Page 3 of Tomorrow Belongs to Us
And once I believed he was mine.
Chapter 2
LANCE
I got taken to the hospital straightaway.
Apparently I was floating in and out of consciousness. The doctor said I was lucky that the bullet passed clean through my shoulder without hitting any arteries or bone, and because it was a small bore .22 caliber rifle, a relatively low-powered weapon, the damage wasn’t as bad as it could have been.
I was very lucky. Vivian rushed to be by my bedside, but she’s the last person I want to see. The woman is like a mosquito, irritating, annoying and always hovering around. I even told her as much.
“But I want to be here, darling,” she said, before making a show of holding my hand, and kissing my cheek. She calls me darling when there are other people around, or if she wants something. The smell of her overbearing perfume has fused with the clinical antiseptic smell of the hospital and lingers on my clothes even though I came home a few hours ago.
Not home. But Vivian's place. I can’t shower yet, and I don’t have the energy to either. I can’t do much because I’m still in pain even though I’ve been told recovery should be a few weeks rest and then physio.
“Daddy!” Cassie charges into the room. Seeing her makes my heart burst with happiness, a surge of joy blasts through my veins. I sit up too fast, then yelp when the pain hits me. I'm shirtless, and I feel as if I'm floating on a cloud. Those painkillers are strong, but I feel the pain of Cassie’s jolt. Vivian’s face is inches away from me, she clasps my hand harder, as if she cares.
“Let go, Vivian,” I hiss under my breath as Cassie clambers up onto the bed.
“Daddy, you're awake!” she shrieks and brushes against my bandaged shoulder as she snuggles up against my side. I wince, then ask her to move to the other side, to my 'good shoulder' side.
She obliges, then scoots off the bed before running around and clambering up the other side. I'm trying to rest, but there’s no chance of that with my little girl here. I'm going home soon, but Vivian insisted I come back here because Cassie wanted to see me. I wanted to see my darling daughter too.
“Does it hurt, Daddy?” Doe-like brown eyes peer at my shoulder which is covered in a dressing.
“Not as much now that you’re here.” I smile at her, and she smiles back. My body lights up and I float in a bubble of happiness. I love this little girl so much. I’d die for her. I was lucky I didn’t get killed in protecting that student, but now that I’ve had time to reflect, I realize that I could have died. And then Cassie would have no daddy, and only Vivian to raise her.
Life choices.
I couldn’t not shield the student from harm.
I didn’t think of myself. I thought of her.
I am lucky things didn’t turn out differently. With my good arm, I hug my daughter even closer to me. I want to hold her forever.
“Mommy says you're going to stay here.” She stares up at me, her eyes gleaming with hope. I'm in too much pain to find a good answer. She hates me being away, but moving away from her was something I had to do to preserve my sanity.
“Oh, Sweetpea.” I falter, trying to find the right words that won't shatter her little heart. It's been hard leaving her, even though it was easy to walk out of the marital home which belongs to my soon-to-be ex-wife. We told Cassie that I was leaving home and moving to be nearer the college where I teach. The innocence of childhood meant that she accepted this without question. One day I hope to tell her the truth.
Vivian and I have drifted so far apart, that the marriage exists in name only.
“Please, Daddy. You got shot. You could have died.” I hate that she has already thought of this. This little girl who is careening towards her teenage years. It’s only for her that I tried for so long to make my marriage work. It was hard to ignore the infidelities; Vivian has no moral compass. My lack of attention and affection over the years, because of this, made her hate me even more.
“Must you make it sound as if this is a prison for you?” Vivian gets up, displeased. “Think of your daughter if nothing else.”
I smile at Cassie. “Alright, Sweetpea. I'll stay tonight.”
My little girl’s lips curve upwards and her eyes light up. “Can we watch a film?” she asks, getting off the bed, knowing my answer.
“We can watch anything you want.”
She gives me another goofy grin. Two of her upper teeth have fallen out and she looks cute. “I'll get snacks.” She disappears and Vivian, who has been sitting on a chair by the bed, leans forward and places her hand against my bare chest. I instinctively flinch.
“You don't have to stay by my side. You don’t have to pretend to play the dutiful, faithful wife.” I emphasize the ‘faithful.’
“I want to be here in case you need me.”
“I'd rather you weren't,” I mutter.
