“Stop it.” She lifted a hand, pushed him away.
The tears slipped from her closed eyes followed by the hiccuppy sob that tore at his heart.
He’d never given voice to the thought that she might have harmed herself. Looking now he could see that she didn’t have any cuts or bruises, her skin seemed clear. He wondered fleetingly if she’d taken any pills.
“Billie, I need to get you to hospital. Try to work with me.” He stood up, struggling with her in his arms. Her head flopped against his chest and one hand gripped his jacket, the other hung limp.
Hamish held her tight against his chest, while he stumbled out of the forest, search for Alex.
He saw them. “Mom!” He bolted around the edge toward them, his legs going hell for leather. “Oh my God, oh my freaking God.” He slowed as he reached them, his face fearful. “Mom. Is she okay, Hamish?”
“I think so. She’s very cold.” He stopped and Alex reached out a hand and touched her face.
“Mom?”
Her eyes flickered again, disorientated, her expression blank. When her gaze landed on Alex, she stared and her eyes widened. “Alex?”
“Yes, it’s me.” His eyes welled and he reached for her hand, wrapping his fingers over Billie’s.
“I don’t know what happened, Alex. I’m sorry, I can’t remember.” Another sob rose in her throat. “I’m so cold. So very cold.”
“We need to get you to the hospital. Alex, open the back door of the car, there’s a good lad. You to sit in the back with your mother. I think there’s a blanket in the boot we can use to keep her warm.”
* * *
“She’s fine, physically anyway.” The doctor stood at the end of the bed and spoke to Hamish and Alex while Billie listened on, her gaze wandering the room, focusing on everything apart from the doctor. “I don’t really see any point in keeping her in. She needs rest and if she doesn’t show any improvement, mentally, I might suggest a visit to her local doctor for, ah, shall we say an evaluation.”
“Thank you, Doctor. I’ll make sure she’s taken care of.” Hamish watched as the doctor left them to see his next patient.
A nurse bustled in with a bag in her hand. “She’s free to go. Her wet clothes are in here. If you can, drop back that gown once she gets home.”
“Thanks, I appreciate your care.” The nurse hurried away. He turned to Billie who lay back on the pillow, the blanket pulled up to her chin. “We can leave now. Are you okay to walk out to the car?”
“I’m sorry to put you through all of this, Hamish. It’s not your problem.”
“I’ve made it mine so stop worrying.” He stepped over to the side of the bed, a ready smile to soothe her. “Let’s get you back to the motel. You can rest up there. Lucy and Frederick should be here soon. They’ll want to see you.”
“I suppose so. I’ve been gone for so long I’m surprised they even remember who I am.”
Hamish frowned. “No you haven’t. You called Alex and said you’d be home the day before yesterday. When you didn’t make it, we decided to come down, make sure you were okay.”
Billie looked like she wanted to argue but then decided against it.
“The police wouldn’t issue a missing person’s report for another twenty-four hours. You haven’t been gone that long.”
Billie frowned, confused. “Do you know that Lucy used to live at the house?” She pushed back the blanket and sat up.
“Yes. We saw Primrose. When she saw Alex she said he had the look of her Gertrude when she was young. We didn’t give it much thought until yesterday when Alex and I were at the house. We came across old photos that bore a striking resemblance to him and to you. I thought it was merely a coincidence until we spoke to Mr Wilkes. Things started to add up and then we spoke to your mother.”
Billie placed a hand on her forehead and Hamish reached out to steady her. She brushed him off. “No, I’m fine. Please continue, Hamish.”
“Alex told her our suspicions, but she still didn’t want to talk about it but she didn’t deny it either. Frederick insisted she should come. This is huge, Billie. I still don’t understand why your mother wouldn’t share this with you when you said you were coming up here. Makes no sense to me at all. I’m hoping when they get here she’ll be more rational.”
“It all makes sense. It took me a while to figure it out too. Lucy used to live there. My mother is Gertrude, the younger sister, the one who went missing.”
“Eric did give me an idea of what her life was like but I really think you need to speak to your mother about it to get the real story.”
He helped her to stand up. After a moment of uncertainty, she found her feet. Hamish helped her outside where Alex waited with Maggie. The pup sniffed around the trees at the front of the hospital car park. He stood up when he saw them walking toward him.
Billie spoke before Alex could say anything. “I’m fine, I promise.”
He glanced at Hamish for reassurance. “The doctor said your mother was okay. But I do think she needs to go back to the motel and rest up.”
“Okay, then, that’s okay.” His shoulders slumped and a grin crossed his face. “Gran said I could get the pup.” He crouched down and patted Maggie’s head. She licked his hand, whined and came over to sniff Billie’s feet.
A smile broke out on her lips, wobbly at first but a smile none the less.
“I think your Gran was right. She’s very cute.”
Hamish put a hand on her back and urged her to the car. “Let’s get you to the motel and you can rest up. Lucy and Frederick are probably not
