‘Flattering will get you everywhere.’ She shook his hand. ‘And you are?’
‘Nolan Hemingway.’
‘Hemingway…’ Martha repeated. Looking like she’d seen a ghost, she paled, which didn’t go unnoticed by Bea, as the paramedic began to push the wheelchair up the ramp of the ambulance.
The moment was interrupted by Julia, who handed Nolan Bea’s overnight bag. ‘Can you pass that to the paramedics whilst I just grab a cup of tea? Do you want one, Martha?’ she asked.
‘Any sherry to go in that?’ asked Martha. ‘I think I need one.’
‘Don’t be silly, you’re not in shock. Unlike Bea. I betshecould do with a strong drink.’
‘I beg to differ,’ murmured Martha, but her words were lost in the commotion of making Bea comfortable in the back of the ambulance.
The siren had stopped but the blue light was still whirling. Dr Sanders stepped into the back of the ambulance and asked Bea a series of questions before one of the paramedics took her blood pressure. After wrapping her in a blanket, he strapped her to the bed.
‘The road is going to be quite bumpy once we’re through the village, as we have the track before we reach the bridge, and we need to try and keep your ankle as still as possible. The sooner we get to hospital, the sooner we can get that chin stitched and that ankle strapped up.’
Nolan watched the proceedings from the door of the ambulance. ‘Would you like me to come with you?’
Bea nodded. ‘Yes, I’d like that.’
Sitting on a chair at the bottom of the bed, Nolan strapped himself in.
‘Are you okay?’ asked Bea, noticing that his eyes looked bleary.
‘Don’t you worry about me.’ He reached across and held her hand.
Julia, who had been bringing tea to the paramedics, appeared at the door of the ambulance. ‘And it’s okay if you’re late for work tomorrow,’ she teased.
Bea’s eyes widened. ‘I’m so sorry, I’m going to be leaving you in the lurch.’
‘Far from it. Flynn is going to be here in the morning, and Nolan has already offered to take over the afternoon shift until we know what’s going on with you. We have everything covered. Just get better soon.’
Bea felt a twinge of guilt at letting Julia down but then the throb in her ankle reminded her she had no choice. She caught Martha’s eye just as the ambulance door slammed shut. Just then, an image suddenly flashed through her mind.
‘Castaway Bay,’ she murmured.
‘What’s up?’ asked Nolan. ‘Do you need something?’
Bea shook her head. ‘No, I’m okay. Just feeling a little tired.’
‘Close your eyes,’ suggested Nolan.
Resting her head on the pillow, Bea did exactly that but there was only one thing on her mind – the painting on the wall inside Martha’s caravan. She was suddenly sure it was of Castaway Bay.
Doors closed, the ambulance sped off towards Glensheil Hospital, sirens blaring.
ChapterSixteen
As soon as they arrived at the hospital, Bea was whisked off up a corridor towards the X-ray department while Nolan took a seat in the waiting room. It wasn’t long before Bea’s ankle was strapped up and her chin stitched.
‘I can’t believe they’re keeping me overnight.’
‘At least your ankle isn’t broken. It could have been a lot worse,’ Nolan said from where he was sitting at the side of Bea’s bed.
‘You’re right, and I’ve been thinking…’
‘That’s dangerous,’ Nolan teased.
