Strings (49 page)

      ‘You’re a nutter, but you’re an abso
lute legend’ Tom told her. In a rare display of emotion he hugged her, and planted a kiss on her forehead. ‘Jay-Den won’t get away with this,’ he promised her. ‘I can’t believe what he tried to do to you.’ There was utter disgust in his tone.

       ‘Oh, Tom, believe me, I won’t rest until that man pays for the thi
ngs he has done to us.’ Melissa said, reaching out for Toby’s hand. Their eyes met and she could see the sorrow in his eyes. ‘And he won’t get away with what he did to Megan either - for what he took away from you both.’ Toby picked her up, holding her tightly.

‘Bring that scum
bag down. He took our chance of a family away, and nearly killed three of the people I love the most.’

‘I am not resting until Jay-Den has everything ripped away from him. Sky Storm Records
had better be prepared for a war. ’ Dale roared.

‘I’m totally in
, nobody does this to us’ Beth chimed, getting up from her seat. Her hand automatically rested on her stomach, patting it.

‘You stay calm,
you have to look after that precious little bump,’ Toby said. ‘It is the one bit of sunshine we have at the moment, so let’s keep it that way.’

Beth felt a lump in her
throat as she thought about what had happened to her friends. They were both such loving people, and she wished she could change it for them. Dale patted his friend on the shoulder, ‘I’ll tell you one thing, there won’t be many kids around with such awesome aunties and uncles.’

There was a moment of peace as they watch
ed Dale take Beth in his arms, kiss her and pat the bump gently. Scared as they were about the massive responsibility a child brings, it now felt ‘right’, and they were up for the challenge. Melissa threw her arms around them, and then the others joined the group hug.

They
all congratulated Melissa again for her heroic (but stupid) rescue mission.

‘Don’t thank me, I
just did what any of you would have done if you found out what I did.’ She said. ‘I just followed my instinct. I would do anything for Luke - or any of you. You’re my family, and I love you all.’

There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

                                                                  *****

Finally, Debbie popped her head round the door. Melissa looked at her, the worry showing on her face.

        ‘Melissa, darling. You can go see him now. I’m sorry I made you wait
— Melissa assured her she understood. ‘Don’t worry, he knows everything. Go, he is desperate to see you.’ Melissa rushed from the room. The relief and the excitement bubbled up inside her as she reached out her hand to open the door to his room. His face lit up as he saw her, and he held his arms out to her. No words were necessary as they embraced …

             
‘Are you OK?’ she asked, as he pushed her hair back so he could see her face fully.

             
‘I am now. Hi, beautiful.’

             
Luke could feel her skinny frame and felt her shaking as she cried.

‘I’m sorry … I’m sorry … I said no
, but he wouldn’t stop,’ she cried. She didn’t know how she’d fought Jay-Den off and it didn’t matter that he hadn’t got what he wanted, she still felt violated. She could still feel his hands on her skin, and she could see him glaring at her when she closed her eyes.

             
‘Don’t be silly, it’s not your fault. I’m so sorry too, for not being there.’

        ‘I’ve been so scared. I thought I had lost you forever’ Melissa sobbed, as his hands stroked her face, wiping her tears away.

        ‘Same here, but I’m home, and we’re both safe now.’

             
Melissa begged him to rest and recover before even thinking about dealing with anything else. Luke promised her he would, and that none of them would be doing anything for that label ever again. They had a lot to answer for, and if they had any sense they’d be prepared for the backlash. He let her cry until she was exhausted.

             
Suddenly, she remembered the only good thing through all of this. ‘Luke, there is some good news.’ A hint of a smile lit up her face. He raised an eyebrow, wondering what good could possibly have come out of the nightmare of the last few weeks.

‘You’re going to be an uncle.’ She waited for it to sink in, which took a good few seconds because his mind was still very foggy from the drugs in his system.
             

             
He looked confused, then the penny dropped.

‘No way, Beth is pregnant?’

              ‘Yep’

             
‘Shit!’

             
Luke was thrilled for his best friends, although he had almost forgotten how to smile. He asked where everyone was. He wanted to thank them all for taking such good care of Melissa. He also missed his best mates. She assured him they were just down the hall and she would get them soon. He took her face in his hands again, and stroked her cheek. ‘Let me see your face properly.’

             
‘No, I’m hideous.’

             
‘I doubt that.’ Luke kept stroking her covered cheek, smiling, and his words calmed her. Melissa closed her eyes so she couldn’t see his expression, then with shaking hands and holding her breath, she peeled off the dressings. The few seconds of silence felt like hours.

             
‘You are still the most beautiful girl in the world, and I love you with all my heart. You saved my life, and I’m so proud of you. They will pay for what they have done, all of them, but the most important thing right now is that we’re both safe, and we’re together. ’

Melissa smiled
for the first time in what seemed like weeks as he trailed soft and gentle kisses over her cheek until she felt his soft, warm lips against hers once again.