Tagan's Child by ammyford1

debilitating wave of
nausea washed over me and for a few moments, paralysed by shock, I
stared at my dear friend.
    I fumbled for
the phone in my pocket. “I need an ambulance now,” I cried as soon
as the line clicked for the emergency services. A calm and business
like voice answered and started asking me questions, most of which
I barely heard. “Just get an ambulance here please.” The
unflappable voice on the other end of the line asked me for the
address and once I had given it she reassured me that an ambulance
was on its way. I breathed a sigh of relief and hung up.
    “Audrey, can
you hear me?” I picked up her limp hand feeling the need to cradle
her head in my lap to make her more comfortable, but I vaguely
remember something about not moving her in case her neck was
injured. I sat staring at her lifeless body, tears streaming down
my face and feeling utterly helpless.
    Oh God, Toby!
He was still in the car. I took my coat off and gently laid it over
Audrey’s still form. I hesitated before dashing back through the
shop thinking through my options. I would ask Sandie to collect
him, I didn’t want him coming to the hospital with me.
    I breathed a
sigh of relief when I got to the door of the shop, he was still
sitting in the car, his head bent over the glow of his iPad. I
stood at the door and kept my eye on my nephew as I called Sandie.
She was more than happy to come and get him. I simply told her that
Audrey had been taken ill and that an ambulance was on its way.
    I was just
about to put the phone down. “Oh and Sandie, is Dan with you?” This
recent turn of events had made me feel jittery and I didn’t think
it was a bad idea if Dan, her rugby playing boyfriend, came with
her.
    “Yeah,
Why?”
    “Oh it’s just
um, that er, Toby wanted to talk to him about who was playing for
England in the Six Nations this year. Could he come with you so
Toby could have a chat with him?” That sounded as good a reason as
any. I was reluctant to tell her that I would feel much happier if
she had some muscle with her just in case.
    “Yeah, no
worries,” she replied.
    “Great, thanks
very much.”
    Toby looked up
as I opened the door of the Land Rover. “What’s the matter?” he
asked.
    “Audrey isn’t
very well and I need you to go with Sandie, she’s coming to get you
and will take you home. I’m going to the hospital in the
ambulance.”
    “Can I come?
I’ve never been in an ambulance,” he said hopefully.
    “No, you go
home with Sandie, she’ll get you some tea and put you to bed.”
    “Oh!” he
complained. “How long are you going to be?”
    “I don’t know
yet, but I’ll come in and kiss you goodnight when I get back.”
    I was torn. I
didn’t want to leave Audrey, but neither did I want to leave Toby
in the car on his own. I contemplated whether I should phone Ahran.
I hesitated before dialling Sandie’s number again.
    “Sandie, it’s
me again, could you do me another favour? Could you stop by my
house and pick up the phone that’s on the arm of the sofa in the
lounge? There’s a key under the pot by the back door.”
    “Yeah sure, see
you in a bit.”
    I pressed the
hang up button. “I’m just going to wait by the door Tobes.”
    “’Kay,” he
replied, not looking up as he resumed his game. I stood in the
doorway of the shop and kept watch over Toby and Audrey at the same
time. I hoped I might see some movement from her but she remained
sickeningly still.
    When Sandie and
Dan arrived I gave Toby a hug. “Go on, be a good boy.”
    He went with
Sandie reluctantly and Dan drove my car back home.
    I ran back into
the shop and knelt down next to Audrey picking up her hand in both
of mine. She felt cold. I tucked my coat around her as best I
could.
    “Oh Audrey, I’m
so sorry this has happened to you,” I whispered.
    There was a
huge gash on her left temple and the blood from it had smeared and
dried on her face. “Where are you ambulance?” I demanded
impatiently, and as if in