The Life Daisy Devlin Designed

CHAPTER 52

As the blades spun overhead, Daisy slid back down off the car and crouched beside Matt. His eyes were open but glazed, and she wondered if he remembered what had happened.

“Kayley?” he mouthed.

“She’s fine.”

The helicopter hatch opened and two of the first responders lowered slowly to the ground. Daisy’s body was flooded with relief as she relinquished the responsibility to them.

After Matt was winched up to the helicopter in a simple harness, Kayley was airlifted in a stretcher. Finally, Drew was pulled out and after a quick assessment, airlifted in another stretcher.

One of the first responders, who introduced himself as Conn, insisted Daisy come with them.

“I don’t want to leave you. It’s a short flight, and we have to get the other three to hospital while it’s still safe to fly.”

She sat opposite Matt in the back of the helicopter, as Kayley lay on the ground between them, her stretcher locked securely in. Conn had wrapped thermal blankets around her and Matt, and secured Kayley’s upper arm to minimise movement, before giving her an injection for the pain. He’d also cleaned Matt’s head, and covered it with a temporary bandage.

Meanwhile, the other medic attended to Drew, checking for breathing and elevating his legs. Daisy released a small sigh of relief as Drew opened his eyes.

“Kayley?” he said.

“She’s here, she’s fine!” the medic said, slipping some earbuds into Drew’s ears so he could talk to him as he continued to run checks.

Daisy put her hands over her own ears in an attempt to block out the noise of the blades, as the chopper turned and headed back towards Dublin.

Conn slipped on a headset, then produced three packs of earbuds, handing a pack each to Daisy and Matt.

“Can she use them?” Matt gestured to Kayley as he put in his own buds.

“Sure.” Conn leaned down and carefully popped them in Kayley’s ears.

As he tuned them all into the same channel, the background noise faded, and Daisy became aware of how loud her heartbeat sounded in her ears, how cold and numb every inch of her body was.

She took a deep breath, holding it as long as possible, before slowly releasing it.

“Do you remember what happened?” Conn asked Matt.

“I remember leaving the house.” Matt shook his head. “Kayley was … I remember the car.”

Conn nodded. “You probably have a concussion. We’ve an ambulance waiting for us at the heli-pad on a GAA pitch near Sandymount in Dublin. It’s the safest place to land.” He looked at Daisy. “You should consider going with them to get checked out.”

Daisy clutched the blanket tighter around her. “I wasn’t hurt, I just want to get home.” As she met Matt’s eyes, he glanced away. She realised she didn’t care what he thought anymore.

While Matt and Kayley were being airlifted, she’d sent a quick message to Fionn, updating him on what had happened, and he’d messaged back to say that he, Niamh, and the band were staying overnight and, judging by the smell, some of the drains around the house seemed to be overflowing. Daisy decided not to tell Matt. He’d find out soon enough.

“Jeez, those painkillers are strong! I can’t feel anything anymore,” Kayley said. “Can I sit up?”

“Sorry.” Conn was firm. “You have to keep that shoulder immobile.”

Kayley sighed heavily. “So, when will I be able to gig?”

“Gig?” Conn frowned.

“I’m Kayley Lynch – the singer? I’m meant to be starting my Irish tour tomorrow night at Granary House.”

“The doctors will be able to give you a better idea.” Conn caught Daisy’s eye.

Daisy knew what he was thinking. If her shoulder was dislocated, Kayley’s tour would probably be cancelled. She glanced over at Matt, and knew he’d guessed it too.

Matt looked down at Kayley. “No matter what happens, Kayley, I promise you’ll be okay.”

Kayley seemed to brighten. “Thank you for rescuing me, Matty.”

Daisy wondered if Kayley would thank her too, but Matt and Kayley were now looking deeply into each other’s eyes.

Or as deeply as possible, she supposed, given that one of them was lying down.

“I wanna do a live-stream to my followers,” Kayley said. “Matty, can you get my phone from my bag?”

Daisy eyed Kayley’s tiny, designer bag on the ground beside her, marvelling that it had survived the evening.

“Daisy, would you do us a favour?” Matt said.

Daisy was fairly certain she never wanted to do anything for Matt again. It was an incredibly freeing thought.

Matt handed her Kayley’s phone. “Can you live-record Kayley?”

One last thing wouldn’t matter, Daisy thought. She glanced at Conn, who gave a brief shrug. “Once she doesn’t overdo it,” he said.

“You ready, Kayley?” Matt gave Daisy a quick nod.

“Hi, y’all!” Kayley waved up at the camera. “So, quick update. I was supposed to start my Irish tour tomorrow evening, but the car I was driving overturned in a bad storm, so right now I’m being flown to hospital.” She paused. “But I want ya’ll to meet my Irish boyfriend, Matt Deveraux, who I’ve been staying with at his ancestral home in County Wicklow!”

Daisy gave a snort of laughter, which she managed to turn into a cough, as she panned the phone briefly to Matt.

“We’ve kept our relationship out of the public eye,” Kayley continued, “but I wouldn’t be here tonight if he hadn’t rescued me.”

Nothing like a nice, neat spin on the truth , Daisy thought.

“I just wanna say I’ve no idea what’s gonna happen now,” Kayley blinked away some tears, “but thank ya’ll for showing me so much kindness and love. As ya’ll know, my daddy’s family are Irish, so I’ve always felt drawn to this little country.”

Daisy caught Conn’s expression, and had to bite the inside of her cheek hard.

“Since you came into my life, you’ve changed me for the better, Kayley,” Matt said.

Daisy quickly panned the camera towards him, hoping they’d finish soon.

Matt reached into his pocket and took out a small black box. It was identical to the one in which he’d presented her spare key for Granary House, Daisy realised, swallowing nervous laughter.

Trying to ignore sudden turbulence, she kept the phone as steady as possible, as Matt opened the box to reveal a large, square diamond ring. Idly, Daisy wondered whether Kayley would have preferred a moonstone but, judging by her expression, she couldn’t have cared less.

“ Oh! My! God! I can’t believe this is happening! ” Kayley’s voice broke.

Which made two of them, Daisy thought.

“Kayley Lynch, will you marry me?” Matt said.

“Yes, of course!” Kayley had started to cry now

Idly, Daisy wondered if the painkillers were starting to wear off.

Matt slipped the ring on Kayley’s finger and they kissed.

Daisy recorded three more seconds before hitting the stop button. She caught Conn’s eye. “Nope, no idea!” she said.

Conn exchanged a glance with his colleague, who looked like he was trying not to laugh. “Congratulations, guys. Okay, we’ll be landing in a few moments.”

Daisy leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes. Today had been the longest day of her life.

All she wanted was to go home.