Page 58 of Six Steps to Happiness
“I just feel a bit dizzy all of a sudden.”
“You do look pale,” Ronnie said.
“Don’t worry, it’ll pass.” Bea appeared to grip the table a little tighter.
Willow jumped up from her seat. “Let me get you some water.”
“You mean this has happened before?” Ronnie said.
“At my age, funny turns are the norm,” Bea replied.
Ronnie reached out to comfort her mother-in-law. “You feel a bit warm too,” she said, placing a hand on hers.
“I’ve probably over done it with the walking,” Bea said. “We’ve covered some miles today.” She smiled. “Either that or it’s excitement after talking about great-grandchildren.”
Ronnie tried to match her mother-in-law’s smile, but she couldn’t help but feel guilty. She’d been enjoying herself so much on the shopping front, she hadn’t thought to question how Bea was coping along the way. Despite what the woman said, it was obvious Bea felt dreadful and was simply putting on a brave face.
Willow returned with a glass of water. “Here. Sip this.”
Keeping one hand firmly on the table, Bea took the glass with the other and did as she was told.
“Better?” Ronnie asked.
“A little.”
“Maybe we should get you home?” Willow said. “So you can rest up properly.”
“Good idea,” Ronnie said.
“Shall I go and get the car? It’s only up the road, I can meet you outside.”
Ronnie nodded.
“I’ll take this lot with me.” Willow gathered up the shopping bags. “It’ll save the kerfuffle when I pull up and you can concentrate on Grandmother.”
Ronnie watched her daughter head out.
“She’s a good girl,” Bea said, watching her too.
“She is.”
“Takes after her mother.”
“And her grandmother.” Ronnie sat stroking her mother-in-law’s hand. “Have you seen a doctor about these funny turns?” Ronnie waited for an answer, but none was forthcoming. “What are we going to do with you, eh?”
Bea continued to drink her water in silence, before a car horn finally beeped.
“She’s here,” Ronnie said, spotting Willow’s vehicle at the roadside. “Do you think you can manage?”
Bea nodded.
Ronnie helped her mother-in-law to her feet, before gently guiding her through the coffee shop and out onto the street. Willow had already opened the car’s rear door by the time they got outside, making it easier for Ronnie to assist Bea to get in. Ronnie ran around to the other door and climbed in alongside Bea, Ronnie’s concern fast increasing when she saw how much colour had drained from the older woman’s face. “I think we need to get her to the hospital,” Ronnie said to Willow. “Now.”
43
Ronnie cursed her hometown for being too small to warrant having its own hospital, leaving them no choice but to drive all the way out to the next. Her mother-in-law could be really sick, but what did her local authority care? Once their emergency was over with and Bea had gotten the help she needed, Ronnie planned on complaining to anyone and everyone who’d listen. Of course, her daughter was doing her best, but the car seemed to be going nowhere fast. Sunday drivers, cyclists and wayward pedestrians seemed to be out in force. Road junctions were too busy to easily pull out of and signals were constantly against them.
“No,” Willow said, her shoulders slumping as the approaching traffic lights turned red, forcing her to slow to yet another standstill. “This is ridiculous.”
