Two Kinds Of Truth(56)

There’s an ambulance sitting empty in a nearby bay, the driver just climbing inside, and Jamie shouts, “Can someone help us, please?” The man slams the door and rushes over.

“’Tis my granda,” Jamie tells him, “he needs urgent medical attention.”

The driver checks Alasdair’s pulse, looks into his eyes, and then puts his ear to his mouth. When he looks up, the seriousness of granda’s situation is written all over his face.

“Quick; lie him down on the floor,” and the second Alasdair’s body is on the ground, the paramedic begins administering CPR. I put a hand over my mouth to stifle a scream as the stranger presses his hands onto the centre of granda’s chest.

“Go inside and get help,” the driver yells, and Jamie hurtles himself through the double doors.

In seconds a trolley is pushed out towards us and I hear someone shout “CRASH TEAM”, then there’s a flurry of activity as a stream of doctors and nurses dash to granda’s aid.

“Take him straight to resus,” a young Asian doctor says once granda’s secure, and he takes over the CPR as they rush the old man inside the building.

I can’t believe what’s happening as I rush in after them, tears flowing like a river down my face. I don’t know what to do, there are so many people around granda. I just stand, frozen to the spot, as the A&E department try to save Alasdair’s life. Then the trolley’s snatched from Jamie’s grasp and I watch it disappear down the corridor as the doctor shouts out vital lifesaving instructions.

“Wait,” Jamie cries, chasing after them, but a male nurse grabs him by the arm and pulls him back. “Please, try and stay calm,” he says. “Right now, he’s in the best possible hands.”

A set of double doors further down the corridor burst open and a nurse grabs the bottom of the trolley and pulls it inside. I glimpse an array of monitors and medical equipment, and I let out a sob. Then the doors close behind the trolley and I flick my gaze towards Jamie as he draws his hand to his mouth. He bites down on his fist, and for a second, I fear he’ll draw blood. I throw myself at him and grab his hand, and he turns to me and his face crumples. I fling my arms around his neck and pull him close.

“They’ll save him,” I insist, “they have to.” He slips his arms around my waist and pulls me closer still.

“I cannae lose him,” he whispers against my neck. “He’s all I have left.”

“You still have me,” I croak, and his grip tightens.

Someone coughs and my reaction is to pull away

“Excuse me, but if you wouldn’t mind helping us with the patient’s details?”

I wipe the stream of tears away from my cheeks by using the sleeve of my blouse and stare at the nurse: a man with dark hair, in his early twenties. He points to a couple of empty plastic chairs in the waiting area.

“If you wouldn’t mind,” he says, gently, and once we sit down, he goes over to the reception desk and returns with a pile of forms to fill in. I take Jamie’s hand in mine. He’s shaking from head to toe, and I tighten my grip and give him my best impression of a reassuring smile.

“I’ll have to call Callum,” I say, once the nurse finishes gathering Alasdair’s details.

Jamie nods. “Aye, you’d best do it right away.”

“I’ll nip outside and do it now.”

He nods. “Sure, and while you’re doing that, I’ll go find a coffee machine.”

We both get up together and go our separate ways. I head outside and drag my mobile from the back pocket of my jeans to see I’ve three missed calls from Callum.

I hit his number.

“Hey, Maddie, where have you been? I’ve been trying to call you for the last hour.”

“Er, sorry, Callum. Something serious has happened.”

“What do you mean? Are you okay?”

I take a deep breath. “No, not really. I’m outside the local hospital. It’s granda. I think he’s suffered a heart attack.”

“He’s what?”

“It all happened so fast. He’s with the crash team now.”

“Is he going to be okay?”

I fight back my tears. “I honestly don’t know. He looked pretty sick when they took him inside.”

“Where’s Jamie?”

“He’s here. He was the one who found him slumped in his chair.”

I hear Callum suck in his breath. “Christ. Okay. I’m on my way. Just ring me if you hear something—anything.”

“Yes, I will,” and there’s a moment’s silence. “I love you,” I say, but he’s already gone.

I try and pull myself together as I go back inside. Jamie’s returned with the coffee.

“White, nae sugar,” he says as I approach. He offers me a paper cup and I take it from him.

“Has anyone been out to see you yet?” I ask.

Jamie shakes his head. “Nah, nae one.”

I go over to the receptionist to see if she can put our minds at rest.

“I’m sure someone will be out to see you as soon as they can,” she reassures me, then a nurse taps me on the shoulder and I almost jump out of my skin.

“Mrs McKinley?”

I nod profusely.