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‘Plenty of supplies here.’ Liv hefted the bag up.

‘Good. It’s mostly just bruises, and a few lacerations out here. But some of them are quite deep and probably need stitches. Sammi Feathers knocked her head pretty hard and was out for a few seconds, so we got her outside — carefully — and into the recovery position, but she’s awake and complaining so we think she’s fine.’

‘You’re first-aid trained?’ Liv was impressed — and relieved.

Margaret nodded. ‘Dr Macpearson — your one, not his dad—’ the words cut through Liv, but she forced herself to ignore them ― ‘sorted it a while ago. Kitchens can be pretty dangerous places, so he arranged it for anyone who wanted to learn.’

‘Thanks, Margaret.’ Liv gave her shoulder a squeeze. ‘I’ll take a look at Sammi, and can you point out to me who you think needs my help the most? We’ve got paramedics and the fire brigade on their way, but no reason to wait when I’m here and well equipped. Feel free to borrow whatever you need from my bag. And . . .’ She hesitated and looked back at the dusty building. ‘Can you get someone to go round and talk with your guests, and we’ll try to put together some sort of list to make sure everyone is out and safe?’

* * *

Callum sighed in relief as the fire brigade and paramedics took over, sliding the bright orange spinal board behind his patient and securing the man firmly to it. With the equipment and experience they had, their victim come perpetrator would be safely extracted and on his way to hospital in no time. And, as unprofessional as it was of him, Callum couldn’t wait to get away from the drunken idiot who had caused so much damage to his village.

He stripped off his apron and gloves and dropped them in the first bright yellow hazmat bag he saw, before dousing his hands liberally with sanitiser and making his way over to where Evelyn and Millie had set up their triage and were patching, strapping and plastering up the walking wounded.

His dad joined him, dumping his own gloves and holding his hands out for cleanser. ‘Once I’m done here, I’m thinking of heading over to the surgery and opening up there. If we grab the golf carts from the parade, and some volunteers, we can shuttle people to us and clean out the glass and debris and stitch or glue the lacerations that are primary care level. Obviously some of the injuries will need the hospital, and any eye injuries will need checking out, but if we can avoid a hospital trip for some people, I think it will be appreciated. Maybe you can stay here, help with the triage, and send anyone over to me needing a bit more than first aid, but a bit less than a hospital visit.’

‘Agreed.’ Callum nodded.

‘Make sure Liv doesn’t need any help either. My old knees wouldn’t thank me for clambering over walls. Even with a ladder.’

‘I’ll check in with Jake first, then will get started. Are you OK here for a few more minutes?’ Callum just needed to give his daughter a quick hug — reassure himself she was OK, then he could concentrate again.

‘Yeah, we’re good,’ Evelyn replied. ‘He was heading over to the Brockle’s Retreat to try and keep people calm and out of harm’s way.’

‘Fair enough.’ Callum jogged over the road, pausing to let another set of blue lights pass and pull into the car park. When he swung open the pub door, he was greeted by a wall of noise as people sobbed and comforted each other, and sadly gossiped, about the accident.

It took him a few long minutes to spot his brother, squished into a corner with Summer on the floor by his side with her dog. Jake’s head was down as he and one of the local police community officers tried to take down everyone’s contact details.

‘Hey, good to see you in one piece.’ Jake gave him a relieved look from behind his stack of papers. ‘How are things?’

‘Not great,’ Cal admitted. ‘But far from as bad as they could be. Paramedics and fire brigade are with the driver now, and should soon have him out and on the way to the hospital, and Dad’s heading over to open up the surgery to handle the glass wounds that we can. I just wanted to give Sarah a hug before I joined him. Where is she?’

‘What do you mean? I’ve not seen her all day?’ The words slammed into Callum’s chest with the same amount of force that it must have taken to bring down part of the café.

‘She’s not with you?’ He looked around, desperately hoping to see the edge of a sparkly pink fairy wing.

‘No. I said I’ve not seen her.’

Callum could see his own panic reflected in his brother’s eyes.

‘Liv had to . . . go . . . earlier. I was in the first-aid tent.’ He scrabbled around for his phone and had to force his fingers steady before he could unlock it. ‘Cathy Turner was supposed to bring her to you.’ The call went straight to voicemail. ‘She didn’t find you?’

‘No . . .’

The phone rang once before his sitter’s voicemail answered again. ‘Shit!’ He wracked his brains to remember what she’d said. Something about getting food? ‘Fuck. I don’t know where they are. She said if she couldn’t find you, Sarah could have lunch with her.’

‘They didn’t find us.’ Jake shook his head.

‘Is Sarah all right?’ Summer looked up at Jake, her face filled with the worry Callum was already feeling.

‘Yes, I’m sure she is.’ He tousled her hair. ‘Probably just having fun at the fete. But will you please stay here with Tilly and Rosie—’ he waved to the bar maid ― ‘while I help Callum find her?’

‘OK.’

‘Good girl.’ He placed a quick kiss on her forehead before squeezing towards the door as fast as he could. ‘I meant what I said. It’s probably fine. I mean, there’s loads of other places they could have had lunch today. Lots of food stalls.’

‘That sell Brockle cakes?’