After five rings, someone picked up. “Ains, sweetheart, I’m at work. Is it important?”
“Mrs. McMillan?”
Hesitation, then a sharp, “Who’s this?”
“I’m Beth. A friend of Ainsley’s and Baird’s. Mrs. McMillan, Baird was injured in today’s match. The ambulance is taking him to the Western General here in Edinburgh. Ainsley and I are following in a taxi.”
“What? What are you talking about? Put Ainsley on the phone.”
I winced and held it out to her. “She wants to talk to you.”
Ainsley took it but immediately burst into tears. She brokenly explained to her mum what had happened. When she hung up, she sucked in a breath. “Mum’s having a meltdown, but a coworker is there. She’s going to get her to the hospital.”
“Good. That’s good.” I snagged her hand again, curling it in mine. “It’s all going to be okay.”
It had to be.
Baird McMillan was a bright shining light in this dreary bloody world, and no fate could be so cruel to take him away so soon.
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
CALLAN
They took him away.
Baird.
They wheeled him onto a stretcher and through doors and I couldn’t follow. No one would tell me anything. John and the gaffer arrived minutes after us. The gaffer tried to get some information, but we were still waiting for someone to update us.
As we sat in the hard plastic chairs, I wanted Beth.
No.
Ineededher.
John had brought my gear so I could change and that included my phone, but there was no signal inside the hospital.
I was afraid to leave the waiting room in case someone appeared with news. But I really wanted to go outside and call Beth. To ask her to come. Just to sit with me. Keep me from falling apart.
This game me and Baird loved … I couldn’t bear the idea that it might take Baird from us all.
He was going to wake up.
He had to.
I couldn’t go through this again.
Feeling like I couldn’t breathe, I bowed my head, my fingers digging into my skull almost painfully.
John patted my back but didn’t say anything.
“I’m looking for my brother,” a harried, frantic voice I recognized cut through the reception. “Why can’t you tell me where he is?”
“Miss, please calm down?—”
“Calm down? I’m not some fucking stupid creepy football fan. Baird is my brother. Do you need ID?”
I shot up out of my chair and strode around the waiting area to the reception.
