Recognising the symptoms of a severe asthma attack, the ailing woman managed to dial 999 and ask for an ambulance. And then sat back in her kitchen chair, exhausted, and passed out.
CHAPTER 32
Rosa was putting clean sheets on the bed, ready for Josh, when her mobile rang. It was Sara. She listened to what Sara had to say, then asked, ‘What do you mean, Nate isn’t there?’
‘I couldn’t believe it. There was a queue six-deep waiting outside when I arrived at eight. I’ve only just been able to give you a ring – I’ve been rushed off my feet.’ Sara sounded very harassed.
‘That’s really odd. I only spoke to him last night and he said he would definitely open up.’ Rosa didn’t dare add that all he had to do was wake up and switch everything on.
‘The heating was on when I arrived too, which is strange.’
‘Shit, I’m sorry, Sara. Can Wendy come down and help, do you think?’
‘Don’t you worry, I know you’ve got a lot on your plate today. I just wondered if you’d heard from Nate, that’s all. Is Josh back?’
‘No – and that’s another thing. Josh’s phone is switched off and I’ve no idea what time he’s landing. I just hope he will contact me soon as I don’t know whether to make my way to the police station on my own or not.’
‘He’s driving down from the airport, isn’t he?’
‘Yes – getting a hire car. It’s a long journey from New York just to be by my side for a short time.’ Then Rosa heard a banging on the shop door and the doorbell being rung. ‘Anyway, I’d better go. Titch has just arrived, and it looks like she’s forgotten her shop key. I’ll phone you later.’
‘Oh Rosa, I’m so stressed,’ were Titch’s first words on barging through the door of the Corner Shop. She looked flushed and upset. Rosa noticed Ritchie was sitting at the wheel of the fish-and-chip van outside, with Theo red-faced and crying in his arms.
‘Theo is doing that screaming thing he does when the bowel blockage happens, so we’re straight off to Ulchester General. I couldn’t get through on your bloody phone.’
‘Oh, sorry, Titch. I’ve been trying Josh constantly, that’s why. I should have listened to Mary; I felt in my gut that it was a bad idea, him rushing back for this. Go on, Titch, get moving and don’t worry about the shop.’
‘Listened to Mary? And what about the Christmas designer coat delivery – it’s coming from London this morning, isn’t it?’
‘It doesn’t matter and that’s not your worry now. Just let me know how the little man is as soon as you can, right?’
When Titch had gone, Rosa turned the shop sign to Open, sat at the counter, put her head in her hands and let out a massive sigh. ‘Oh Hot, what’s going on today?’
‘Blimey, love, what’s up with you?’
Rosa looked up to see a man in a black puffa jacket with a claret and blue scarf round his neck. She wasn’t sure if he was fat or whether it was the jacket making him look that way. His hair was cut so short it could pass as stubble. His light eyes owned a distinct twinkle, while his right cheek bore the kind of scar you were too scared to ask about.
Rosa found herself confiding, ‘It’s just – well, my husband’s gone AWOL, my best mate’s kid is ill, I need to go and talk to the Old Bill and there’s a big Christmas delivery on its way.’ She became more businesslike. ‘Can I help you before I try and get my head around it all?’
‘I feel stressed for you myself now, after hearing that lot. I was looking for a Rosa Smith, but with Ma’s description and noticing you are a fellow scar-wearer – although it’s a mere blemish to my train track – I think I’ve found my girl.’ The thirty-something held out his hand. ‘Danny Green. You saved my little Alfie’s life. I had to come and see ya, soon as I could, like.’
‘Oh, hello.’ Hot started barking as Rosa’s mobile rang. She put her hand up to halt the fellow Londoner and mouthed, ‘Just a sec.’
Danny nodded and made himself busy looking around the shop. Hearing Rosa gasp he looked over. Her face had gone white and her hand was trembling. He went to her side as she spoke. ‘Oh my God, when? OK, yes, sure. Thank you, Colette. Exeter? Yes, I understand, I’m on my way.’
‘You OK?’ Danny said with concern. ‘Not your day, is it?’
‘No, it’s not. That was Colette from the Co-op. My mum has collapsed. An ambulance is taking her to Exeter.’ At that moment, the delivery man rang at the back door with the Christmas order. Tears started to pour down Rosa’s face. ‘Oh, this is just all too much. I can’t cope.’
Danny took control. ‘You go, darl. Give me your keys. I’ll sort the order and look after the little dog. The delivery just needs taking in and signing for, yeah?’
Rosa nodded shakily. ‘Are you sure?’ For some reason she felt she could trust Alfie’s dad. ‘That would be great. Hot, that’s my sausage dog, his food is in the little kitchen there. His lead is on the back of the door, and you need to feed him a small bowlful of his special biscuits at twelve.’ She jotted down her mobile number, saying, ‘Danny, will you ring me so I’ve got your number? And phone if there are any problems. Thanks!’ And she raced upstairs for her coat and bag.
When she came down, Danny was already bringing in the boxes from the supplier and holding the paperwork to check. ‘Just go,’ he urged her. ‘I’ll be fine. It’s the least I can do for you for saving my boy’s life. Now go to your mum. Now!’
‘Danny Green, you’re a diamond,’ Rosa called, albeit a rough one, she added mentally. Then she threw the stranger her keys, and with one hand on her tummy she pelted out of the door, straight into Lucas.
‘Jesus, bird, you nearly knocked me clean over.’ Then he saw the look on her face. ‘What’s the matter?’
‘It’s Mary,’ Rosa gulped. ‘She’s collapsed and I don’t know where Josh is and Theo is sick again too, and there’s an order coming in and–’
‘Blimey. I just saw a blue-lighted ambulance going hell-for-leather at the top of the hill and wondered who it was for.’
‘Oh no, why didn’t they wait for me? It must be serious.’ Rosa could feel herself going into a full-blown panic attack.
‘OK, calm down, girl. What can I do to help?’
‘The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. I need to get there – and fast.’
Merlin jumped down from Queenie’s chair, tipped back his head and started prowling around the empty kitchen, wailing. It was as if he was calling out to his mistress to tell her that if she had just finished listening, she would have learned that the only drama was that, due to extreme weather conditions in New York, all planes had been grounded until further notice.
CHAPTER 33
Staring ahead, Lucas Hannafore sped down the fast lane of the M5 in his Mercedes van, Meatloaf’s Greatest Hits blaring out from the loudspeakers. Rosa, oblivious to the dust, crisp wrappers and empty Coke cans rolling at her feet, decided she’d better phone the Corner Shop. Now that the first panic had subsided, realisation had set in that not only had she left a total stranger in charge of her livelihood, but she had also left her precious hound and best friend, Hot Dog, in his care too.