In the confines of the disabled cubicle in the ladies’ loo, Hallie took the thermometer out of her medical bag, uncapped it and put it under her tongue. She already knew she was running a temperature. At a guess, 38.5°C.
OK, and take a look . . .
Damn, 39.2°C.
She took out her mobile, called the surgery and asked Mary on reception to see if Luke could possibly come to the phone.
He knew what she was doing today, obviously. Within twenty seconds she heard his voice.
‘Hallie. What is it?’
‘I’m at the airport. Feeling pretty rough. Just took my temp and it’s thirty nine point two.’
A pause at the other end, then: ‘Well, you can ask to be seen by a first-aider, but I think you already know the answer.’
‘Yes.’ There was no point getting upset and all why-me? about it. She wasn’t fit to travel, and even if she made it to Paris, she wouldn’t be well enough to enjoy the trip.
‘I’m sorry.’ Luke’s tone was compassionate.
‘I know. Me too.’ Such a waste of anticipation; all that looking forward to something that was no longer going to happen.
‘Have you told the others yet?’
‘No.’ Hallie coughed weakly. ‘Nor my mum. Oh God, I’m going to be messing up her plans too.’ Her mother, taking advantage of her absence, had booked a weekend away in Edinburgh. Which she would cancel in a heartbeat, naturally, but it all contributed to Hallie’s feelings of guilt. Her poor mum had little enough free time as it was.
Luke, who knew this too, said, ‘Look, don’t call Fay yet. Let’s see if we can work something out. I may be able to help.’
‘OK. Thanks. I’ll tell the girls now.’
Emerging from the disabled loo, she made her way back through Departures to the champagne bar, where Bea and the others were starting as they meant to go on.
‘Here she is! You’ve been ages. Come on, catch up, get this down you.’ Bea held out a brimming fizzing glass.
‘I’m so sorry, I have an infection.’ Hallie’s voice cracked; how she hated always having to be the bearer of bad news. ‘You’re going to have to have a brilliant time without me. I can’t fly.’
Oh well, at least the extortionate travel insurance meant she wouldn’t miss out financially too. Apart from the extortionate taxi back to Carranford, obviously. Once she’d been seen by the airport first-aider, who confirmed that she wasn’t fit to travel, Hallie completed the necessary paperwork and let the airline staff take her and her belongings along the covered walkway to the taxi office.
As they waited for the next cab to become available, Hallie’s phone rang. Answering it, she assumed a cheerful holiday voice. ‘Hi, Mum! Everything OK?’
‘Just wondering how it’s all going, darling. Checking you haven’t forgotten anything. Not that there’s much you can do about it now if you have!’
Hallie’s heart went out to her mum, who had worried about her her whole life. As any parent would, obviously, under their particular circumstances. But when it was just the two of them, Fay and Hallie Kingsley against the world, maybe the worry was that much more intense.
Luke was right: she couldn’t let her mother cancel her own plans for a weekend away from Carranford. More than anyone, she deserved a break.
‘I have everything I need. We’ve all had a glass of champagne.’ Well, she’d forced herself to take a couple of sips. ‘And they’ve just called our flight, so we’ll be getting on the plane any minute. I’ve got priority boarding!’ Chirpily she added, ‘Because I’m extra special!’
‘Of course you are. Have a fantastic time, sweetheart.’
‘We will. What time are you leaving for Edinburgh?’
‘Not until six. Pete can’t get away before then.’
Six? Bugger. Hallie looked up at the ticking clock on the wall. Subterfuge wasn’t so much fun when you were shivery and feverish and it was still only two o’clock. But her mum had been so looking forward to this weekend away with Pete, her boyfriend; nothing must be allowed to spoil it.
Aloud she said, ‘Ooh, better go, they’re calling for me to board. I’ll see you on Sunday night, OK? Have fun!’
Chapter 15
It was fine, Luke told himself. It was completely fine and there was no need whatsoever to feel guilty. He wasn’t doing anything wrong. Hallie was a friend. She currently happened to be a friend in need, and all he was doing was offering to help her out.
The fact that she was also his patient was entirely irrelevant. It wasn’t as if anything untoward was going to happen.
He left the surgery at three and drove back to the cottage he’d been renting on the edge of the village since moving to Carranford. Hallie had texted to let him know she was twenty minutes away. Panicking slightly, he’d pictured the place through her eyes. Not having been expecting a visitor, he needed to do a speedy tidy-up. He unlocked the front door, gazed wildly around and headed for the kitchen. Right, OK, go.