Page 143

Then, Tuesday, September 14, thirteen years ago

Shivering in her hospital gown, Evie hugged the pair of otters from Nick as the nurse checked the beeping monitor beside her bed. The machine’s squiggly lines and flashing lights were a veritable fright of cardiac, blood pressure, and oxygen readings.

I can’t feel my legs. Her heart hammered. Or anything below my ribs!

“Everything looks normal,” said the nurse, her soft Inverness accent doing little to soothe Evie’s spiraling worry. She jotted numbers on her clipboard and bent down, examining the urine output in the catheter bag. “If you have any questions—”

“I’m a bit freaked out,” Evie blurted, staring down at the nurse’s bleached blonde bun. “I can’t feel my tummy or my toes.”

The nurse returned with an empathetic smile. “I know it’s scary, but that means the epidural’s doing its job, blocking your pain. The numbness is temporary. Everything will return to normal after your operation.” She wrote on her chart again. “I’ll tell your parents they can come back in.” With a flit of her pale manicure, she flung open the privacy curtain and left, leaving Evie alone with her otters, phone, and anxiety. She resumed texting, hitting send on a reply to Fiona.

Evie:

Nurse says feeling will come back. It better! PLEASE don’t mention ANYTHING to Rupert. He’ll tell Nick.

Three dots pranced below her message for a minute or two, then…

Fiona:

Don’t worry. Rupes is in North Ronaldsay for his course.

Thank god. Evie scratched the crooked surgical cap on her head. No doubt, Rupert was studying the rare seaweed-eating sheep, an ancient breed found only on Orkney’s most northern island, one she’d always hoped to visit someday.

More bouncing dots yielded to a second text.

Fiona:

Love you, Eves. Keeping everything crossed. Get your mum to text me later? x

Before she could type a response, a flurry of messages landed.

Sunita:

I wish I could be there w/you.

I wish I could be traveling to London with you. Evie sulked. Missing all the university excitement sucked.

Sunita:

You SURE you don’t wanna tell N? I think he’d wanna know. x

And as if his ears were burning…

Nick:

I’m such an over-packer, LOL! If my case doesn’t burst on the way to Japan, it will be a miracle.

You and your clothes. Evie’s heart dipped as she typed. She hated lying to Nick, but it was for his own good.

Evie:

You know, they DO have washing machines in Japan! Leave space for stuff you bring back!

Nick answered within seconds.

Nick:

Better idea: teleport here now, help me pack & give me a proper farewell? I KNOW you want to, you saucy minx!