Page 72 of Chasing Dreams in Eversley Village

Chapter 21

After a long day preparing for the imminent opening of the nursery, Holly drank fridge-cooled water and fanned herself with a nursery leaflet. The caravan’s metal shell had heated up throughout the day and even though it was evening, she still felt like she was being baked in an oven. As Holly got ready for bed, she wondered whether anyone would show up for the reopening the following day.She hoped so, the Rural Business Committee meeting she had attended at the Town Hall late last week had gone well. Nina had been unable to attend, which Holly was relieved about. The rest of the committee were encouraging about the farmers’ market. She had also spoken at great length about the arts hub and was pleased by how interested the committee members were, which included two more councillors. That would be four votes, assuming David Bunning would still support her after what she assumed Grace might have told him about her.

Holly’s thoughts were interrupted by her phone which dinged with a text. Walking to her table she picked the phone up to see it was from Mitch.

Hi, we’re back. Will come over first thing in morning. Would pick Trixy up now but was a long journey, got caught in holiday traffic. Looking forward to seeing you x

Holly swallowed.A kiss?she thought. The feeling began in her stomach and spread over her body with heat rising up from her chest, making her face flush.Remember, he’s got a thing for Nina,she told herself as she padded through to the bedroom.

Later, Holly tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The caravan felt too warm and the sheets stuck to her. Checking her phone, she saw it was just after midnight. She got up and opened the caravan door to let in some air. Squinting, she thought she saw something over at the farm. A figure was moving in the distance, in front of the farmhouse. She wondered whether it was a dog. But the figure appeared to be much larger than a dog but not big enough to be an escaped cow – yet it was on all fours. Shuddering, Holly worried about her animals. There were often rumours in the village about big cats roaming farmland and killing off livestock. Hugging herself, the cool air met her moist skin and she decided to go back inside. As she leaned out to grab the door handle, she saw the figure rise on two legs.

‘Oh! It’s a person,’ she said.

They took two steps, then slipped to the ground. She saw a flash of a face in the moonlight. She stopped still. What if it was Mitch? Was he hurt?Holly grabbed her mobile. Having no time to change out of her pyjama shorts and vest, she fetched her hoodie and grabbed her work boots and quickly pulled them on. Shutting the caravan door behind her, she jogged towards the farm.

In daylight the journey took only five minutes but in the dark, with only the moonlight to guide her, she felt as if she had been jogging for ages. She rang Mitch’s mobile but it went unanswered and diverted to voicemail. Not wanting to go too fast, for fear of slipping, she kept her eyes focussed on the figure which remained motionless on the floor. She hoped Mitch, if it was Mitch, was okay. Maybe he had been drinking trying to relax after the long journey home.She turned on her phone’s torch app, to help navigate the last hundred metres.

As she got closer, she stopped. It was a body but not Mitch’s. This body had white hair and wore crumpled pyjamas.Sidney.He remained motionless. Holly crept forward slowly. Reaching him, she touched his shoulder. ‘Sidney, can you hear me?’ She rang Mitch’s number again but he still did not answer,

A groan came from the elderly man.

‘Are you hurt? Can you tell me where you feel pain?’

Sidney opened his eyes and spoke in a rasp. ‘Oh Ivy. It’s time.’

Holly sat on her hunches and stroked his back, she called 999. ‘Ambulance, I have an elderly man collapsed.’ She gave them the address and told them to be quick. As she ended the call, her phone lit up. It was Mitch.

‘Holly? Did you mean to call me?’ He sounded groggy.

‘Yes, it’s Sidney ? he’s outside your house. He’s collapsed.’

‘What?’

‘Yes, about ten meters from your back door.’ She heard a window open above.

Mitch leaned out. ‘I’ll be right down.’

Sidney groaned. ‘Getting old, so old. You never got old. My Ivy.’

Holly stroked Sidney’s hand. ‘Mitch is coming.’

‘He’s a good boy, such a good boy. He could have been our boy. Such a waste.’

The door flung open and Mitch appeared, his hair dishevelled, his face full of stubble. Holly’s back tingled.Not now,she thought.Not at a time like this. She looked back to Sidney. His eyes were full of tears.

Mitch bent down, carefully easing Sidney into the recovery position. A trickle of dark blood seeped from a gash in his head, moving through his pale white hair.

Mitch stood up. ‘I can’t believe he got himself out here. It must have been an adrenaline rush or something. I’ll get the truck. We need to get him to hospital as soon as possible.’

‘I’ve called an ambulance.’

‘They could be ages, it’ll be quicker if I drive.’

They fell silent as Sidney’s breathing rasped even more, wheezing with a whine. ‘So silly, wasted moments,’ he spluttered as blood came out of the corner of his mouth.

Mitch crouched down, stroking Sid’s head. ‘Hang on, Sid. Help is coming.’ His eyes glistened.

Holly knew they would be unable to move Sid and willed the ambulance to arrive.

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