Healing Hearts in the Little Village
Page 82
‘K.’ She started coughing and spluttering.
‘All right, Sarah,’ Liv continued. ‘Now, like your daddy said, you’re going to have to be super brave now. Like super Disney princess brave.’
‘Like when Anna has to save Elsa?’
‘Exactly like that. And that’s a really, really good comparison, because Anna was scared too, but she did what she had to and saved Elsa, and it was all OK, wasn’t it?’
‘Yup.’
‘And this will be OK too, right? You believe me when I say that, don’t you?’
‘I always believe you, Livvy.’
* * *
Callum looked up at his daughter’s words, and really studied the woman opposite him. Her eyes were red and raw from crying, and tears still tracked down her cheeks. But she wiped them away and kept her voice calm and reassuring for Sarah, and he admired her for that. Even with everything going on, she was still putting his daughter first, which made him wonder if he might have been wrong in his assumptions.
‘OK, Sarah, can you tell me who else is with you? Are Angela or Mrs Turner there?’
‘Yes.’
‘OK, where are they?’
‘Mrs Turner is here in the topsy upsy booth, but she’s not talking. And Angela is more outside. But it’s really dark.’
Liv glanced up at Callum and he could see the worry in her eyes.
‘OK. That’s really good, Sarah.’ She paused, clearly thinking. ‘Can you remember how to turn the torch on, the one on the phone? Don’t worry, if you accidentally hang up on us, I promise we’ll call right back. The same second, all right?’
‘OK.’ There were a few seconds of muffled rustling before Sarah came back to the phone. ‘I can see now.’
‘All right, can you see Mrs Turner?’
‘Yes.’
‘How is she?’ Callum asked gently.
‘I think she’s sleeping,’ Sarah replied. ‘But she’s got a big bump on her head.’
‘OK, you’re doing really well,’ Callum reassured her. ‘If you touch Mrs Turner’s hand, does she feel warm? Will she respond?’ He heard the older woman groan. ‘OK, tell her not to move. Can you see Angela?’
‘Yeah. But she’s out of the booth.’
‘Can you reach her? Safely?’
‘I think so.’ The was another bout of rustling. ‘Uh oh.’
‘What’s “uh oh”, Sarah?’ Callum leaned forward, wishing they were on a video call and able to see what was happening.
‘I think she’s bleeding. And her leg is bended funny.’
‘OK, you’re doing great, Sarah. Have you got your bag with you? Do you have a jumper in it?’ She waited for her to reply. ‘OK, that’s great. Can you tie it around you nose and mouth?’
‘Like a cowgirl?’
‘Exactly like a cowgirl! That would be perfect. It sounds like it’s kind of dusty, and you don’t want to be breathing in dust.’
‘OK.’