Page 63 of A Snowy Seaside Christmas
Lark rushed back to the panel, scrabbling down the tunnel, pressing her hand against the cold, damp wall to steady herself. Her torch quickly picked out Nate and Bobby on the floor.
‘Nate, it’s me, Lark, I’m back. An ambulance is on its way and so are my dad and Louisa. One of them is going to flag the ambulance down at the end of the lane.’
The moan that came from Nate was so weak, Lark only just heard it.
Emotion squeezed in her chest, making it hard for her to breathe. Tears were pouring down her cheeks now. She reached for his hand and pressed her face to his cheek, her hair spillingover him, the chill from his skin making fear her overriding emotion.
‘Stay with me, Nate. Please stay with me. The ambulance will be here soon. Please don’t go to sleep.’
Bobby whimpered and nudged Nate with his nose.
Thoughts started piling into Lark’s mind. What if…?Don’t think that!She couldn’t let Nate think she didn’t care for him, that he was nothing more than a mistake.
Realisation hit her like a lightning bolt, her heart thumping harder than ever. This was it! This was what she’d been picking up on for all these years. The warnings telling her she wouldn’t have a future with Nate. They were all pointing to this very moment.
But she needed to take control, needed to tell him. Needed to make sure he knew.
‘Nate, I love you. I love you with all my heart. And I always have. I’m so sorry I let my stupid senses and premonitions get in the way. But all I know is that I love you. And I want to be with you.’ She pressed a soggy kiss to his cheek, his skin cold and yet clammy. ‘Please stay strong. Please, Nate. Please.’
Nate gave a barely discernible groan.
The sound of feet thudding on the floorboards above were followed by a shout of, ‘Lark!’
‘Down here, Dad. It’s the wooden panel that’s slightly open.’
‘Got it.’
Moments later, Silas had joined them, the extra light from his torch showing that Nate had sustained a nasty bump to his head Lark hadn’t spotted before.
‘Nate, lad, stay strong for us,’ Silas said, his voice soothing and yet firm.
In the distance came the faint screeching of an ambulance siren.
FORTY
Nate was propped up on his pillows in the hospital bed, a dressing covering the wound on his head, his right arm in a sling. He was hooked up to a variety of monitors and drips. Despite all of this, Lark was relieved to see he was finally getting some colour back to his cheeks.
She’d been sitting in the chair beside him for the last hour and a half, watching as he slept, his eyelids fluttering, long, dark lashes resting on his cheeks. It had been two days since he’d been admitted to Middleton-le-Moors hospital suffering from hyperthermia and concussion thanks to the bump on his head, along with three broken ribs and a badly bruised arm. The doctors said it was lucky he’d been found when he had. Much longer and it would’ve been a very different story. Their words had sent an icy shiver running through Lark.
But that wasn’t the only diagnosis he’d received. While he was undergoing the great slew of tests to make sure he hadn’t sustained any hidden injuries, a mild heart murmur had been detected. The medical team had informed him that it was probably the result of him being anaemic – something else their tests picked up – which had put his heart under pressure,making it work harder. The anaemia also explained why Nate had been so pale and tired.
Lark realised she’d been right to be worried about his health. Granted, what had been making him unwell wasn’t as serious as it had been for Greer, but it was these symptoms that had contributed to the increased intensity of the vibes she’d picked up about Nate. They’d been sending her a warning, albeit a confusing one.
But watching him now as he slept, Lark couldn’t resist the temptation any longer. She leant over and gently brushed her lips over his. It terrified her how close they’d come to losing him down in that tunnel. The doctor had told her she’d reached him at a crucial time. Any later and he might not have been so lucky. The implications of the doctor’s words didn’t bear thinking about. Lark would never have forgiven herself if he’d… She scrunched her eyes tight shut, unable to even think about that outcome. He’d never have gone to Crayke’s Cottage on his own if it hadn’t been for what she’d said to him.
She kissed him again and his eyes pinged open. She felt his mouth pulling into a small smile.
‘Hey, you,’ she said, nuzzling her nose against his.
‘Hey, you back.’ Though his smile was weak it still managed to reach his eyes. ‘Am I dreaming? Or did you just kiss me?’ he asked, his voice hoarse.
‘You’re not dreaming.’ She kissed him again to prove it.
‘Cool.’ He smiled again before closing his eyes. Lark sat back down on the seat. ‘Didn’t think I was going to get out.’
‘You mean from the cellar at Crayke’s Cottage?’ She couldn’t imagine how that must’ve felt.
He nodded. ‘Felt so cold, everything was so dark. Hearing your voice brought me back. That and Bobby’s breath. Man, it’s strong.’ His mouth quirked into another smile and Lark couldn’t help but laugh.
