Lilly gasped, loud in the suddenly silent room. Then, the hotel staff clicked into action. The emergency services were contacted, the bar was cleared of people apart from Lilly and Ruby, and a first aid officer had managed to manoeuvre Fletcher onto the floor and into the recovery position. Very soon, although it felt like hours to Lilly, an ambulance arrived, sirens echoing through the glens and blue lights illuminating the castle walls as it reached its destination.
Within minutes, two paramedics had Fletcher strapped onto a stretcher and wheeled into the ambulance, to be whizzed to Casualty at breakneck speed.
It had all been a whirl of horror for Lilly, who was shaking and tearful. Ruby, as ever, was the tower of strength, although she had had to down another whisky for stamina. It had fairly knocked her seeing Fletcher like that. She put a comforting arm round her sister’s shoulders.
‘He’ll be all right, Lilly,’ she tried to reassure, hoping and praying her words would prove true. She hated seeing Lilly this way, so terribly distraught and upset. The hotel manager guided them back to his office. Once he had seated them down with a cup of tea, he gently asked a few questions.
‘Do you have the contact number for his family?’ he enquired with concern. Ruby gave him all the details he needed, whilst Lilly, still shaking and speechless, stared into space. The manager looked at the two vulnerable ladies and his heart went out to them. ‘I’ll arrange transport in the morning, if you wish to return home,’ he told them, feeling it was the least he could do.
‘Yes, thank you, that’s very kind of you,’ replied Ruby knowing Lilly was in no fit state to stay in Scotland.
‘But what about Fletcher?’ Lilly suddenly asked. ‘We can’t leave him.’
‘He won’t be on his own,’ Ruby said. ‘Jasper is going to be here.’
‘I’m not going till I’ve seen Fletcher,’ Lilly announced defiantly, crossing her arms. Then promptly started to cry again.
‘Now don’t worry, ladies,’ reassured the manager. ‘I’m sure once we’ve heard from the hospital, we’ll be able to sort something out.’ That was the best he could offer at the moment, given that Fletcher was in his eighties and had most likely suffered a heart attack. He was anxious to speak to this Jasper now before making any more promises. Fortunately Ruby intervened.
‘Come on, Lilly, you need to get some rest. We’ve all had quite a shock.’
Lilly stood up on autopilot and allowed herself to be taken upstairs to bed. Meanwhile the manager made the dreaded call.
*
Jasper heard the phone ring. It was late, past midnight, and immediately his chest started to thump. He’d been about to climb the stairs to bed when the loud shrill of the landline phone reverberated round the hall. Grabbing it, he listened to the Scottish accent and his heart fell. Fletcher. Something had happened to Fletcher.
Adira had heard the phone too, plus the urgent conversation that followed. Frowning, she put on her dressing gown and made her way downstairs. She inhaled sharply at hearing the words ‘hospital’ and ‘clutching his chest’. Jasper put the phone down, tears pouring down his face.
‘Whatever’s happened?’
‘It’s Fletcher… he’s… he’s in hospital, suspected heart attack,’ he cried, as his shoulders shook uncontrollably.
‘Oh, Jasper.’ Adira went to hold him.
After briefly hugging, Jasper stepped back, wiped his tears and inhaled deeply.
‘I need to ring the hospital, then I’m going.’
‘What? Tonight?’
‘Yes.’
Adira sat on the bottom stair and patiently waited for Jasper to make the call. Taking deep breaths, she calmed herself to listen. She gleaned that Fletcher had been rushed in with chest pain. They had stabilised him and he had undergone an electrocardiogram test. After a couple more queries from Jasper, he rang off and turned to her.
‘He’s stable and asleep at the moment.’ His face was drained of colour.
‘Jasper, let’s both go first thing in the morning. You need to get some sleep before setting off.’
‘There’s no chance of me sleeping.’ He ran a hand through his hair desperately. ‘I’m going. I need to be there when he wakes up.’
Adira nodded, knowing that nothing would persuade him otherwise.
‘Do you want me to come with you?’ she asked in support.
‘No. It’s best if you stay here,’ he said, then kissed her, ‘but thanks.’
Adira pursed her lips, trying not to cry. She wanted to stay strong for him.
