Page 43 of Persuading Penny
I ran to her. “Someone call an ambulance,” I instantly shouted to all of them.“Bridget,” I said more gently as I knelt beside her and checked her pulse, her breathing. “Can you hear me, Bridget?”
“Oh, no. No, no, no,” Abbie cried in horror, her hands trembling as she stood over Bridget’s prone figure.
“Bridget,” Cliff said, quickly kneeling on the other side of her. “Is she alright?”he asked me.
“She’s breathing, shallow but there.”
“Her head,” he said as he prepared to turn her onto her back. “She hit her head.”
“Let’s not move her. The paramedics will take care of that.”
He nodded.
I looked at the placement of her arms, the awkward bend of her wrist. “I think she might have broken something here.”
The ambulance was quick to arrive with Cliff boarding to accompany Bridget to the hospital.
Stunned and shocked, the silent and sullen cast and crew returned to the hotel to await news of Bridget’s condition.
THIRTEEN
Every day, Keely madesure we received news of Bridget’s state. The initial concern for her head injury had everyone stressed and anxious, but that concern was put to rest when the doctor assured Keely that the cut on her forehead made the injury appear worse than it was. After that, we learned that she grew stronger every day. Having put her hands out in front of her to break her fall, however, we learned that one of her wrists was, indeed, fractured, but that was surely what had saved her from a serious concussion.
Once out of danger, she’d been released from the hospital in Southampton, had spent two nights at the hospital in Bath where another doctor took over, and once released and returned to Tillsbury Estate, the doctor checked on her regularly.
During this time, Cliff spent much of his time with her, tending to her and bringing her whatever she may need. Keely joked that he moped around like a wounded puppy, such was his concern for the fallen actress.
“You’d think he’d take advantage of this break fromPersuasionto concentrate on that documentary he’s making, but no. He’s with her, making sure she lacks nothing.”
How nice of him, I wanted to say. But then again, I wasn’t surprised. That’s the type of person Cliff was; attentive and caring.
Though there was to be no filming for a few days, Keely invited me to come spend time at Tillsbury Estate to be with the cast and crew.
“Thanks,” I said. “But I think I’ll take this time to spend with my family.” Truth was, I didn’t want to have to watch Cliff tend so affectionately to Bridget.
After three days, however, Keely and Abbie scheduled the shoot of a few short scenes that didn’t include Bridget as Anne.
