Yanni POV
I find myself sitting on a bentwood chair in the small and pretty coffee shop inside the hospital atrium, a large mug of now cold caramel latte untouched between my palms, with no memory of ordering it!
My brain is throbbing, my thoughts tumultuous and disorderly, bouncing around in my head like toddlers on a trampoline, utterly chaotic, whilst on the outside I appear as serenity itself, unmoving, passive and silent.
WHAT THE FUCK??!
How does a five year old little girl KILL a baby? Why would a child kill a baby? I must have misunderstood her, surely!
Noah isn't Noah? Why would he hide details like that from us all... from me!?
I'm furious, shocked and hurt. Hurt that my best friend... my brother, has kept part of himself from me, from us all! I can't imagine how hard it must be to lose a sibling. I love mine all so much, despite my twin being such a monumental douche a lot of the time, but I'm certain I'd tell my friends about them. Why keep that a secret?
Do I believe him? How can I trust him? The fact is he's lied about so much and done some terrible things recently, I don't think I can.
So many questions and so far, no answers. I feel drained, betrayed and livid..... but also concerned, sympathetic and very fucking confused!
My head hurts, my heart aches, and my fists are itching with a desire to punch something so intense that I have to clamp my hands between my thighs to prevent myself from pounding on the table. I haven't ever experienced so many contrasting feelings at once, and frankly I don't like it. I'm a simple man, I like my problems to come at me one at a time, allowing my brain the time to think it requires to make good choices.
I have to make good choices here. I could lose my best friend, we could lose our careers.... I could lose the woman I love.
Looking up from my lap, my hands remaining between my thighs, I spot her. She is watching me, sitting on the edge of a large marble planter filled with realistic looking faux foliage. Huge coconut palms, split leaf philodendrons and Aralia plants provide a lush backdrop for the vibrancy of the peace lilies, birds of paradise, hibiscus and frangipani flowers. I imagine myself and Syd together in Costa Rica, Mexico or Venezuela, surrounded by this idyllic serenity, on our honeymoon perhaps, me snapping hundreds of stunning images of my beautiful wife.
Wife!!
I want her to be forever mine. As that realisation takes root in my heart and mind I become aware that Syd is making her way towards me and stand up, not quite sure whether to welcome her into an embrace or turn and run away.... again!
Just as I decide to envelop her in my arms and hold her tighter than I have ever held her before a voice to my left calls my name, startling me. Syd has heard too and we both turn to find Vinni and Weeze approaching me.
This is unexpected. I've not heard from Vinni or Eloise directly since the night in Syds house when she nearly took his eye out with the prosecco cork, when I wanted to pummel his face for threatening her.
"What are you doing here? When did you get back to the UK? How did you know where I was? Did you speak to Mrs T, what did she say? Can she...."
I'm cut off mid sentence by Eloise's signature 'finger in the face' and shush!
"Let's sit shall we, we can discuss it over some caffeine. I'm knackered and need the boost" she states wearily, heading off to the counter to order drinks, and honestly, she looks shattered too.
Vinni pulls me in to a hug, an incredibly strong bear hug which has me wincing, my wound still painful to the touch. Despite the discomfort it feels good and immediately negates all my anger. I have my twin back and it just feels right!
Sydney has frozen on the spot, a look of alarm and fear on her face at seeing Vinni and Weeze, apparently uncertain as to whether she should join us, which I understand, given all the previous interactions she has had with the two of them.
"Sydney, come and join us" Vinni invites calmly and with a gentle friendliness unusual for him, and she slowly approaches us, like a tiny sparrow approaches seeds on a bird table.... warily, stilted and constantly checking for danger. She pulls out the chair directly to my right and sits gingerly, never taking her eyes from Vinni's face. Weeze reappears with 4 large cups of coffee and sits beside Vinni, opposite me and Sydney, silently placing drinks before each of us as Vinni begins to speak.
"We are so glad you two are ok, we were so worried about you! Sydney... we owe you an apology. We...well, mainly I, judged you before getting to know you.... that was wrong. I shouldn't have let my dislike of his last girlfriend cloud my ability to see you for yourself. I'm sorry for that, and for all the attitude I displayed. I love my brother and being the eldest, even if only by eleven minutes means I feel a responsibility to protect him. I shouldn't have assumed that you would be just like the last. I know we may never be best buddies, and that's ok, but I'd like you to consider the possibility of us starting over?
I understand if you don't feel that is possible, but just know that we will never give you such a hard time again.
My family means the world to me, and as it seems that you are going to become a permanent part of that family it would be great if we could maybe have a second attempt at first impressions. What do you say?"
I'm stunned by his words of apology, and also angered by them. Does he really think that I can just forget what a hard time he and his poisonous viper of a girlfriend gave me for so long? The nerve of the man!
I'm silent for a few seconds while I consider my feelings.
What they said and did came from a place of love and concern for Yanni, and in the grand scheme of things, wasn't ever so bad it can't be forgiven.
I decide that I am prepared to start afresh, but not without first having my say. I don't want to make them both squirm, I don't have the emotional energy for that right now, although they should know how much they hurt Yanni by behaving how they did.
"Thankyou for your apology Vinni, I appreciate it, and am prepared to accept it and start over, on one condition. You NEVER AGAIN question my love for your brother. He is the most amazing man, and I love him" I say earnestly.
"He has told me all about your older sister and parents and they all sound wonderful, and I obviously ADORE Jimmi. It would be great to have a friendly relationship with you too.
He actually idolises you. He has told me so many stories about your life together growing up, and almost every one caused a huge smile to spread across his face which I don't think he even realised. You will always have a special bond and place in his heart and life. I don't want to spoil that, or replace you in his affections, and I certainly don't want to hurt him. Please know that."
Turning to Eloise I see she has her head down and is hand hugging her large mug, anxiety etched into her delicate features. I did intend to give her a piece of my mind too, but the stricken look on her face extinguishes the burning embers of anger within me as surely as a bucket of ice water would have. Instead I extend my hand across the table in a demonstration of peaceful intent. She looks up from her cup and blinks heavily as she considers whether to accept this placating gesture. She reaches across the table and takes my hand between both of hers and says one single word.
"Sorry"
She retains my fingers between hers and smiles, before swiftly leaving her seat and pulling me up into a tight bear hug, the air knocked from my lungs by her speed and grip upon me.
"Ooooo-kaaaayyy!" I exclaim, flabbergasted by her actions. I look over her shoulder at Yanni who shrugs his shoulders and shakes his head at me before smiling and giving me a double thumbs up.
I step back from her and she almost shyly looks at me out the top of her head, her hair hiding much of her face as she retakes her seat opposite me. She leans in to Vinni and he places his arm around her shoulders and pulls her in to a hug.
Vinni explains that Mrs T and Ben have flown to the UK with them to speak directly to the detectives in Lola's murder case, Teddi and Parker will be flying in tomorrow for moral support too, now they've finished their visiting with families.
I'm excited to see them all, and hopeful that they can help the police. I still have no idea how or why I am having these flashback memories of Lola's demise. False memories maybe? Repressed memories?
I think I will give Dr Daisy a call and pick her brain.
"Come on you two, we've hired a house so we can all stay together, and it is much more private.... and safe. We've also hired a security company to protect us all round the clock, so you can both relax and recover. It'll be great.... we can watch films, play games, have bbqs and all get to know each other properly, I mean, we may as well make the most of our enforced stay" Vinni chirps, standing and pulling Eloise up with him.
"Let's go and collect Noah and get out of here"
This will be interesting.