Page 62 of New Dreams for the Village Nurse
‘And you have. These things happen – you couldn’t have stopped it. Neither could Chloe if she’d been home. Nobody could. But Mackenzie’s being looked after now. Everything will be all right – wait and see.’
Stacey’s phone began to ring and she pulled it from her bag. ‘Oh, this is Chloe…Hello…’
Ottilie watched Stacey get up and take the call outside. It reminded her that she hadn’t checked her own phone since she’d arrived at Stacey’s house earlier that evening. She wasn’t particularly expecting anyone to call, but she got it out anyway. There wasn’t much activity, apart from two messages. One was from Heath – some idle banter. The other was from Simon reminding her that he was only a phone call away should they need him.
That one didn’t need a reply, but Heath’s did. She was wording it in her head when another came through.
Everything all right?
There was too much to put into a text and Heath would probably have questions, so she dialled his number.
‘Hey,’ she said as he answered, careful to keep her voice down. ‘Sorry I didn’t get back to you earlier. Something’s happened. I’m at the hospital with Stacey and Mackenzie.’
‘Oh God, are they all right?’
‘Mackenzie had a raging temperature and a rash. We didn’t want to risk it so we drove him straight here.’
‘You’re still there? What time was this?’
‘I can’t even remember. I think we got here about half eight.’ Ottilie glanced up at the clock to see it was almost eleven. Thelast few hours had seemed to last a lifetime, and yet she was still surprised to see how much time had elapsed.
‘You must be exhausted. Need me to come over?’
‘No, there’s not a lot you can do.’
‘I can support you.’
‘I’ve got Stacey here.’
‘I’m sure you’re doing more supporting there than the other way around. Who’ve you got?’
‘Well, Simon’s only just gone so it’s been fine.’
‘Simon? You mean Doctor Simon?’
Ottilie detected a subtle shift in Heath’s tone. She didn’t know what exactly it was, but she didn’t think she liked it. ‘Yes. We phoned him for advice, and he came over to see what he could do.’
‘To the hospital?’
‘Yes.’
‘But they have doctors there, so what did he?—’
‘He was following his instincts, I suppose. If you’re a caring person, you don’t stop caring because you’re not on duty.’
‘Of course not…Let me come to you. Traffic will be light – I can be there in?—’
‘Really, it’s better if you don’t. Thank you, but Stacey is here and Chloe is on her way, so that will be three of us. Four is probably overkill, which is why Simon left.’
‘Oh, I see. You’ll let me know what happens then?’
‘Absolutely. I phoned now because I didn’t want you to worry.’
‘No, sure. Thanks.’
Ottilie’s attention was drawn to the entrance doors. Stacey was back, and she had a strained-looking Chloe with her.
‘Chloe just got here,’ Ottilie told Heath. ‘Sorry, I have to…’
