Page 13

‘Oh no, poor Sarah.’

‘I’d usually call her uncle, but he’s in America still, and I’ve got a clinic starting in half an hour, and you’re the only member of staff booked for admin this afternoon.’

‘And you want me to take the clinic for you?’

‘Actually, I’ve got one very nervous, young, first-time mum in the group.’ Millie twisted her fingers together. ‘She’s only attending because I promised I’d look after her personally. I used to babysit for her — so we go back a long way.’

‘So you want me to pick Sarah up?’ Liv saved her patient records.

‘Would you mind?’ Millie asked worriedly. ‘I wouldn’t ask if there was anyone else.’

‘Of course not.’ Liv grabbed her bag and gave Millie’s arm a quick squeeze. ‘I couldn’t possibly leave her feeling so wretched when I can help so easily. Though . . .’ She hesitated at the door. ‘You could maybe grab me a few disposable bowls and paper towels as she’s being sick? And call the school back to let them know I’m on the way.’

* * *

Sarah was pale and miserable looking, hunched over a bin when Liv arrived at the school. She briefly showed her ID badge to the school nurse before sitting by the little girl.

‘Hey there, little fairy. I hear you’re not feeling so great.’

The little girl’s face fell, and Liv felt rotten. ‘Hi, Dr Emery.’

‘I’m sorry your dad’s not here, but he’s working at the hospital today. Millie thought it might be OK if I gave you a lift. What do you think?’

Sarah nodded miserably, and retched into the bin. Without thinking, Liv gently wrapped her arm around the little girl’s shoulders.

‘Sorry, Dr Emery.’ Sarah shook her head slightly and rested it on Liv’s shoulder.

‘Don’t be silly. This isn’t your fault. And I told you before, you can call me Liv.’ Liv’s heart ached for the little girl, and herself. She rested her hand on Sarah’s head, who was warm, but not worryingly so. ‘Do you want to come back to the surgery with me?’

‘Can you take me home?’

‘I’m sorry, I can’t. I don’t have a key.’

‘I know where Daddy hides the spare.’

‘I don’t know if we should, sweetie. Your dad might be a little while still. And it doesn’t seem right, me letting myself into his house.’

‘It’s my house too. Please?’ Sarah sniffed. ‘I really need my princess duvet and Dr Cuddlington Bear. Please, Livvy.’

‘Dr Cuddlington, huh?’ Liv was helpless against the pitiful look on Sarah’s face. ‘Tell you what. Let’s get you into my car, and we’ll call your dad on the way. We’ll figure this out, I promise. Now, where’s your coat?’

‘In a bag. I got sick on it.’

‘Not to worry.’ Liv shrugged off her own jacket. ‘You can wear mine. I think you’ll look very pretty in it. And purple is a very popular colour for fairies.’ She wrapped her coat around Sarah and lifted her onto her hip. She had to force back tears when Sarah snuggled into her shoulder. She cursed the bastard who had stabbed her, and maybe stolen her chance of ever holding her own child like this.

After a few moments, she took a deep breath and accepted the bag of soiled clothes from the nurse. ‘Thanks.’ She gave Sarah a smile. ‘Let’s get you home. I think it’s about time I met my colleague Dr Cuddlington, don’t you?’

Sarah nodded against her neck, and Liv held her a little more tightly.

* * *

Callum cursed himself again as he pulled into his driveway. He never turned his phone off, especially since his parents had gone on sabbatical again and his brother was still in America, and he’d become more aware than ever of his single-parent status. But he’d forgotten there was no signal in parts of the hospital, and the meeting with the clinical commissioning board had run late. He’d fought hard against the cuts they wanted to make to the surgery, but they were adamant: they needed to make savings across the whole county and couldn’t see a place for a village surgery in their future vision.

The thought of losing the surgery turned his stomach, but at least he’d bought some time to try and come up with an alternative proposal. Whatever that was going to look like.

When he’d finally come out, his phone had gone mad beeping and flashing with missed calls and messages. His heart had pounded as he listened to his voicemails and guilt flooded him. His baby girl needed him, and he hadn’t even been there to answer the phone, and was still miles away. And as much as anyone else told him she was OK, he couldn’t relax until he’d seen and assessed Sarah for himself.

When Liv’s voice echoed over the speaker, reassuring him Sarah was fine and it seemed to be just a mild stomach bug, relief hit him so hard it made him momentarily freeze as he thanked God his baby girl was all right. It took him a few more miles to realise that, for the first time he could remember, someone else’s reassurances about his daughter’s wellbeing actually had reassured him. For some reason, knowing Sarah was with Liv made him feel calm. Even his brother Jake couldn’t calm him so quickly when it came to his daughter.