Recalling the look on Veronica’s face when I found her under the tree, I started worrying again. I was losing her. I understood nothing, but that. I was losing her, and I’d only had her for a split second.
Deliberately slowing my movements, I placed the roller back in the tray before I broke the handle. Stretching up onto my toes, I lifted my arms above my head and spread my fingers wide, every muscle going taut. The rubber band just before it snapped.
“Hey.”
Her voice came out of nowhere, and my hands slapped down on my thighs as I relaxed. I whipped my head to the doorway. She was framed in the entrance. The light from the room threw shadows against her cheekbones and eyebrows, the darkened hallway at her back. Cuddled in a knitted jumper with her hair loose and slippers on her feet, she took away my need for oxygen and replaced it with her.
I felt the tension leave my muscles and fill the room, as she tried on a smile and failed.
“How are you feeling?”
“Better. Thank you for finding me and bringing me home.”
Her eyes were huge in her face, her cheek caved on one side where she was probably digging her teeth in. She looked so fragile, I was afraid if I asked one question she’d crumble to pieces. But, I needed answers. I needed to know what was wrong so I could fix it. That was what I did, I fixed things. I was a carpenter for fuck’s sake. I’d been using tools my whole life, and it killed me that I didn’t have the right tools for this … whatever was wrong.
I kept my voice low and my body relaxed so I didn’t frighten her away.
“I’ve got to be honest and tell you that I’m worried, Gazelle. Are you going to tell me anything? I want to help you, so badly, but I’m in the dark here.”
Her eyes sank to the floor, and she pulled the jumper tighter around herself.
“Have you spoken to anyone about what’s got you so … freaked out? Your granny?”
She shook her head no. With a heavy sigh, I brought my hands up to scrub my face, probably smearing paint, but who gave a fuck. My pleading eyes found hers again.
“Please … let me in.”
Ronnie
Before I could respond, my ringtone sounded. Ruby scrambled to her feet and followed me to my handbag. Pulling my phone out, I frowned when I didn’t recognise the number.
“Hello?” The word drew slowly from my mouth.
“Is this Veronica Williams?” The authoritarian voice commanded my attention.
“Uh, yes. Who’s th—”
“My name is Sister Faulkner. I run the Accident and Emergency at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. Your grandmother was brought in over an hour ago after suffering a myocardial infarction, sorry, a heart attack. We’ve stabilised her for now. The doctor will be able to give you more details when you get here. Are you able to come straight away?”
Without answering her, I handed the phone to Brad.
“Granny’s had a heart attack.” I didn’t know how I squeezed the words through my narrowed throat.
Over an hour ago. Why didn’t the home call me sooner?
Stormy grey eyes roamed my face in concern. “We’re on our way,” he told her before hanging up. “Which hospital?” His arms banded tightly around me.
“The P.A.” It came out as a whisper, my voice had deserted me completely.
He nodded and whisked me out to the car.
I felt like I was floating behind him, like all my cells had separated, leaving gaping holes filled with polluted air. This was too much. Too much, toooomuuuuch. The need to scream overpowered me. I screamed it into my elbow, the pillowy wool absorbing little of the shriek of pain.
Brad laid a firm hand on my leg. “We’ll be there soon. Just hang on.”
His foot hit the accelerator, revving the engine as we sped down Fairfield Road. The car was too slow. I needed light speed. I needed to be with her over an hour ago.
I didn’t wait for him to turn off the engine before I leaped out and ran to the Emergency entrance.
“Amelia Williams? Sister Faulkner called,” I barked at the triage nurse.
She looked unimpressed under her furrowed brow, but I didn’t care. She dealt with this all the time. The life and death of others must be so normal and tedious for her. My behaviour wasn’t pretty, but I was prepared to get ugly if she didn’t get me to my grandmother, now.
“Through those doors. Wait for the buzzer. You’ll find Sister Faulkner at the nurse’s station.”
“Thanks,” I yelled behind me before feeling a large hand rest on my lower back.
My rock. He was still with me smoothing the edge off my mania.
Entering the A and E was like entering a beehive. Bodies in scrubs raced here and there, saving lives. Commotion played out behind flimsy curtains. I heard raised voices throwing out instructions in one corner.
Someone yelled, “CLEAR!” before the zap of a defibrillator charged the air.
“Sister Faulkner?”
I swept my eyes over the three possible candidates hovering around the desk. A tiny woman with short, spiky, rose-red hair peered at me over frameless glasses.
“Miss Williams?”
“Yes. My gran—”
She nodded, and held up a hand to silence me. “Sister Faulkner is with your granny now. They’re doing all they can—”
“Where is she?” I was in no mood for placation. My eyes narrowed dangerously, fists clenching at my sides. Her gaze flitted to the corner with all the ruckus. No.
“It’s probably best if you wait …” I darted for the curtain in the
