Page 63 of Lost in Love
“It could be one of my patients.”
Katherine ran back to her bedroom and scrabbled to get dressed, dropping her phone in the process. A muffled sound came from it.
Katherine picked it up from the floor. “I’ll call you back later.” She pushed the “End Call” button and stuffed the phone into the trousers she’d just got on.
She leapt through the front door within two minutes and ran down the road.
She stopped suddenly when she saw a figure at Anna’s front door but realised it wasn’t her. Her heart thumped so hard in her chest she could barely get her words out.
“Excuse me… has something happened… to Anna or Harry?”
The woman jumped and tightened her dressing gown around her. “Yes, I’m just locking up. Had to clean up a bit of blood, didn’t want her coming home to it.”
Katherine put her hand to her chest. “Please can you just tell me what happened?”
“Oh, Harry took a tumble down the stairs.”
Katherine tried not to picture Harry losing his balance on the stairwell. She willed him to be all right. In a way she was relieved; at least the ambulance was an indication of life.
“How was Anna?”
“Well, who can say,” the woman replied as she removed the key from the lock.
Katherine fidgeted on the spot.
“She came out breathing into a paper bag.”
“Thank you, I’ll head up to the hospital now.”
“Tell her I’ve locked up. I’m from next door.”
Katherine nodded and ran back to her house. Within minutes she was speeding out of Nunswick, through the darkness of the valley. Her eyes moistened at the thought of Harry injured or worse, and Anna all alone. She pushed the accelerator harder, determined to be with her as quickly as possible, and wiped her eyes. She had the advantage that nighttime brought: you could see any headlights coming long before the car, but only if you weren’t blinded by tears.
A movement in the hedgerow caught her eye. A deer shot out, and she slammed on the brake, stopping just in front of it. The animal stared at her for a moment before disappearing slowly into the wood. Katherine exhaled hard. She checked her rearview mirror and then rested her head on the steering wheel. An image of Helena came to mind. Had she been speeding to get to the hospital too? Katherine swallowed hard and pushed the thought away. She needed to get to the hospital as safely as possible. She turned the radio on, pressed her preset button for Classic FM, and continued her journey.
Thankfully there was no problem finding parking at the Accident & Emergency department in Hardwick. Katherine ran into the reception and approached the desk. “I’m Dr Atkinson. You have my patient here, Harry Walker?”
“He’s just come in. They are assessing him. Do you know his daughter? She’s in a bit of a state.”
“Yes, I’ve met her in my surgery. Can I see her?” Katherine tried to limit the level of concern in her voice.Stay professional.
“I’ll ring the nurse to come and get you.”
Katherine paced the waiting area; she desperately wanted to get to Anna.
A nurse appeared through a pair of double doors and looked at Katherine. “Harry Walker?”
Katherine nodded in reply and followed her down a corridor.
“How is Mr Walker?” Katherine asked, trying to keep up with the nurse.
“We’re still assessing him. At this stage we’re trying to determine the damage from a fall. We’ll be carrying out a CT shortly.
“Is he conscious?”
“Yes, but not very responsive.”
They stopped along the corridor. She pointed to a door. “His daughter is in there. The paramedics said she was having a panic attack when they arrived.”
