Page 50 of The Missing Ingredient

“Honestly, I think we should wait for the professionals, Jeanette. I can hear the ambulance siren now. Where’s James?”

“With his father and stepmother. That’s why I was free to help out at the last minute. Some help, though.”

“Nonsense. You did your best.”

By the time the ambulance arrived, all color had drained from Katie’s face. What Jeanette had told them over the phone had clearly been of great help, because they wheeled in a machine with a hose and translucent mask that they immediately fixed in place over Katie’s nose and mouth. Marcus and Jeanette stood by helplessly as the two medics moved quickly but professionally around Katie.

Before long, with a quick curt nod to her partner, the woman broke away and came over to them. “Good thing you called us when you did. We’ve cleared her airways, so she’s breathing normally again and more importantly getting oxygen to the brain. But she’s not out of the woods. She’s not conscious, so she’ll need to be hospitalized immediately.”

“Of course,” said Marcus.

“Are you the parents?”

“No, we’re friends of the family,” said Marcus, turning to Jeanette.

“Her father had an urgent meeting to attend. But he’ll be on his way back soon.”

At that moment Moira appeared at the doorway, flustered and instantly panicked when she saw the scene. Marcus managed to get to her first.

“She’s okay, Moira. Well, she’s had a severe attack, but she’s breathing again. Just not conscious. Can you try calling Tom? Tell him to meet us at the hospital? I think it might be better coming from you.”

While Moira—as family—went in the ambulance with Katie, Marcus drove himself and Jeanette to the hospital. Although it was only a few minutes away, the journey took longer because of rush-hour traffic, something the ambulance driver with the blaring siren didn’t need to worry about. When they reached the waiting room, Moira sat bolt upright on the plastic chair. Over the past half hour, the poor woman appeared to have aged a decade.

“They’ve taken her into intensive care. Won’t let anyone in until they’re satisfied she’s stable. But those lovely ambulance people were optimistic.”

“Where’s Charlotte, Moira?”

“She’s at her jazz dance class. Mrs. Kelley’s daughter does the same class, so she’s going to take Charlie home with them until I call, bless her.”

Marcus sat with his head in his hands. All thoughts of having words with Tom had evaporated. How close had they been to losing Katie? No way on earth could Tom have coped with that; even the mere thought made Marcus sick to his stomach. For the next ten minutes they all sat around unspeaking. Nobody could find any words worth uttering. Eventually Moira got up and brought back coffee for them all. As she sat down, an anxious calm descended upon the group.

A calm that was short-lived.

“Where the hell is she? Where’s my daughter?” boomed Tom as the doors to the waiting room flew open. All three of them stood on hearing his voice.

“Calm down, dear,” said Moira, going to him. “She’s in the ICU.”

Fortunately a female doctor must have overheard Tom, because she peeled away from a group of orderlies then and went over to him. “Mr. Bradford?”

“Yes. Where’s my daughter?”

“We’re just getting her settled, so I need to ask you to remain here while we do our work. And I also need information from you about her current doctor and her medical history. After that you can go and see her. Are you okay with that?”

“Fine.”

“I’ll get someone to bring over the forms.”

“Don’t worry, dear,” said Moira to Tom and the doctor. “I’ll come with you and fetch them. Give me something to do.”

After watching them head into a small office, Tom swung around and glared at Marcus and Jeanette, his eyes wild with a combination of anger and fear.

“Why didn’t you call me sooner?” he said, raising his voice, his face reddened with rage.

“I did. Your phone was switched off.”

“Tom,” said Marcus, placing a placating hand on his shoulder but having it instantly shrugged away. Tom was wound tight and wanted to vent. “Jeanette did her best.”

“That’s my daughter in there. Fighting for her life.”

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