Page 82 of The Shape of Your Heart
‘So go and see her.’
‘Maybe. I’ll think about it.’ But with Callie going away soon, my instincts are telling me to leave her alone.
* * *
Work isn’t going to plan, either, leaving me no choice but to pull out of the potential deal with the builder. I know immediately it’s the right thing to do, but when I meet with him, I’m fully prepared for a backlash.
‘You’ve wasted a hell of a lot of my time,’ he says angrily. ‘You’re not going to find anyone else around here. Word gets about.’
‘Don’t threaten me,’ I warn him. ‘You’ve told me enough about the way you work to land yourself in a whole lot of trouble – if the right person were to find out. Let’s see… we’re talking about dodgy backhanders, substandard materials, intentionally not fulfilling a brief… and that’s just for starters.’
There’s a nasty look on his face as he mutters something, and as he walks away, I breathe an inward sigh of relief.
Back at home, though, the idea of the eco-friendly campsite is back on my mind. OK, so the planning application has been refused. But I’m not giving up on it. It has a hell of a lot more to offer than the new builds around here. Maybe if I do my homework, I’ll be in a position to appeal.
As I sit there, I feel dizzy all of a sudden, the screen of my laptop blurring in front of me. Telling myself it’s stress, I get up to get a glass of water. But as I walk to the kitchen, I feel lightheaded.
I sit down at the table and rest my head in my hands, waiting for it to pass. Half an hour later, when my vision is still cloudy, a feeling of fear fills me. Having been told what to look out for, with my medical history, I know I can’t afford to ignore this. There are too many similarities to last time I was ill. Reaching for my phone, I call Robin.
For fifteen minutes I wait, wishing I could call Callie. As my mind fills with different scenarios, none of them appealing ones, and relief floods through me as I hear a car pull up outside, then the sound of Robin’s footsteps before the door is quietly opened.
‘Nathan?’
‘I’m in the kitchen.’
As she comes in, she looks worried. ‘Are you OK?’
‘I’m not great,’ I say. ‘It came on out of nowhere.’
‘Are you feeling any better?’ She sits down next to me.
‘Not really.’ Her face is blurred as I look at her, my sense of fear growing. ‘I’m worried it’s just like last time.’
Robin gets up. ‘We need to get you to the hospital.’
I nod. ‘I’ve left a message for my consultant.’ My legs feel weak as I stand up.
‘Here.’ Grasping my arm, Robin helps me out to her car.
* * *
Sitting beside the bed I’ve been given, Robin’s face is ashen.
‘You gave me such a scare.’
‘Sorry about that.’ I pat her hand. ‘I scared myself. I thought it was happening all over again.’
‘At least now you know it’s not.’
A feeling of relief fills me. After numerous tests including an echocardiogram, I’ve been told I’m suffering from high blood pressure and prescribed some pills. I look around for a nurse, raising my hand until one comes over.
‘Presumably there’s no reason I can’t go home?’
‘I’ll check with the doctors – but they were talking about keeping you in so that we can monitor you.’
I sink back on to the pillow. ‘This really is not what I want to be doing.’
‘I know.’ Robin’s voice is quiet.
