‘I’m independent, Will, and that’s what matters to me.’ Ally gave him a gentle smile. ‘It’s love and constancy that matter to a child, not luxuries. Charlie and I are happy. You’re much more upset about it than I am!’
‘Too right I’m upset about it,’ Will growled. ‘You should have someone to look after you.’
‘Oh, yes?’ Ally’s gentle blue eyes hardened. ‘Well, the men I meet aren’t very good at that if you remember, so now I look after both of us by myself. On my own.’
Will looked sad. ‘You deserve so much more…’
Ally’s face softened and on impulse she walked over to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. ‘You’re a lovely man, Will, but there aren’t too many like you around.’
Will stared down at her. ‘But if I knew someone—’
‘Will! Drop the subject, will you?’ She gave him an exasperated look and made for the door. Didn’t he ever take no for an answer? ‘I’m happy. Charlie is happy. Now, if you’ll excuse me I’ve got a surgery to take.’
‘OK, OK, I’m sorry.’ Will raised his hands in a gesture of surrender and smiled ruefully. ‘You can’t blame me for trying. Consider the subject dropped. Don’t go yet—I need a quick word about a patient before we start surgery.’
Ally raised an eyebrow and paused with her hand on the doorhandle. ‘One of yours or one of mine?’
‘One of yours.’ Will pulled a face. ‘I was called out to little Kelly Watson last night. She had a dreadful asthma attack.’
‘Again?’ Ally sighed and closed the door again. ‘This is the second time this month. Was she admitted?’
Will nodded and dragged a hand through his greying hair. ‘Too right she was! Her mother was in a state of total panic, which didn’t help. I spoke to the hospital today and they’re going to increase the dose of inhaled corticosteroids before they discharge her.’
Ally frowned. ‘She was on a reasonable dose—’
‘If she was taking it.’ Will stared at her, all traces of humour gone from his craggy features. ‘I don’t think she was.’
‘But why?’ Ally looked astounded. Why would a nine-year-old girl not take her medication when she knew what the complications were of not taking it? ‘She’s not exactly at the age of teenage rebellion.’
Will’s mouth twisted. ‘I don’t know. I just think that the dose she was taking should have prevented that sort of attack. Have a chat to Lucy, will you?’
Lucy Griffiths, the practice nurse, ran an asthma clinic and knew all the patients better than anyone in the practice.
Ally nodded. ‘Yes, of course. We obviously need to check her inhaler technique.’
‘Thanks, Ally. Any news on young Pete Williams, by the way?’
Ally’s eyes widened. Did everyone know? ‘How did you know about Pete?’
‘Never try and keep a secret from Uncle Will.’ Will waggled his finger and then grinned. ‘Actually, I met Jack in the Hare and Hounds last night. Sounded a pretty dramatic rescue.’
‘Yes.’ For a moment Ally’s thoughts flew to Sean Nicholson and then she frowned. Why on earth had the man got to her so badly? ‘Anyway, in answer to your question, I was planning to phone before I start surgery. I did try last night but he was still in Theatre.’
Will’s face was suddenly serious. ‘He’s a good lad.’
Ally nodded, her voice soft. ‘I know that. I’ll have a long talk with him once he’s up and about.’
‘Do that. Oh, by the way…’ He stopped her as she was about to leave, not quite meeting her eyes, ‘Join me for lunch, will you? There’s some practice business we need to discuss.’
Practice business? Ally gave a mental shrug and let the door swing closed behind her. Time enough for that later. What was happening to little Kelly Watson?
She found Lucy in the treatment room, preparing for the asthma clinic.
‘I hear we’ve got problems with Kelly.’
Lucy nodded, her pretty face serious. ‘Too right. I spoke to the registrar and he wants to increase her inhaled steroids, but I don’t think that’s the best approach, do you?’
Ally propped herself against the wall and frowned thoughtfully. ‘When did we last check her inhaler technique?’
‘Last time she had an attack.’ Lucy flipped through her records. ‘And we checked her peak flow. In fact, we went through her entire management plan. I was totally satisfied that both she and Mum understood what she had to do.’
‘Well, something’s badly wrong,’ Ally murmured, ferreting around in her mind for a solution. ‘Any ideas?’