Jilted (28 page)

‘That’s what I love about small towns,’ Ellie said as she pushed the off button on Mat’s cordless, feigning high spirits. ‘Home visits. No way you’d get that kind of service in the city, not unless you were on death’s door.’ She caught her breath and put her hand over her mouth, any attempt at normality quickly washing away. ‘Oh Lord,’ she glanced at Joyce in horror, ‘I didn’t mean …’

Joyce came to her, easily reaching her arms around Ellie’s slender frame. ‘I know you didn’t, darling.’ She rubbed Ellie’s back as the younger woman relaxed into her embrace. ‘What did the hospital say?’

‘Dr Bates will be here in an hour.’ Ellie sniffed. ‘They’re getting a bed ready for her just in case.’ A knowing look passed between them. Matilda had already stated her case for staying out of institutionalised care, and they both wanted to respect her wishes.

‘Okay then,’ Joyce said, taking charge. ‘I’ll make us all a nice drink, and we’ll go sit with Matilda while we wait.’

Joyce made hot chocolate with marshmallows. Mat managed to down most of hers, but it was cold comfort to Ellie. Apart from this, she’d barely eaten anything the last couple of days. She said she just wasn’t hungry.

‘How’s the play going?’ asked Mat, handing her near-empty cup to Ellie.

‘Fabulous.’ Joyce smiled. ‘Ellie’s worked wonders with the cast. I thought they’d be struggling to be ready for opening night, but looks like I’ll be proved wrong.’ They chatted a little more about the theatrical society and then the doorbell rang. Joyce leaped up to let the doctor in.

‘Morning ladies.’ The doctor offered a smile all round, making a beeline for her patient as she opened her medical bag. Her brow creased as she took a good look at Mat. ‘Are you having difficulty breathing?’

‘A little,’ Matilda conceded. Ellie glared at her and she added, ‘Okay, a lot.’

‘Hmm.’ Hannah listened to Mat’s chest. She took some time before she announced, ‘We need to get you to hospital for an X-ray. I’ll arrange an ambulance.’

Mat tried to argue but Dr Bates was well-practised in the care of stubborn sick people. She instructed Ellie to help Mat dress warmly, and an hour later, Mat and Ellie were on their way to Katanning, the nearest hospital with a radiology department.

‘I hate hospitals,’ Mat grumbled as they wheeled her out of the ambulance on a stretcher.

‘I know you do.’ Ellie squeezed her hand. ‘But I’m right here. This won’t take long.’

Ellie sat on the cold, hard plastic seat and flicked through another batch of antiquated magazines while she waited. They wouldn’t get any results until they were back in Hope with Dr Bates, but she had a sick feeling in her gut. The speed at which Mat had been rushed for an X-ray scared her. She wished she knew someone in the medical field that she could ring to get more insight, but Lauren was the only person who came to mind.

Shoving a twelve-year-old
New Idea
aside, Ellie decided to pass the time checking emails on her phone. It had been a couple of days, but aside from an email from Dwayne, one from Saskia and a handful from organisations she subscribed to, there wasn’t much going on. Amazing how quickly life could change. She checked
Facebook
and updated her status –
I hate the smell of hospitals –
when the doors to the waiting room finally opened. One of the ambulance officers came in to tell her they were loading Mat into the van.
Ellie followed hurriedly down the corridor and out through the Emergency and ambulance entrance where they were all waiting.

Inside the van, the other officer and a nurse from the hospital were propping Mat up on the stretcher to help her breathe easier. She coughed a little and scowled. Ellie could feel her discomfort as she sat down beside her.

‘Tell them I want to go home, Ellie.’ She looked fearful, like a scared animal or a child in need of grown-up protection. Ellie took her hand. She glanced at the nurse.

‘What’s going on?’

‘Ms Thompson has pneumonia,’ explained the nurse. ‘We’re not taking any risks – she’ll be taken to Hope Junction Hospital. She needs stronger antibiotics than can be administered by mouth. We’ve informed Dr Bates.’

Ellie wanted to follow Mat’s wishes but she couldn’t go against medical advice. ‘How long will she have to be in there?’

The nurse glanced at her watch – fleetingly, but long enough to make her point. ‘I really can’t say. Dr Bates will explain everything when you get there. Bye Ms Thompson.’ The nurse left the ambulance before Ellie could blink. She turned back to Mat and shrugged apologetically. She felt like her backbone had deserted her.

‘We’ll sort something out, I promise.’

Flynn slowed the ute as he approached the paddock. Resting the phone against his shoulder, Lauren talked, making arrangements for their date later that evening. He hopped out to open the gate, needing to do a quick check for any new lambs.

‘Look Lauren, I’m –’

She spoke over him. ‘Sorry Flynn, I have to go. The ambulance just arrived with Matilda Thompson. I’ll see you tonight.’

‘The what? What’s wrong with Matilda?’ When Lauren didn’t answer, Flynn stared at his phone – she’d already hung up. He looked at the mob of sheep before him, cursed and shut the gate. Getting back into his ute, he rammed the gearstick into reverse, then spun around to head for the homestead.

‘Anyone around?’ he asked, barging through his mother’s kitchen door. The house was suspiciously quiet. He found his mum on her exercise bike in the study. ‘Have you heard anything about Matilda?’

She stopped cycling, took her earphones out and pointed to his boots. ‘They’re supposed to stay outside.’

‘Forget the boots, Mum. Matilda’s been taken to hospital in an ambulance.’

‘What?’ Karina climbed off the bike and picked up a towel. ‘Has something happened?’

‘I don’t know,’ he said,
that’s why I’m asking you
. Women were so frustrating sometimes. ‘I came to see if you’d heard.’

She wiped her neck and forehead. ‘I’ve been in here all afternoon. I’ll check the answering machine to see if the prayer chain’s got anything.’

Flynn got to the machine first and, seeing the flashing green light, pressed play. ‘Hi Karina, its Carol. Sorry I missed you, I’ll jump the list and ring Bethany, but could you pray for Matilda Thompson when you get this, please? She’s been admitted to hospital with pneumonia. Not good on top of the cancer. I’ll see you Thursday for CWA.’ The dial tone sounded.

‘I have to go to Ellie,’ he said.

His mum grabbed his hand as he started to turn. ‘Do you think that’s a good idea?’

‘What do you mean?’

Karina cleared her throat. ‘I know you want to help, Flynn, I love that about you, but you don’t want to send mixed messages. You
can’t go running to Ellie whenever there’s a crisis. What will Lauren think? What will
Ellie
think? Don’t give her the wrong idea.’

You mean, don’t look like a lovesick puppy
, he thought. He took a breath. He didn’t love Ellie anymore, it was just weird getting used to her being in town. Especially now that their relationship was so different.

‘She’ll need someone,’ he said. ‘I can’t just sit back while she deals with this alone.’

‘Okay.’ Karina nodded. ‘Would it make you feel better if I went? I could take Lucy – they seem to get on.’

The idea didn’t sit well with Flynn but maybe she was right. Ellie wasn’t his responsibility, nor his problem. She’d chosen not to be, no matter what his instinct told him to do. ‘All right,’ he sighed. ‘I should get back up to the paddocks anyway. Promise me you’ll call when you know how Mat is.’

‘Promise,’ smiled his mum.

‘Can we come in?’

Ellie looked up from the game of Uno she was playing with Matilda, almost jumping when she saw who was at the door. The last person she expected to turn up was Flynn’s mum. Not that it should have surprised her – Mat being who she was. Ellie smiled. ‘Sure, come on in.’

Karina and Lucy entered as Ellie gathered up the cards. Lucy was trying her best to look cheerful, but Ellie could see she didn’t know how to react to the sight of such a fragile Matilda. She offered the teenager an encouraging look and gestured her over to the bed.

Karina was another story. Refined and well-dressed, as usual, she didn’t look uncomfortable in the slightest, barely sparing a glance for Ellie as she took the empty chair on the other side of the bed.

‘I heard you were in here,’ she started, ‘and I knew how much you’d hate it, so I brought you some of the puzzle books you love. Also, a selection of new releases from the library.’

‘Thanks.’ Matilda’s face glowed as she took a book off the pile and read the blurb.

‘You’re welcome,’ Karina beamed. ‘Is there anything else we can do for you? Flynn’s busy with the sheep but he said to send his love.’

Ellie’s heart froze at the mention of Flynn, wondering if he’d really said that or Karina was just being polite. Mat made to respond but instead began to wheeze again. Ellie leaned her forward to ease her breathing, her eye on the emergency buzzer, but after a few moments the difficulty passed. Mat reached for her lemonade. Ellie moved her hand to help but Mat pushed it away.

‘I can do it myself,’ she barked, and the cup tumbled onto the cold linoleum floor, sending liquid over the bed and making a clatter that echoed in the bare and sterile room. All eyes stared at the puddle of liquid until Karina launched into action.

‘Lucy, go and ask the nurse for a cloth. And do be careful not to slip in those ridiculous shoes you’re wearing.’ Lucy all but fled the room as Karina stooped to pick up the cup.

‘I’m sorry, Mat.’ Ellie’s throat closed over. The last thing she wanted to do was lose the plot in front of Flynn’s mum and sister.

‘It’s okay, sweet. It’s my fault,’ Mat said shakily. She reached out for Ellie’s hand, which Ellie gave freely. ‘I’m just tired.’

Sheila, the nurse, entered the room, followed closely by Lucy and an orderly wheeling a mop and bucket. ‘I think you’ve had enough visitors for today,’ Sheila announced, taking the clipboard with Matilda’s records from its holder at the foot of the bed. She smiled at Flynn’s mum. ‘I’m sorry, Karina, but I have to insist that everyone leaves to let Matilda rest.’

‘That’s fine. We just popped in to say hello.’ Karina moved closer to Matilda and patted her hand. ‘If there’s anything else we can do, please let Ellie know.’

‘Thank you.’

Ellie swallowed, preparing herself to speak. She summoned a smile for the Quartermaine women. ‘Thanks for coming.’

As Flynn’s family headed for the door, Ellie lowered herself back into the chair, placing the books on the bedside table. Once the nurse had done her observations she would see if Mat wanted to watch a movie. Uno was perhaps a little more energetic than Matilda could handle.

‘Ellie, maybe you should go too.’ Sheila spoke softly and gestured to Matilda. Ellie saw that she was already asleep again. Before she knew it, the nurse had lured her out of the room, the hand at Ellie’s elbow a firm, albeit kind reminder of who was in charge. In the corridor, Sheila lowered her voice even further. ‘Lucy said Matilda got angry at you.’

Ellie nodded, embarrassment flushing her cheeks.

‘Don’t take it too badly,’ Sheila said. ‘Being here has been difficult for her. And we know things aren’t necessarily going to get better. Although she needs your love and support at the moment, she also needs time to digest her fate. At this stage it’s not unusual for a sufferer to withdraw from those close to them. I’m not saying that’s what’s going to happen with Matilda, but she might need some alone time. Do you understand what I’m saying?’

Ellie ran a hand through her hair and caught her fingers in the knots. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d given it a proper brush. ‘Yes, but … I can’t just leave her.’

‘She’s sleeping. You should get some rest too. Have a shower, take five minutes for yourself. It’s getting late now; she’ll likely sleep all night. Go home and come back fresh in the morning.’

Reluctantly, Ellie agreed.

Chapter Twenty-six

Flynn tugged a jumper over his head. He ran a hand over his face and decided he had neither the time nor the inclination to shave – he would visit the homestead instead. He glanced at the microwave clock as he headed into the kitchen. Half an hour till he was due at Lauren’s. She was making him dinner. It was the first night they’d stayed in rather than gone out, and the thought left him a little uneasy.

He pushed his reservations aside, grabbed his keys off the table and left. After parking his ute outside the main house, he let himself in through the front door rather than the kitchen, where he usually appeared, hoping to locate Lucy before his mum knew he was there. The plan worked.

‘What are you doing here?’ Lucy accused as he slipped into her room. She’d been narky with him the last couple of weeks, but he’d just put it down to teenage hormones.

‘You studying?’ he asked, disregarding her question. She’d been on a social networking site he didn’t recognise, but the way she
clicked back to something schoolish when he came in gave her away.

‘Yes,’ she answered, crabbily.

‘Good.’ He sat down on her bed and ignored the way she was glowering at him. ‘How was Matilda?’

Lucy’s scowl lessened. ‘I
knew
you cared.’

‘Of course I care. Matilda Thompson is a great old bird.’

‘It’s Ellie you care about,’ snapped Lucy, insightfully.

He weighed up whether to deny this or admit he was worried about his ex-girlfriend. ‘Ellie’s … Ellie
was
a friend,’ he said eventually, ‘of course I’m anxious about her situation.’

‘Do you still love her?’

‘It’s complicated, Luce, but I’m not really here to discuss my love life.’

‘So it’s okay for you to butt your nose into
mine
but not the other way around?’

‘Since when have I butted into your love life?’ he asked, not sure if he wanted to know the answer.

She raised her eyebrows. ‘Getting Ellie to talk to me about Sam – that ring any bells?’

Come to think of it, yes, but she’d never told him the outcome of that conversation. ‘Well, what
is
going on with you and Sam?’