She added a vomiting emoji, sent it and closed her eyes as a cold sweat broke out over her face and she gagged. Ruby only just made it to the bathroom in time.
Afterwards, she lay on the cool tiles, too exhausted to crawl back to her bed. Her cell pinged with incoming messages which she ignored. When two calls went unanswered, she tried to rally herself back to bed but lifting her head started off the uncomfortable sensations all over again. Better to stay down where she was than risk starting the vomiting off again. She pressed her flushed cheeks to the cold tiles and willed away the horrible feeling of dread sweeping over her.
She closed her eyes and drifted off into a sweat induced sleep.
“Ruby.” Something touched her cheek. “Ruby, wake up.”
She forced her eyes open and stared through bleary eyes into Simon’s face. Surely she wasn’t back in her dreams. No. That wasn’t right. She’d texted him.
“Simon.” She reached out a hand and gripped his fingers.
“Hey, let me help you up.” He leaned down and scooped her up and carried her back to her bedroom. With gentle hands, he lay her on the bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. “Relax.”
“I feel terrible.” Nausea rolled in her stomach again and her chest burned.
“I know. You look ghastly too. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look so pale before.”
“Thanks.” She snorted out the word, half laughing because of the way he said it and half crying because she felt so rotten.
He sat down on the side of the bed. “Tyler and I feel fine. I’m thinking you’ve picked something up along the way. You’ve had a huge few weeks. With the massive push to rehome those animals and the move to the new property, you’ve been overdoing it. Burning the candle at both ends.” He disappeared for a moment and came back with a damp cloth. He wiped it over her face and she sighed.
“I’ve called a doctor and I’ll wait with you until he gets here.”
“Yuck.”
“Stay there and let me go see to the dogs.” He squeezed her hand and left her alone. Ruby drifted off again.
She woke to the dogs barking and someone shaking her shoulder. Through aching eyes, she saw Simon leaning over her, an older man hovering behind him.
“Ruby. Hey, Rubes. Wake up. Doctor is here.”
“Miss Costello. I’m Doctor Sweetman. Simon tells me you’re not feeling very well.”
She blinked and screwed up her face. “Feel like crap.” Even her throat was starting to burn like it was on fire. She swallowed and wished she hadn’t. Razor blades came to mind. What the heck was wrong with her?
The doctor raised an eyebrow at her before he took her wrist. “When did this start?”
“Woke up like it. Threw up, can’t stand without feeling like I want to fall over.” She paused for breath. “General crappiness all over.” She winced, wishing she hadn’t spoken at all. “And I ache everywhere.”
The doctor put down her wrist. “I see. Let me listen to your lungs for a moment.” He sat on the edge of the bed and put his stethoscope on her chest and listened, his face a mask. “A bit of a tell-tale rattle in there. Let’s take your temperature too.” He waited until his thermometer gave a beep and checked the reading. “I can take a swab of your throat but I suspect you have the flu. I’ve been getting a few cases in every day so it’s going around.”
When was the last time she’d had the flu? Forever ago. “Yay, me. I don’t have time for this.” Her voice had gone croaky. She glared at him, daring him to take it back and tell her she was fine.
“We never do. Sadly, these rarely hit us when we’re ready. I also suspect that you’re one of those people who’s always on the go. So it makes sense that you’re going to be even less inclined to take care of yourself.”
She frowned at his comment which hit too close to home, and swallowed before she answered. “Give me a script and I’ll deal with it.” Her voice came out raspy.
He laughed. “Oh dear me. That’s not how it works I’m afraid. I can give you something for the aching joints but in reality, the best thing for you is rest.” He stood and glanced over at Simon. “Do you have any sway with her, Simon? Perhaps convince her that bed rest is the only way forward unless she wants to end up in hospital.”
“I’ll do my best. How long should she be down for?”
“Oh, I’d say at least three or four days at best. Some people need longer but that’s about average. The problem is that if Ruby pushes herself, there’s a good chance of a relapse and she’ll really have something to deal with. People die with the flu all the time and we see it getting worse every year, sadly. Better in my opinion to take the chance to get over it now and not risk a relapse or further infection which could end with you in hospital in ICU.”
Simon shook his hand. “Thanks. I’ll make sure she does as she’s told.”
“Good. I’ll leave the script at the local pharmacy for you to pick up later. Take care, Ruby. I’ll see myself out.”
* * *
Simon moved over to the bed with a glass of water in his hand, amused by the evil looks he was getting from her. The Ruby he used to know hated being ill and rarely was so this wasn’t going to go down well at all. He held the straw to her lips and waited while she took a sip. “Are you going to behave yourself?”
She glared at him from glassy eyes. “Why are you even here?”
“Because you’re sick and I thought you might need me. I was right. Finding you on the bathroom floor scared the crap out of me.” It was lucky
