Monday's Child by Clare Revell Read Free Book Online Page B

your career prospects. Not to mention your reputation.” She could hear herself sniping, but couldn’t stop it. Being sick always made her short tempered.
    The doorbell rang.
    “Stay there,” Luke ordered.
    “Do I have a choice?” Sara watched as he left the room and closed her eyes. “Apparently not.” Despite her protests, she felt like death warmed up. Maybe if she didn’t move, the nausea would go.
     
    ****
     
    Luke opened the door. Cold air blasted in and made him shiver.
    “Hi, Dave, Mrs. McArthur. Come in.” He shut the door behind them.
    Carole smiled. “Call me Carole. Hope ye dinna mind us coming this early. Dave said ye might need some shopping done, and I thought I could keep Sara company while he took ye tae the supermarket. Is she up?”
    “She’s in the lounge. She’s not so well this morning.”
    “Och, that’s nae good. I’ll see if she needs anything.”
    “Sure, go on through. Either of you want coffee?”
    Dave smiled. “Please.”
    “Aye, please.” Carole hung her coat over the banisters and went into the lounge.
    Luke caught Dave’s eye and indicated the way to the kitchen.
    Dave followed. “What’s wrong with Sara?”
    “Wish I knew. I also need your phone number.” Luke put the kettle on, hoping he remembered how Sara had made coffee, and sat at the table.
    Dave sat opposite him, shrugging his coat off. “Sure. What are her symptoms?”
    “She was sick to her stomach when she woke, and she fainted a few minutes ago. She was only out for a minute or so, if that, but I want to get a doctor to check her over. We’ll need someone we can trust with Sara’s correct medical history.”
    “Use ours. Steve Scott’s really good. He’s also the local police surgeon, so he’s got clearance. Shall I give him a ring?”
    “Please. Ask him to come here if he does house calls. We need discretion, and I want to keep her inside as much as possible.” He glanced into the hall as footsteps ran to the stairs. “Something isn’t right. It could be stress or the move, but I want to make sure.”
    Dave pulled out his phone.
    “I’ll go see if she’s all right.” Luke headed up the stairs. He got to the landing as the bathroom door opened.
    Sara came onto the landing, weaving on unsteady feet. Her hands flailed, trying to grab the banisters as she fell. Luke ran the last few steps and slid his arms around her. “Let’s get you back to bed.”
    Her eyes opened. “I don’t need to be in bed.”
    “Let the doctor be the judge of that.”
    Luke carried her into the bedroom. She closed her eyes and curled into a ball.
    Just how sick is she?
    Pulling the door to, Luke went back downstairs to the kitchen. “I put her back to bed.”
    “Doctor Scott’s on his way.”
    “Thanks. I’m afraid the shopping trip is off. I can’t leave Sara.” He had no intention of letting Sara go shopping any time soon, and this would serve as the perfect excuse to make her stay in, at least for the moment.
    Dave smiled. “Nae problem. Give me a list. We’ll do it before my shift starts.”
    “Thanks.” Luke pulled the notebook across and wrote a list. He handed it to Dave.
    Carole read it over his shoulder. “Bedding?”
    “Sara’s aunt wants to visit. We need somewhere for her to sleep. And a quilt.” He pulled out his wallet and gave Dave all the cash he had. He’d have to withdraw more funds from his work account, but this would do for now. “Let me know if you need more.”
    Dave put the money in his wallet, with the list. “Will do, but we can lend ye a couple o’quilts. Come on then, love. Let’s make a move. We’ll bring the shopping in on our way home. Och, Luke, before I forget, the computer is coming sometime this morning. The guy from the shop said he’d set it up unless ye’d rather do it yerself.”
    “Thanks, Dave. I’ll talk to him when he gets here.”
    Carole didn’t move. “Ye know. Dave tells me ye’ve been friends for years, but he never mentioned ye before