain and Lily. Their lives were all set in stone, only to be taken away from them.
"We've only found out two hours ago. Then Lily let slip that she knew about the ring."
"If you were proposing to me on the seaside, why did you bring it here?"
"We can stop," Dylan offered.
"No," Sam whispered, "I need to hear this."
"Something had told me I should."
"Back to the subject."
"Anyway, I don't want to know if it's a boy or a girl. Neither does Lily."
"We're going to ask them to put it in an envelope so we can design the nursery accordingly. We're going to give it to you. Your taste for design is spot on and I know you'll be brilliant."
"Please let us know. I'll speak to you Tuesday."
The message sadly came to an end. Sam felt saddened. She thought Iain hated her, which was why they never asked her to be executor of their funerals. Turns out, Iain did trust her. Trust her enough to design the perfect nursery. Trust her enough to know something that he didn't want to know until the baby arrived. Trust her enough that she wouldn't be annoyed that he told her on voicemail.
Looking to the sky, Sam finally let the tears fall.
"You, okay?" Dylan asked her.
"I'm sorry you had to keep this from us," Sam sobbed, leaning against him, "We can't tell Gem this. This will only upset her even more."
"I know," Dylan whispered, "It's not fair."
"Gem showed so much maturity," Sam turned her attention to him, "She knew the driver was joyriding. Yet she wasn't angry. She was prepared to forgive her for her actions. But now, even before then, if it was me, she hit, I'd thrown her in prison myself. It proved how big of a person Lily Chao was. Gem may be able to forgive the driver. Iain might have. And Lily would have."
"Sam," Dylan whispered.
"I can't," Sam sobbed, "I'll never forgive her. I hope they catch her. And I hope they let her rot for what she's done."
Gem walked into the room. Holding the ring that Sam had given her, Gem was saddened to know what needed to be done.
It's not fair!
Iain should have been the one to place the ring on Lily's finger.
It's not fair!
Lily should have had the ring on her finger weeks ago.
It's not fair!
Iain and Lily have done nothing wrong, why them?
"Hello," Gem whispered, saddened, looking at the two.
Iain was dressed in his paramedic gear. Looking up, she found his casket lid covered in a spare uniform. Gem smiled, even though Iain was off duty when she lost him, people will still remember him as a hero. Putting his life on the line to help people when they needed someone. Looking at Lily's, her lid was covered with a flag of the logo "NHS". Duffy didn't want everyone to forget the sacrifices that Lily had made as well. Lily was also in her favourite black and white dress. Her hair was neatly brushed and straightened, resting on her pillow like a halo.
"I feel guilty," Gem sniffly chuckled, "I was hoping one of you would wake up. Or that this is one big nightmare. That maybe I was dreaming. But this is real. I've lost you both."
Gem lifted her head up.
"We had some news today. It, it reminded me of what happened at the car park. I remembered seeing you in the hospital Lily."
She looked at her, stroking her cold hand.
"I did the exact thing the young girl did. And you've forgave me, when, when I didn't deserve it,"
Gem wiped her eyes against her sleeve.
"I, I want to hate her. I really do. But then I remembered, I was that young girl once. And both of you, you've forgiven me. And I know, you both would have forgiven her too."
Gem suddenly walked over to Iain, taking his hand.
"Iain. Brother. There was something you once told me that stuck with me. If you can impact just one life, then you've made progress. You did, you looked after me when Mum didn't. You made me top priority. I'm hoping tomorrow, I'm going to read my eulogy. And I promise you, tomorrow, I will make you proud to call me your sister."
Gem moved over to Lily, sliding the engagement ring on her finger.
"And I want you to know, Lily. That I am glad you came into our lives. You've pushed me, encouraged me, inspired me. Even more than mum herself. I want to thank you for agreeing to be part of the family. You've been like a sister to me, you are a sister to me. And I want you to know, that it's because of you, that I don't wish ill will of her. You taught me to be better than that. I love you, Chuckles."
Gem took one look at the two, wiping her eyes. She swore, she was not going to cry any further.
"I promise you both," Gem sighed, "I'm going to make sure you get the send off you both deserve."
