Page 131 of Love Is: Two Bodies One Soul

No answer.

She pushed open the shed door, expecting to see her father methodically putting his gardening tools in order. Instead, she saw him on the ground, eyes closed, arms flung wide, one leg tucked behind the other.

‘DAD!’ Lexie shrieked and knelt at her father’s side. ‘Dad, what’s the matter? What’s wrong?’

Doctor Scott opened his eyes. ‘I’m sorry, Lexie,’ he said, his voice feeble. ‘I’m … I think.’ His chest heaved as if it was difficult to breathe. ‘… I think I’ve had a heart attack.’ His face contorted in pain, and he let out a groan.

Lexie squeezed her father’s hand. It felt icy cold. ‘Don’t move,’ she said. ‘I’m going to call an ambulance and get something to make you more comfortable.’

‘Thank you, Lexie. You always were a good girl.’

Heart racing, Lexie ran back to the house, now empty and silent apart from the faint scratching of Poppy, the spaniel wanting to be let out of the kitchen.

While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, Lexie took blankets and cushions out to the garden shed for her father. Once he was settled, she ran again to the house for her mobile to phone Owen. Her call went straight to messages. She tried Xander and then Kate. They, too, had their phones switched off.

Just as she was trying to find the telephone number for Whyton House, the gravel in Meadow Bank’s drive crunched under the wheels of the arriving ambulance. Chucking her phone down, Lexie ran out to meet the paramedics and escort them to the shed.

Looking pale and frailer then Lexie could have imagined, Doctor Scott was loaded into the ambulance. ‘I’m sorry, Lexie,’ he said, trying to lift an arm in what looked for all the world like a feeble royal wave.

‘Now you stay quiet, sir,’ the paramedic said. ‘We’ll have you in the hospital in no time.’ He turned to Lexie. ‘Are you coming in the ambulance, miss?’

‘No, no, she is not.’ Doctor Scott sounded almost like his usual self. ‘My daughter has a wedding to attend, can’t you see she’s a bride!’

Lexie watched them leave, then returned to the house and exchanged boots for shoes. She was a mess. She considered trying to phone Whyton House but decided not. It was only a five-minute drive to the mansion, and in the time it would take to find the number and be put through to the right person, she would be there.

* * *

The clockin the hall at Whyton chimed the quarter. As the pianist moved on to yet another melody, the door at the far end of the room opened, and Xander, Kate with Emi in her blue bridesmaid’s dress, Grandma Scott, the two cousins and Mrs Scott entered.

‘Shouldn’t be long now,’ George said.

‘No.’ Owen glanced at the registrar, who was trying to sneak a look at her wristwatch, and he added: ‘Let’s hope not.’

‘Daddy!’ Emi ran to Owen. ‘You ought to see Lexie, daddy. She is so pretty.’

‘And you are too, cariad,’ Owen replied and brushed his fingers through his daughter’s dark curls so that the blue restraining ribbon fell to the ground.

Kate came over to gather up Emily. ‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘Emi’s a real live wire today. Can’t keep her in one place for more than a minute.’

‘Do you know what’s keeping Lex?’ Owen asked.

‘No. It was chaos at the house when we left. She made us all get into the cars and come here. Something about sorting out her dad. I’m sorry, Owen, this must be stressful for you.’

‘A little.’ He managed a wry smile.

‘Well, I’d best get Emi to the back seats again, so she’s ready and in position for her starring role.’

Owen watched them go.

The clock chimed the half-hour. Owen shifted nervously on his chair and then stood up. The entire room seemed to stir at his action like it had been a signal to panic. Xander jumped up and strode over.

‘I’m sure Lexie will be here soon. She was just sorting out Dad.’

‘Yes, Kate told me. What’s the matter with him?’

‘Don’t know. He suddenly did some last-minute gardening.’ Xander rolled his eyes.

‘Probably stress,’ George said.

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