Hope Blooms in Tuppenny Bridge (Tuppenny Bridge #5)

Chapter 20

TWENTY

Daisy couldn’t settle. All day she paced up and down the living room, flicked restlessly between channels on the television, made a big pot of chilli, vacuumed the carpets, stared out of the window, and sighed a lot.

It was raining. The market square looked damp and drab and grey, with even the orange and gold autumn decorations which adorned some of the shops failing to brighten the place up. Daisy’s heart kept racing without warning, and she was beginning to wonder if there was something physically wrong with her.

Deep down, though, she knew that she was simply worried. She couldn’t help it. Her stomach churned with nerves, and she felt too sick to even try the chilli, even though she’d concentrated hard on it, and it smelled delicious.

It would help if she could figure out why she felt so scared, but she couldn’t pinpoint the cause.

‘Maybe it’s not anxiety,’ she said out loud, as if the sound of her own voice would calm her down. ‘Maybe it’s excitement.’ After all, she’d just been given the most amazing news. Noah had told her he loved her! And he was finally going to leave Isobel, which was even better news. Everything she’d hoped for was going to happen at last.

But she couldn’t get past the fact that, first, Noah was going to have to tell Isobel that their marriage was over, and how Isobel would react to that Daisy didn’t dare imagine.

‘But he’ll be with Ross,’ she told herself. ‘Ross will keep him safe. She wouldn’t dare do anything in front of him.’

Besides, they had at least two days before they needed to think about it. Out of respect to Leon’s memory Noah wouldn’t say anything until the memorial service was out of the way. She knew that.

So why was her gut telling her that something was badly wrong?

She gazed at her phone, willing it to ping with a message from Noah. She couldn’t ring him, obviously, and she didn’t dare text him unless he texted her first, meaning it was safe for them to talk, but she longed to hear from him.

‘He won’t change his mind,’ she said firmly. ‘If that’s what’s worrying you.’

Was it? She didn’t think it was. She just had a horrible feeling that things were about to go very wrong.

The rain had turned to that annoying drizzle that somehow managed to soak you through even though it didn’t look very much at all. ‘Wet rain,’ her dad used to call it, which had always baffled her when she was little, but which she understood now.

Dusk fell. The sky was dark and heavy, and she thought maybe there’d be more rain later and that the churchyard would be muddy and squelchy for the memorial if it continued. Jennifer had invited her, even though Daisy didn’t know the Callaghans very well at all and had no history in the town.

She wasn’t sure any longer if she’d go, though. It seemed odd to be at the memorial for a person you’d never met, and besides, it might only add to Noah’s anxiety, which was the last thing she wanted for him.

At the thought of him her stomach gave a sickening lurch, and she sank down into the armchair, gripped by a sudden panic she couldn’t explain.

Without hesitating, she grabbed her phone and messaged Bethany, asking for Ross’s number. If Bethany wanted to know why she needed it, she’d make up some excuse. Maybe she could say Ross had asked her to make a cake for the students at the art academy or something. It didn’t matter. She needed to get in touch with him.

Bethany replied within ten minutes, although it felt much, much longer to Daisy. Thankfully, she didn’t ask questions, and Daisy didn’t have to lie or make up an excuse.

She quickly messaged Ross:

Hi Ross, this is Daisy. Have you seen anything of Noah since the harvest festival this morning? I know this sounds stupid, but can you get in touch with him please? Just check that he’s okay. I can’t explain but I’ve got a bad feeling about him, and I just want to know he’s all right.

She pressed send before she could change her mind then leaned back in the armchair, her pulse racing as she waited for a reply. The clock on her phone ticked over and she watched the seconds and minutes go by. She was just wondering whether she should call him when, finally, a message pinged into her inbox.

Hi, Daisy. He and Isobel were at Lavender House earlier having Sunday lunch with Clemmie, Aunt Eugenie, and me. They left just before we did at around six. I’ve tried ringing him but there’s no reply. What makes you think he’s not okay?

Daisy gripped the phone in dread. Now what? Why hadn’t Noah answered the phone to his brother, of all people?

Should she call Ross and explain? But what should she tell him? Noah might never forgive her if she told him what had been going on, but she couldn’t shake this bad feeling, and what if something bad was happening to Noah and she’d done nothing to stop it?

She almost jumped out of her skin as, at that moment, Ross’s name flashed up on screen and she realised he was calling her.

‘Okay, you’ve really got me worried now. Come on, Daisy, what’s going on? Don’t try to fob me off. He’s my brother, and if there’s something I should know…’

Daisy closed her eyes. I’m so sorry, Noah, but I don’t know what else to do.

‘Ross, I want you to listen to me very carefully. There’s something you need to know.’

Vaguely, as if in a dream, Noah heard voices.

‘Well, I’m sorry to say it, but I’m sick of this awful weather already.’

He tried to sit up but didn’t have the strength. Ava. He was almost sure it was Ava.

‘I know it’s autumn now, and one should expect all this murk and gloom, but I’m simply not ready for it. I wish it could be summer all the time. Can’t you have a word with The Boss?’

There was the sound of laughter. ‘I don’t think the Almighty would listen to me about that, love. Besides, where would we be if you got your wish, eh? Sunshine’s smashing, but we’d be in trouble without a bit of rain, don’t you think?’

‘Oh, I suppose so.’ There was a resigned sigh.

Noah tried to open his eyes but realised he couldn’t even manage that.

‘I wonder if Rita and Birdie have stopped arguing yet?’ Zach said.

Ava giggled. ‘I doubt it, unless Eugenie has banged their heads together. Did you see Bluebell’s loaves? Honestly, she kept that very quiet, didn’t she? They were truly appalling, bless her.’

‘God loves a trier.’ Zach paused. ‘Did you hear something?’

‘No. Like what?’

‘A moan or something.’

‘A moan? Ooh, you mean like a ghost?’

‘Don’t be scaring me. I have to lock up on my own most nights.’

‘Oh, bless you. Well, you’ve got me tonight, darling, but only because you’ve bribed me with dinner at The White Hart Inn. I’ll protect you. Come on, let’s lock up and get out of here.’

Noah felt a surge of panic and tried to sit up again. The pain shot through him, and he heard Zach say, ‘There! You must have heard that.’

‘I did!’ Ava sounded deeply worried.

There was the sound of heels on the stone floor, then a cry. ‘Zach! It’s Noah. Oh my God, look at him!’

‘Bloody hell!’

It struck Noah later that their language hadn’t exactly been appropriate for the House of God.

‘Noah, what happened?’

‘He must have been mugged,’ Ava said.

‘Mugged? He’s been attacked by a maniac, by the looks of him. Noah, can you sit up?’

Noah felt an arm go around him and groaned in pain.

‘Best leave him lying down,’ Ava advised. ‘I’ll call an ambulance.’

‘And Ross,’ Zach said.

‘What about Eugenie?’

‘No. It might be too much. Ross will know. Leave it to him.’

Noah felt his head being gently lifted and something soft placed beneath it. Then something else was laid over him, easing the chill that was seeping through to his bones.

‘You’re going to be all right, mate,’ Zach soothed. ‘Just hang on in there. Help’s on its way.’

In the distance he could hear Ava talking to someone but couldn’t make out what she was saying. Zach laid his hand on Noah’s arm and began to murmur something. A prayer of some sort. For someone. Noah couldn’t take it in. Maybe it was part of the harvest festival service. Or had that ended now?

He was very tired and decided he couldn’t stay awake any longer. Yes, he had guests, but he simply didn’t have the energy to talk to them right now. Maybe when he’d rested. He wanted to sleep and dream. Maybe, in his dreams, he’d find Daisy.

That would be nice.

When someone banged on the door Daisy almost flew down the stairs to answer it.

‘Ross! What are you doing here? I thought you were going to?—’

‘I did!’ Ross’s expression was grim. ‘I went to Peony Cottage and there’s no one there. It was in darkness, and all locked up. I banged on that door for ages, and I went round the back, too. I tried looking through the windows, but the curtains were drawn, and I even looked through the letter box. There’s nothing. No sound, no light, no sign of life.’

‘Don’t say that,’ Daisy said with a shiver. ‘You’d better come upstairs.’

She led him into her flat, where he refused her offer of a drink and sank into a chair, running a hand through his hair in obvious distress.

‘So, what do we do now?’ Daisy asked, her hands wringing together as she tried her best not to give way to panic.

‘You’re absolutely sure about this?’ Ross said. ‘I mean, I know Isobel’s a bitch, and I’ve never liked her. Never understood what Noah saw in her to be honest. But even so… Are you absolutely positive that she’s hurting him?’

‘Ross, believe me, if you’d seen what I saw the other day you’d be in no doubt that Noah could be in big danger. She’d attacked him with a pan, but she’s apparently hit him with loads of other things in the past. He was black and blue. I’m terrified.’

‘Why the hell didn’t he tell anyone?’ Ross demanded roughly. ‘Why didn’t he tell me ? I’d have stopped her nasty little game, believe me!’

‘We can worry about all that later. Right now, we have to find out if he’s okay. Where are they? You don’t—you don’t think she’s taken him to the hospital?’

‘Is it likely?’ Ross stared at her, and Daisy guessed they’d both had the same thought.

‘What if he’s lying in that house, hurt? We should call the police. They can break in.’

‘But if we’re wrong…’ Ross threw up his arms in despair. ‘Why doesn’t he answer his bloody phone?’

‘I don’t care if we are wrong now,’ Daisy said, making up her mind. ‘We need to make sure he’s okay, and if that means Isobel finding out that Noah’s confided in us, well, it’s tough. I’ll make damn sure she never gets anywhere near him again.’

‘You’re right.’ Ross took out his phone. ‘I’ll call them. There’s no point in—’ He broke off as his phone began to ring. He glanced up at Daisy. ‘It’s Ava!’

‘Ava?’

Daisy was about to tell him to dismiss the call as they had far more important things to do than make small talk with the vicar’s wife, but Ross had already answered, and was now listening to whatever she was saying with a look of horror on his face. Daisy’s blood seemed to turn to ice in her veins as she watched his eyes fill with tears.

‘Have you called an ambulance?’

Daisy gasped and dropped onto the sofa, staring at Ross in dread. He glanced at her, and she saw immediately that her worst fears had come true.

‘Yes, yes, we’ll be right there. No, don’t call Aunt Eugenie. Not until we know… Just leave it for now. Thanks, Ava.’

He ended the call and turned to Daisy, his body suddenly trembling as if he’d gone into shock.

‘They’ve found Noah in the church. He—he’s been attacked. They’ve phoned an ambulance.’

‘How bad is he?’ she whispered.

‘Ava said it looks pretty bad,’ he told her. ‘But look, the main thing is they found him, and an ambulance is on its way. He’ll be okay, Daisy. They’ll fix him up, don’t worry.’

She could tell from his voice that he was willing this to be true, but she could hardly reply as her throat was so full of tears. She grabbed her coat from the hall and said, ‘Come on then. We need to get to the church, now!’

Half dazed, Ross followed her out of the flat and down the stairs. She slammed the front door shut after them and they ran to All Hallows.

The lamps in the church were on, and Daisy could see Zach and Ava sitting quietly in one of the pews. Ava got to her feet and hurried towards them.

‘How is he?’ Ross gasped.

‘He’s—he’s pretty bad,’ she admitted. ‘There’s a lot of blood and his face is…’ She shook her head, as if to clear the tears in her eyes. ‘He’s unconscious at the moment. He keeps drifting in and out of awareness, I think. Zach’s covered him with his jacket. Just be prepared. It’s not a pretty sight.’

Ross and Daisy exchanged glances.

‘Maybe you should wait here,’ he said softly.

Daisy straightened. ‘He needs me,’ she said simply.

Ross nodded and they made their way to where Zach was sitting. As they drew closer, they could see a form lying on the pew next to him. It might have been Noah, but it was hard to tell, especially as a jacket covered most of his clothes and they had only a swollen, battered face to go by. Noah’s tawny coloured hair was matted with blood, and his left eye was swollen shut.

Daisy’s hands flew to her mouth, and she heard Ross say, ‘Is he awake?’

‘I don’t think so,’ Zach said gently. ‘He hasn’t made any noise for a while. I’ve checked his pulse and he’s breathing, and the wound on his head has stopped bleeding, thank goodness. I think he’ll need stitches, though.’

‘What the hell has she done?’ Ross murmured.

‘She?’ Ava stepped forward, alarm on her face. ‘You know who’s done this?’

‘His bloody so-called wife has done this,’ Ross said bitterly. He crouched down and gently stroked the hair away from Noah’s swollen face. ‘Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you let me help you?’

‘ Isobel ?’ Ava turned to Daisy, her expression incredulous. ‘Are you sure?’

‘Positive,’ Daisy said, tears streaming down her face. ‘Oh, God, look at him. Look at him!’

The church door opened, and two paramedics entered.

‘Thank goodness,’ Ava said, hurrying to meet them. ‘I’m so sorry to call you out but this poor man is in desperate need of care and attention. He’s the victim of an assault, and he’s not conscious at the moment.’

Zach glanced up at Daisy. ‘Isobel? Really?’

She nodded, unable to tear her gaze away from Noah.

‘Dear God,’ Zach said, getting to his feet. ‘He was trying to tell me. Lord help me, I didn’t understand.’

The paramedics arrived by Noah’s side and Daisy, Zach, and a reluctant Ross stepped away to give them room to work. They could hear the men asking Noah if he could hear them, but didn’t seem to get a response, until after what seemed like forever, they heard him groan.

He’s alive, Daisy thought, and right then it seemed like a miracle.

‘I expect you’ll be going to the hospital with him,’ Zach said to Ross.

Ross glanced at Daisy. ‘I think it’s you he’ll want with him,’ he said gently. ‘I’ll follow on. But first…’ He gave a heavy sigh. ‘First I’d better go to Lavender House and break all this to Aunt Eugenie.’

‘Would you like me to go with you?’ Zach offered.

Ross hesitated, then nodded. ‘That might be good. I’m sure you’ll be able to comfort her, thanks.’

Ava said, ‘Where is Isobel? Do you know?’

‘Done a bunk by the looks of it,’ Ross said, the anger returning to his voice. ‘But don’t worry. We’ll find her, and she’ll pay for this.’

‘I simply can’t believe it,’ Ava admitted. ‘It doesn’t seem real. Thank goodness we came here to lock up the church, darling. Imagine if he’d been here all night. It doesn’t bear thinking about.’

Daisy shivered. She honestly didn’t think Noah would have survived the night if he hadn’t been discovered.

They huddled together, the four of them, shocked and distressed as the paramedics looked after Noah. Finally, it was time to move him into the ambulance.

‘I’m going with him, if that’s okay,’ Daisy told them, and they nodded.

‘I’ll be there as soon as I can with Aunt Eugenie,’ Ross told her. ‘Stay by his side, Daisy. Tell him we all love him.’

She nodded. ‘Of course I will.’

She swallowed down tears as Ross hugged her tightly. ‘He’ll get through this,’ he told her fiercely. ‘You just watch him.’

She nodded and climbed into the back of the ambulance, where Noah lay, conscious but clearly not fully aware of what was happening. She saw the anguished looks on the faces of Zach, Ava, and Ross. Then the doors were slammed shut, and they were on their way to the hospital, leaving Tuppenny Bridge behind.