Page 47 of Wild Tonic
He fixed her with a quizzical look. “I guess. Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”
“Jesus, Nate, now you sound like Poppy!”
“Okay, okay!” He held his hands up in surrender. “I’m going to get that tan.”
Nate settled back down on the lounger and put some music on. With the gentle sounds of Clem and India playing, plus the warmth of the sun’s rays, it wasn’t long before his eyelids started to droop and he slipped off into a relaxing nap.
What felt like only moments later, a high-pitched scream woke him. Nate’s eyes flew open to see Clem knelt down beside India.
“What’s the matter?” Immediately he was by their side.
India was struggling to breathe, her eyes wide. Her skin, that had been pink and rosy earlier, was now a waxy grey, her lips outlined with blue. She tried to speak, but no words came out.
“It looks like croup. Dean’s son had it a few months back and I recognise the symptoms. We need to get her to a hospital.” Clem stroked India’s temple. “It’s okay, baby, we’re going to get you some help.”
Nate’s heart jumped into his mouth. He didn’t know what to do or who to call. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the housekeeper and waved at her frantically. “Magda! Can you help us?” he called.
The woman hurried over to them. “Yes, Señor Nate, what can I do?”
“My daughter… she’s sick…”
Madga’s gaze went to Clem bent over the stricken India. “Yes, yes! You want me to call 112?”
Nate didn’t have a clue what that meant. “Is that for an ambulance?”
She nodded at him, already halfway back to the house. He followed her and heard her speaking in rapid fire Spanish. He heardemergenciaandninita,which he thought he recognised.
“What is the matter with her?” asked Magda, holding the phone away from her ear for a moment.
“Clem thinks it’s croup. She can’t breathe properly and her skin’s a funny colour.”
He listened again, not knowing what Magda was saying at all and hoping she understood. A thought struck him that he ought to contact Poppy and tell her what was going on. He dashed back outside and located his phone under his towel. He dialled Poppy’s number, but it rang and rang before going to voicemail. He left a garbled message and desperately hoped that she was somewhere that had signal. After a moment, he tapped out a text and sent her that as well. Clem had sat India upright on the lounger and was trying to get her to drink some water. The moment she saw her dad, India started crying and coughing at the same time. He watched as Clem soothed the child, gently stroking her back and whispering in her ear.
Magda reappeared. “They will be here soon,” she said. “Here, let me help.” She took over from Clem, who stood up, tears in her eyes.
“It’s exactly like Barney was,” she said. “I’m so glad I spotted it quickly.”
Nate gathered Clem into his arms, her skin feeling cool despite the heat. “Thank you,” he whispered.
There was a commotion outside the gates of the villa as an ambulance pulled up, dust flying around as it sped up the driveway. Magda took charge and barked some instructions at the paramedics who bent over India, pushing Nate and Clem out of the way.
After a few moments, Magda turned to Nate and Clem.
“Get dressed and go with them. They want to take India to the hospital to be sure,” she said. “I will wait here in case Miss Poppy and Señor Parker come back.”
Nate grabbed his t-shirt and stuffed his feet into his trainers, while Clem threw on a sundress and a pair of sandals. They got into the back of the ambulance and Nate held India’s hand, while the paramedic made sure she was sitting upright. Her breathing was beginning to ease and there was a little more colour about her. His own heart was about to explode from his chest it was pounding so hard. He didn’t think he’d ever been so scared in his life.
It didn’t take them long to get to the hospital and once there, India was whisked away. Nate went with her, providing the basic details he knew to the doctor. As the doctor checked India over, he held her hand tightly. He knew that in the scheme of things, he’d been pretty useless, letting Clem and Magda do everything. He was thankful for both of them being there. If he’d been on his own… He didn’t even finish that thought before Poppy crashed into the cubicle, her hair all over the place, mascara streaking her cheeks.
“India! My baby! What’s wrong?” She turned to Nate, an accusatory look on her face. “What the hell happened? I knew I shouldn’t have trusted her with you and Clem.”
The doctor shushed her. “If you want to argue, you need to do it outside of here,” she said in a heavily accented voice. “I will stabilise India with some nose drops and an anti-inflammatory. I will come and get you in a few minutes.”
“I don’t want to leave her!” protested Poppy. “That’s how she ended up in here!”
Hearing her mother so upset, caused India to cry again and Nate didn’t want to leave her either.
“If you can just step outside for a couple of moments.” The doctor held open the curtain.
