‘Top drawer!’ I nod towards the bedside cabinet while pulling Georgia against me. ‘You’re OK, you’re OK…’ I stroke her hair while Heather starts opening and closing drawers.
‘It’s not there!’
‘Bathroom cabinet! And call an ambulance.’
Heather’s face is white. ‘Which first?’
‘Pen! Then call…’
Georgia’s breathing is becoming shallow.
She rushes back in, handing me the EpiPen. I pull off the lid with my teeth, slamming the needle into the top of her leg. ‘Ambulance, Heather.’
‘I…’ She’s frozen. I shift Georgia into the recovery position and dial 999.
‘Anaphylactic shock. Nut allergy. Thirteen years old. EpiPen.’ The words come out calmer than I feel. Georgia’s breathing is starting to stabilise, but she’s still struggling.
‘Call Spence,’ I say. ‘Heather!’ I snap her out of her trance.
‘Yes… I’ll…’ She leaves the room as I stroke Georgia’s hair. ‘I’m here. You’re going to be fine. Everything’s going to be OK. You’re alright.’
Heather’s voice is high-pitched as she comes in. ‘He’s not answering! What can I do? I…’
‘Just keep trying him.’
‘I didn’t know, I…’
‘I know.’ My voice softens.
Georgia’s eyes are on me, her hand clutching mine.
It feels like hours before the ambulance arrives. Heather lets them in and I move back as the paramedics put an oxygen mask on Georgia, firing questions at me.
‘Mum? How long since she had the food?’ The tall paramedic looks at me, with kind blue eyes.
‘About ten minutes?’ Heather replies. The paramedic’s eyes recalibrate, switching his focus to Heather.
‘She’s stable, but we need to get her to the hospital.’
Outside, Georgia is helped into the ambulance, oxygen mask still firmly over her mouth. Her eyes trying to find mine. I’m about to get in but then take in the way the paramedic is speaking to Heather. I take a step back, letting her climb in.
‘Alice?’ she asks slightly panicked.
‘I’ll follow you in the car and try Spence again.’
‘But—’
Her eyes are wide as they close the doors, the siren sounding as they drive away.
All the adrenaline rushes through my body, and I bend over, hands gripping my knees. If I hadn’t been there, if I hadn’t… I take a ragged breath and pull myself straight.
My hands grip my phone as I unlock the car, dialling Spence, but it goes to voicemail.
‘Spence, it’s me. Georgia’s had a reaction. She’s going to be OK, but you need to get to the hospital. I’m on my way. I’ll keep trying you…’
I turn the ignition and pull out onto the road, following the ambulance as closely as I can.
At the hospital, I park and rush over as Georgia is wheeled out, Heather by her side as they go through the ambulance bay doors. A nurse stands to the side, placing a gentle but firm hand on my arm.
