‘Maybe he was thinking of taking the automatic,’ Reid said. ‘Oh, wait. We don’t have one of those,’ he finished with a shit-eating grin.
Flynn chewed on what looked like some impressive swear words by the expression on his face, but managed not to spit them out, his darting looks at Carter telling Prita exactly why Reid was saved from a serving. ‘Fine. We’ll both go look.’
‘You should look from the car.’ He looked like he was about to argue. She reached out without thinking and touched his arm. ‘I don’t want you hurting yourself further on my account.’
He glanced at where her fingers touched the skin just under the edge of his t-shirt sleeve then back up, gaze meeting hers, the heat in them almost taking her breath. ‘Okay,’ he said, his voice a roughened whisper.
She nodded, even though she knew his okay wasn’t a ‘yes, I’ll stay in the car’ but more a ‘yes, I’ll not push myself too hard’.
Carter’s expression had become thoughtful through this exchange. ‘Can you go now? He’s probably scared.’
‘How about you and I help your mum inside,’ Flynn said. ‘Then Reid and I can go look for Maccy.’
Shooting him a grateful look, she was about to say that was unnecessary when Carter put one arm around her waist. ‘You can lean on me, Mum. I’ll help you inside.’
What could she say to that?
Ignoring Barb’s twitching lips, she tried her best to pretend she needed his help, putting her arm over his shoulder and leaning ever so slightly on him as they walked over the gravel path that led to the stairs, Flynn limping in front of them. Barb came up beside her and as they stopped at the stairs, waiting while Flynn limped his way slowly up them, Barb leaned in and put her arm around Prita giving her a little hug and whispered in her ear, ‘I know you’re worried about staying here, but please don’t. You are practically one of the family and we look after our own. Let us look after you.’
Tears stung Prita’s eyes and she blinked rapidly, trying to breathe past the shallow-hot sensation in her lungs. ‘Thank you.’
‘No need for thanks, love.’ She kissed Prita on the cheek. ‘We’re all so happy you’re okay.’
‘Me too.’ She tried to smile. ‘Thanks for asking Reid to get the clothes,’ she said, gesturing down at what she was wearing.
Barb sighed. ‘I could hardly let you come home naked now, could I.’
A burst of laughter exploded out of Prita’s lips. ‘I had clothes.’ They were smoke-infused and filthy, but she had them. They were all she had. She blinked harder as realisation hit her again. She’d lost everything. How was she going to run her business with nothing that a doctor needed for a clinic? Thank god she had insurance, but still, it was going to be months. How would she serve her patients? How could she build up her patient list? This was going to put her back not just months but possibly years because people would have to go back to Doc Simpson again until she got back up on her feet and then they might not want to come back.
Oh god. Oh god.
The enormity of it all hadn’t hit until right now.
‘Stop it,’ Barb said suddenly, grasping her hands and giving them a squeeze. ‘I know you’re worried about your business, but we’ll manage something there too. Trust us. Everything will be okay.’
She nodded. She did trust them. But how could they help her with this. Even Barb, frighteningly capable woman that she was, couldn’t fix everything.
‘Come on, Mum,’ Carter said, pulling her towards the stairs. ‘Flynn’s up now.’
She looked up and saw Flynn had indeed made it up the stairs but was stopped in the doorway, holding onto the doorframe, eyes pinned on the horizon over their head. There was something about the look on his face that had the worry skittering along her nerves.
‘Hey, Flynn, you’re blocking the door.’
He didn’t seem to hear Reid’s comment as his knuckles whitened on the doorframe, nostrils flaring. Was his knee hurting that much? Why hadn’t he said something?
She took in a deep breath, ready to do the doctor thing and order him to sit down so she could look at his knee, happy to have something to concentrate on other than herself. But instead of words, she coughed as she caught a whiff of smoke in the air.
Flynn’s gaze darted to her, but he still didn’t release his death grip on the door. ‘You okay?’
‘Fine.’ His gaze flickered back to the horizon. There was something in his eyes she didn’t like, something that spoke of more than worry, and she was damned sure that he wouldn’t want anyone to see it, let alone Carter, who idolised him. ‘Carter, could you take these things to the laundry for me please, then go find Aaron and tell him his dad’s home?’
‘He’s down at Nat and Reid’s with Tilly,’ Barb said.
‘Then go run down there. I’m sure he’d like to know his dad’s home.’
‘Are you sure you’re okay to get inside, Mum?’
She smiled down at him. ‘I’ll be fine. But nobody can run as fast as you and I know Aaron will want to see his daddy.’
‘Okay. I’ll be as fast as I can.’
He took the bag from her and squeezed past Flynn and disappeared inside. Moments later, they heard the back door slam shut.
‘Flynn?’ Barb and Reid asked together, both moving towards him. ‘Are you okay?’
‘I’m fine,’ he snarled, but still didn’t move from his position in the door, his face growing paler as the scent of smoke lingered.
Prita shared a look with Barb and then Barb said, ‘Reid, can you go and get that jug of ginger beer out of the fridge and put it on the kitchen table? I think we all need something cool.’ She looked at the gap Carter had squeezed through. ‘Go round the side door.’
Reid shot a concerned look at Flynn
