Page 91 of All Mine
A paramedic approached and took him gently by the arm, leading him away to the front of the queue.
‘I think we should check you out, Mr Barrow,’ he said as they went. ‘You can wait over there,’ he added to Etienne and Isabella, pointing to an area filled with friends and family. Nonna was already there with her friend Brigitta. They headed over.
‘How did you get to know Fred so well?’ Isabella asked, remembering meeting him in The Bistro on the first night she went there.
‘I met him and his wife, Jeannie, when I first moved here. They dined in The Bistro one night and we got talking. I think they realised how lonely I was. It was just after my parents died. . .’ He broke off and shook his head. ‘It was a bad time for me. Anyway, they invited me to their house for a Sunday meal. And they invited me every weekend after that until Jeannie died. They were such a loving couple. They made me feel less lonely, like I still had a family.’
Isabella blinked. Having seen him at the graveside earlier in the week, she knew how much he missed being a part of something. She saw Fred was now in a seat, the ambulance man shining a light into his eyes.
‘He must miss her dreadfully,’ she said. Etienne nodded.
‘So, when she died, we switched it around. He now comes to the restaurant every week for a free dinner on me. I always try to sit with him for dessert.’
‘That’s a lovely idea,’ Isabella said. ‘Gets him out of the house and saves him money.’ They watched as the paramedic put a stethoscope to his chest and listened.
‘He doesn’t have a lot.’ Etienne shrugged. ‘And he likes a bet on the horses every now and then.’
Fred was being helped out of the chair and steered in their direction.
‘I’m all fine,’ he said. ‘My ticker’s making good time.’ He pointed to his heart.
Etienne helped him under the rope and Fred got his first look back at what had been Heart of Honeybridge. The fire now seemed to be out. The streams of water still arced through the air, but it was mainly smoke now. The flames had died. The place was swarming with emergency services, uniforms of all colours setting about their duties. Walker appeared, removing his helmet and rubbing his hand through his hair.
‘Any idea what started it?’ Etienne asked as soon as he was close enough.
‘We’ll find out,’ Walker said. ‘It could have been a tragedy. As it is, the only casualties we have are minor.’
Etienne slapped him hard on the shoulder, acknowledging what the services had achieved.
‘But this place is going to be out of use for a few days at least. Some of the units will need cleaning for smoke damage, but others are ruined and will be uninhabitable for a long time.’
‘I’m guessing Fred’s will be one of those?’ Etienne asked. Walker nodded. Fred’s chin trembled.
‘Right, we’d better go and get you settled in at home then,’ Etienne said. ‘You’re staying with me until it’s sorted.’
Fred started shaking his head, but Etienne gave him a look and he changed his mind. Shoulders sagging, he mouthed a thank you.
‘I said the same to Brigitta,’ Nonna said as they arrived. ‘She can stay with us, can’t she, Isabella?’ The woman with the Burberry scarf also seemed to have reapplied some Dior lipstick. ‘It will only be for a couple of days– her apartment hasn’t been damaged.’
‘Of course,’ Isabella said, thinking the woman looked more stylish having just escaped a fire than she herself did on a night out. ‘Nice to meet you, Brigitta.’
‘That will be the next job,’ said Walker. ‘Finding all these other people somewhere to stay. Not everyone has friends or family here. And the local authority won’t be able to place them all immediately. It might be a few nights sleeping on the floor at the community centre for some of them.’
Isabella’s mouth fell open. The community centre was a fantastic public facility, new and well kept. But it was hard-floored and impersonal. And cold at this time of year. It didn’t have a warm bed or a comfy pillow for someone to sleep away the shock of what they’d been through. There were no armchairs or footstools to rest while they were so tired. There wasn’t even a television to watch to distract them from what they’d been through.
‘They need to be in a home environment,’ Isabella said and Walker nodded and shrugged at the same time.
‘I agree,’ he said sadly and put his helmet back on to return to work.
Isabella grabbed his forearm.
‘Walker, I’ve got an idea. Can I talk to your watch commander about something? I can help. I know I can.’
‘Sure,’ he said. ‘We could do with all the help we can get. Come on through.’
‘See you at home,’ Isabella said over her shoulder to Nonna and Brigitta. ‘And Nonna. . .’ she called as she trotted after Walker, ‘can you put my laptop on charge? I’m going to need it.’
Chapter Forty-Four
