Paradise (28 page)

There was absolutely no way that she was in love with Matthew, who was a sweet enough guy but had the conversational abilities of a thirteen year old, and that was probably being disrespectful to teenagers. If not ugly – and several of Simone’s former footballing lovers had been dog ugly – he was definitely plain, not hot or sexy, or clever, or charming, or funny . . . or any of the things that Cal and Ethan were. Simone had done her time with the footballing fraternity as a WAG and never received a proposal; no wonder she was going for it
with Matthew. It was hardly as if her acting career was going to take off.

Angel just didn’t know whether to feel sorry for Matthew or not. Maybe Simone would continue to be sweetness and light to him when they were married. But didn’t he have a right to know what he was getting into with her? Angel couldn’t help thinking that he was being taken for a ride, and that he should at least know the full facts about his fiancée before he took it.

‘So maybe Angel could be your maid-of-honour, honey?’ he said eagerly to Simone. ‘I know that I’d like Ethan to be my best man.’

Cue back-slapping between the two men and exclamations of, ‘Oh, man!’

It was possibly the most inappropriate comment Matthew could have come up with, not that he knew any of the history between the two women. Angel just looked at Simone, wondering how she was going to get out of this one.

‘Actually, Matthew, I was going to ask Gemma. Remember, I’ve talked about her? She was so kind to me when I was going through that difficult time just after I left rehab.’ Simone turned and shot a challenging look at Angel as if to say, See, he does know about my past. ‘And it would be kind of weird as Angel was married to Cal Bailey who I went out with absolutely years ago. Not that there’s any bad feeling between me and Angel, as you can see.’ Another comment designed to show Angel that Simone hadn’t kept things from Matthew, which had Angel reaching again for her glass of champagne.

But does he know you were an escort? she thought. Or that you stalked Cal and he nearly took an injunction out against you? Or that, whatever act you’re putting on now, you’re still in love with Cal Bailey?

‘My God, your friend’s a fast worker!’ Ethan exclaimed after they’d finally shown the couple out. It was after one and to Angel it had felt as if they were never going to leave. Simone was milking her new role as Matthew’s fiancée for all she was worth.

‘She certainly is,’ Angel said dryly, wondering how to break the news to Ethan that his friend’s fiancée was a super-bitch. The couple were in the kitchen; Angel had just poured herself a glass of water. She’d drunk far too much champagne and knew she was going to feel rough in the morning, but it had been the only way to get through a night with Simone. ‘Did you tell Matthew about the break in?’ she asked, remembering Simone’s earlier comment.

Ethan frowned. ‘No way. I only told Logan and my coach.’

‘Simone knew about it.’

A shrug from Ethan. ‘Maybe Matthew overheard me talking to Logan in the dressing room. Don’t worry about it, babe, she’s a friend.’

Ethan was leaning against the breakfast bar. Angel walked over to him and slid her arm under his. ‘To be honest, Ethan, I’m really not at all close to Simone. I don’t want her to come to our wedding.’

Ethan sighed, ‘Babe, I’ve asked them now. I can’t go back on it. Besides, it’s only for the reception; you won’t have to see much of her.’

‘It’s just . . . there are things you don’t know about her.’ And Angel was about to bite the bullet and fill Ethan in on Simone’s true nature when her mobile rang. She frowned as she picked up her phone and saw her mum’s name flash up. It wasn’t like Michelle to phone her so late. ‘Mum? Is everything okay?’ she asked.

But her mum was crying so much she could hardly get the words out. ‘Angel, it’s your dad . . . He’s had a heart attack . . . he’s in hospital.’

A shocking feeling of dread rushed through Angel. ‘He’s going to be all right, isn’t he?’

A sob from her mum as she replied, ‘They don’t know yet. Oh, Angel, please come home.’

THE REST OF
that night and the following day was a blur of panic, fear and apprehension as Ethan took control and sorted everything out for her, from booking her tickets to packing. Angel herself was a wreck. She was in no state to look after Honey, and they both felt it was best if the little girl stayed behind with Lucy. Ethan couldn’t come back with Angel as he had a really important game coming up and couldn’t miss it. On the flight she was unable to think of anything but her dad. The thought of him dying was unbearable. At times theirs had been a difficult relationship, Frank could be very over-protective and often Angel had resented this, taken it to mean that he didn’t love her, when the opposite was true.

Angel had expected that her brother Tony would meet her at the airport, but it was Cal. Her intense anxiety about her dad swept away any trace of awkwardness at being with her ex-husband. As soon as he saw her, Cal enfolded her in a hug. ‘It’ll be okay,’ he told her. But he didn’t sound certain, and he looked exhausted. ‘I’ll take you straight there. Tony didn’t want to leave him, which is why I’m here.’

Angel looked at Cal, her eyes welling up with more tears, ‘Oh my God, is it that bad?’ she exclaimed, remembering how her brother had said that he would
never be able to forgive himself if he wasn’t there when his mum and dad passed away, after missing the final moments of their late granddad whom they’d both adored.

Cal held her gaze. ‘I’m not going to lie to you. He’s in Intensive Care at the moment.’

His own eyes filled with tears then. Frank had been a father figure to Cal after his own dad had walked out when he was just three years old, leaving him to be brought up, or rather neglected, by his alcoholic mother. Angel knew that Cal believed it was only Frank’s intervention in his life that had helped him to make something of himself.

Angel was exhausted after the long flight but nothing was going to stop her from seeing her dad. But even knowing that he was in Intensive Care did not prepare her for seeing him lying there in the hospital bed, attached to a drip and heart monitors, a ventilator breathing for him. This helpless man did not look like her dad who was always so full of life, such a huge presence in any room. She was so caught up in looking at him that she hardly registered her mum sitting next to the bed, along with Tony.

‘Angel!’ her mum exclaimed, standing up. ‘Thank God you’re here!’ She clung on to her daughter, sobbing into her shoulder. Angel found herself comforting her, stroking her hair, and saying ‘It’s all right, Mum,’ as Michelle wept.

‘Managed to drag yourself away from your fiancé then?’ Tony said bitterly. His face was a mask of pent-up pain.

Angel was stung by his words. ‘I came as soon as I knew!’

‘Dad’s not been well for a while, and worrying about you marrying that man hasn’t helped. You’ve always been the one who’s brought stress on this family.’

It was so typical of Tony to lash out at her as a way of handling his own pain, but that didn’t make it any less hurtful. Angel was about to defend herself when Cal spoke. ‘Don’t be like this, Tony. Frank having a heart attack has got nothing to do with Angel; she’s as upset as you are.’

At this Tony’s shoulders sagged. He reached out for Angel’s hand. ‘Yeah, you’re right, I’m sorry. Come on, sit down and talk to him, I’m sure he’d like to hear your voice.’

Angel sat by the side of Frank’s bed and gently put her hand over his, careful not to disturb the drip. ‘Hi Dad,’ she said quietly. ‘This is quite a state you’ve got yourself in. I told you to cut back on the beer and the fry ups and the fags, and you promised you would. When you get better, I’m going to give you a real ear bashing. In fact, even better, I’m going to get you a personal trainer . . . a really tough one, to get you back into shape!’

Angel did her very best to keep her voice upbeat in spite of the tears that kept blurring her eyes. Frank gave no indication that he had heard her. His eyes remained shut and the only sound was the regular ‘whooshing’ of the ventilator and the beep-beep-beep of the monitor. ‘Anyway, I love you, Dad, and just want you to get better. We all do.’

She turned and looked at her mum then. Michelle was pale and drawn and looked absolutely exhausted; Angel doubted that she would have been home since Frank was brought in. ‘Mum, why don’t you go home and get some rest? I’ll stay here with Dad. And you, Tony, you both look shattered.’

Michelle shook her head and said determinedly, ‘I’m not leaving him.’

‘Me neither,’ Tony added.

Angel looked at Cal, who shrugged and said, ‘I think
it’s best if we all stay.’ He sat down at the opposite side of the bed from Angel, and so began one of the most emotional nights of her life. They all took it in turn to talk to Frank, or rather to lead the conversation, allowing each of them to shut their eyes for a break while the others spoke about subjects dear to Frank’s heart – his beloved Chelsea, the youth team, when Cal was going to teach Honey to play football – and all the time Frank’s eyes remained closed and there was no sign that he could hear them. Every fifteen minutes the nurses came to check on him, walking quietly in, checking his drip and the monitor, writing up comments on his chart, but giving no indication about how he was doing. At some point Angel quietly left the room to go to the bathroom and Cal followed her out.

‘Do you think he’ll get better?’ Angel asked, leaning against the wall which was painted a sickly green. The overhead fluorescent lights hurt her eyes and the antiseptic hospital smell was giving her a pounding headache.

Cal looked back at her. ‘I don’t know, Angel. Your dad’s a fighter, but he had a massive heart attack. He nearly died. Your mum and Tony won’t admit it, but it’s not good. I’m sorry.’

Angel put her hand up to her face and then Cal took a step towards her and put his arms round her and she reached for him. For a while they just held each other tight. They didn’t say anything, they just needed the comfort that only they could give each other. Angel felt so safe, so protected in his arms, she didn’t want to move.

Gemma arrived around 5 a.m. It was so good to see her friend. They all needed Gemma’s bright smile and natural optimism as they were feeling exhausted and low. Angel tried again to persuade her mum to have a break, but Michelle stood her ground and in the end it
was she who persuaded Angel to go home and get some rest. She was now so jetlagged and exhausted she couldn’t even see straight. Although she tried to protest, they all insisted and eventually she gave in, telling them she’d grab a couple of hours’ sleep then return.

Back home she went upstairs to her old bedroom where she didn’t even bother to get undressed but climbed into bed fully clothed. She vaguely thought about phoning Ethan but was too tired. She didn’t know how long she had been asleep when she became aware of Cal calling her name. It must be a dream, she often dreamt of Cal. But then the voice grew more persistent: ‘Angel, wake up.’

Feeling as if her body was made of concrete, she reluctantly she opened her eyes. Cal was standing by the bed. ‘I tried phoning but there was no reply. I thought you’d want to know that Frank’s awake . . . he’s been asking for you. I’ll take you back to the hospital.’

‘I’ve got to see him!’ Angel exclaimed, summoning all her energy to get out of bed. She was so wobbly with exhaustion she almost lost her balance, and instantly Cal held her to him.

‘It’s going to be all right, Angel,’ he murmured, and kissed the top of her head.

In that instant, with his arms round her, and his body against hers, and all her defences down, Angel felt a flash of desire for him that made her long to stay in his arms. But somehow she pulled herself out of the embrace and went to the bathroom where she quickly showered. She looked terrible, her eyes puffy and bloodshot, but she didn’t care. All that mattered was seeing her dad.

Frank was very weak when they saw him, but he managed to speak and hold Angel’s hand. ‘You haven’t got rid of me yet,’ he whispered.

‘I’d never want to get rid of you!’ she exclaimed, tears streaming down her face. She’d cried more in the last few days than at any other time in her life.

He managed a smile. ‘I know that, love. I don’t suppose you brought that daughter of yours? I could do with seeing her happy face, instead of being surrounded by you miserable lot.’ Talking so much made him cough. Instantly Michelle was at his side.

‘That’s enough now, Frank, you’re to rest. You heard what the doctor said.’

For once in his life he didn’t attempt to answer back, but shut his eyes and murmured, ‘Yes, love.’

Angel then managed to persuade Michelle and Tony to go home and get some rest while she and Cal stayed with Frank. Her dad slept most of the time. When he woke up he would only be able to talk for a few minutes before once more falling asleep. His body had been through so much, it was going to take time for it to recover, but the doctors seemed more hopeful now. Angel and Cal read the paper and talked quietly, mainly about Honey and Cal’s football academies. Conversation flowed easily between them. They didn’t mention Ethan or the wedding and seemed to be getting on fine until Cal spoke about the future.

‘You know, Frank’s life is really going to change now, Angel,’ he said quietly. ‘He’ll have to cut back on work and completely change his lifestyle . . . the fags, the booze, the unhealthy food . . . it’s going to have to go. Your mum’s going to have her work cut out for her. You know how stubborn your dad is.’ He paused. ‘She’ll really need you. Frank as well.’

Why the hell was he trying to guilt trip her now? ‘And I’ll be there for both of them!’ Angel exclaimed, trying to keep her voice down.

‘How will you do that if you’re in LA?’

‘I’ll come back here more often, and they can come
out and see me. If Dad’s going to work less, he’ll have no excuse not to.’

It really didn’t seem to her like the place to be talking this way. It seemed as if Cal too realised he’d spoken out of turn as he looked at Frank and then hung his head. ‘Sorry. I’m not having a go. This has shaken me up. Made me realise what’s important.’